Chemical warfare agents classification

This chapter includes four indices the Alphabetical index, the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers index, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) numbers index, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons key (OPCW) numbers index. OPCW numbers are found in the "Handbook on Chemicals, version 2002," Appendix 2 in Declaration Handbook 2002 for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. OPCW numbers were developed to provide an easy method for tracking chemical warfare agents and precursors if CAS numbers were not available. 

W. F. Pearman and A. W. Fountain, Classification of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Simulants by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Multivariate Statistical Techniques, Appl. Spec., 60, 356-36 (2001). 

By the standard military classification of chemical warfare (CW) agents, cyanides are referred to as lethal blood agents (HMSO, 1987 Maynard, 1999). In the context of CW operational situations, it is likely that CN in the form of atmospherically dispersed material would be applicable for two military situations, namely, the use of low concentrations to cause mental and physical incapacitation and the generation of high concentrations for lethal purposes. For the former purposes, it is well-known that HCN vapor produces disturbances of consciousness and perception these coupled with muscle weakness and ataxia would lead to mental and physical incapacitation of troops and a marked reduction in their ability to conduct military tasks. 

In this chapter, a brief history of chemical warfare use in humans, their classification, use of alternative methods of animal testing, particularly in vitro toxicology tests, structure activity relationships, and the use of the 3Rs including "Animal Rule" (FDA, 2009, 2010) and "human-on-a-chip" to possibly test warfare agents are described. 

A. M. Prentiss, Classification of Chemical Agents, A Treatise on Chemical Warfare, McGraw Hill, New York, 1937, ch. V, pp. 107-128. 

Classification of chemical and biological warfare agent simulants by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and multivariate statistical techniques. Applied Spectroscopy, 60, 356-65. 

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