Nerve Agents - Carbamates

This class of agents is not covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Because of the toxicity of the agents and lack of commercial application, carbamate nerve agents would be prohibited based on the Guidelines for Schedules of Chemicals. 

Carbamate nerve agents do not have good warning properties. They have no odor, and, other than causing miosis, aerosols do not irritate the eyes. Contact neither irritates the skin nor causes cutaneous injuries. 

Human toxicity data for the carbamate nerve agents has not been published or has not been established. 

Carbamate nerve agents have been dissolved in both water and organic solvents to facilitate handling, enhance dispersal, or increase the ease of percutaneous penetration by the agents. Percutaneous enhancement solvents include dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylpalmitamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, and saponin. Color and other properties of these solutions may vary from the pure agent. Odors will be dependent on the characteristics of the solvent(s) used. 

Dry carbamate nerve agents are stable over a wide range of temperatures. Stabilizers are not required. Agents can be stored in glass, steel, stainless steel, or aluminum containers. Agents in solution are much more susceptible to hydrolysis and decomposition. 

For military purposes, unmodified carbamate nerve agents are classified as extremely persistent. Agents have negligible vapor pressure and they will not evaporate. Depending on the size of the individual particles and on any encapsulation or coatings applied to the particles, they can be reaerosolized by ground traffic or strong winds. 

Plants, fruits, vegetables, and grains exposed to carbamate nerve agents should be quarantined until tested. 

The topmost layer of unprotected feedstock (e.g., hay or grain) should be destroyed. The remaining material should be quarantined until tested. Carbamate nerve agents are very persistent and forage vegetation could still retain sufficient agent to produce severe effects... 

Carbamate nerve agents are stable in water. However, at high-pH they are rapidly destroyed. 

There are no published recommendations for isolation or protective action distances for carbamate nerve agents released in mass casualty situations. 

Even though carbamate nerve agents are rapidly detoxified or eliminated from the body, exposures may have a cumulative effect in the short-term, placing all responders who entered the hot zone without appropriate chemical protective clothing at increased risk during the remainder of the emergency. 

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) levels are the ceiling limit for respirators other than SCBAs. However, IDLH levels have not been established for carbamate nerve agents. Therefore, any potential exposure to aerosols of these agents should be regarded with extreme caution and the use of SCBAs for respiratory protection should be considered. 

Currently, there is no information on performance testing of chemical protective clothing against carbamate nerve agents. Evaluation of fabrics used to prevent exposure to carbamate pesticides may provide guidance on selection of appropriate protective clothing. 

Carbamate nerve agents are readily destroyed by high pH (i.e., basic solutions). Use an aqueous caustic solution (minimum of 10% by weight sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate) or use undiluted household bleach. Basic peroxides also rapidly detoxify carbamate nerve agents. 

It should be noted that space permits only one sample of District Chief Armando Bevelac-qua work. However, his production also includes medical protocols for Bronchospasms, Tachydysrhythmias, Chemical Burns, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Compounds, Cyanide and Hydrogen Sulfide, Organophosphate and Carbamate (Nerve Agents), Hydrofluoric Acid, Phenol, Chloramine and Chlorine Products, Lacrimators, and Phosgene. 

Carbamate Nerve Agents are hazardous through inhalation, skin and eye exposure, ingestion, and abraded skin (e.g., breaks in the skin or penetration of skin by debris). 

Human toxicity data for the Carbamate Nerve Agents has not been published or has not been established. However, based on animal studies, toxicities of some agents appear to be in a range nearly as low as the "V" series Nerve Agents (see Class Index C02). 

Carbamate Nerve Agents may be liquids or solids and have little or no odor. Various solvents can be added to dilute the agents changing both their appearance and physical/chemical properties. Solvents may also dramatically increase the rate that agents penetrate the skin. 

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