Nerve agents detoxification

The rate of detoxification of organophosphorus nerve agents by the body is very low. Exposures are essentially cumulative. 

The potential use of foams has also been demonstrated for the decontamination of nerve agents [80]. In these applications, the detoxification of the nerve agent was carried out by immobilizing the enzyme organophosphorous acid anhydrase within either a fire fighting or blast-containment foam carrier. 

Enzyme Stabilization in Nanostructured Materials, for Use in Organophosphorus Nerve Agent Detoxification and Prophylaxis... 

Nanobiocatalysis for OP Nerve Agent Decontamination and Personal Detoxification... 

Ghanem E, Raushel EM (2005) Detoxification of organophosphate nerve agents by bacterial phosphotriesterase. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 207(2, Supplement l) 459-47... 

Yang Y-C (1999) Chemical Detoxification of Nerve Agent VX, Acc Chem Res 32 109-115... 

Yang, Y. (1999). Chemical detoxification of nerve agent VX. Accounts of Chemical Research 32 109-15. 

In the open literature little is known about these agents developed in the Soviet Union. They are assessed to be five to ten times more toxic than VX (Ellison, 2008 Smithson et al, 1995). The toxicity of these binary agents does not rely primarily on the inhibition of AChE, but it is thought that it causes permanent neuropathy. Consequently, conventional nerve agent antidotes may not work. Reactive oximes such as potassium 2,3-butanedione monoximate may be use fid in detoxification. No pubhshed information is available on cardiac pathologies caused by Novichok agents. 

One of the important proofs which support the significance of detoxification reactions of nerve agents in the body was presented by Fonnum and Sterri (1981) who reported that only 5% of LD50 of soman in rats or about 5 P-g/kg reacts with AChE causing acute toxic effects, while the remaining 95% undergoes various metabolic reactions. 

FIGURE 52.1. Metabolic detoxification of warfare nerve agents tabun, sarin, soman, and VX in mammals in vivo. Chemical names of metabolites are EDMPA - ethyl dimethylaminophosphoric acid, IMPA - isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, PMPA - pinacolyl methyl-phosphonic acid, EMPA - ethyl methylphosphonic acid, and MPA - methylphosphonic acid. 

IV. OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED IN METABOLISM AND DETOXIFICATION OF NERVE AGENTS... 

Sterri, S.H. (1989). The importance of carboxylesterase detoxification of nerve agents. In FOA Report C 40266-4.6,4.7 Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Protection against Chemical Warfare Agents, pp. 235 0. FOA ABC-skydd, Umea. 

Ghanem, E., Raushel, F.M. (2005). Detoxification of organo-phosphate nerve agents by bacterial phosphotriesterase. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 207 459-70. 

Gill, I., Ballesteros, A. (2000). Degradation of organophosphorus nerve agents by enzyme-polymer nanocomposite efficient biocatalytic materials for personal protection and large-scale detoxification. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 70 400-10. 

Lejeune, K.E., Russell, A.J. (1999). Biocatal dic nerve agent detoxification in fire fighting foams. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 62 659-65. 

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