Lewisite impurities

This material is easily converted to Lewisite (C04-A002) and Lewisite 2 (C14-A004). It is also commonly found as an impurity and degradation product in Lewisite. 

Lewisite is composed of cis- and trauj-isomers in the ratio of 10 90 and several impurities including hw(2-chlor-ovinyl)chloroarsine (L-2) and /nj(2-chlorovinyl)arsine (L-3) (Rosenblatt et al, 1975). The chemical and physical properties of the cis- and /rauj-isomers are similar. The nomenclature and chemical and physical properties of L-1, L-2, and L-3 are presented in Tables 8.5 and 8.6, respectively. In pure form, lewisite is colorless and odorless but usually occurs as a brown oily liquid with a distinct geranium-like odor. Gates et al. (1946) reported an odor threshold of 14-23 mg/m for lewisite. 

IV. VESICATING AGENTS (DISTILLED SULEUR MUSTARD, HD IMPURE SULFUR MUSTARD, H LEWISITE, L)... 

Lewisite (L) contains arsenic and is a potent blister agent. Chlorovinyldichloroarsine is another name for lewisite, and like phenyldichloroarsine (PO), ethyl-dichloroarsine, and methyldichloroarsine, it is an organic dichloroarsine. When purified, lewisite and the organic dichloroarsines are colorless, odorless oily liquids, but when produced with impurities, they have a fruity or geranium-like odor. As liquids, they can penetrate rubber and most fabrics, and are more dangerous as liquids than as vapor. 

Lewisite is an oily, colorless liquid that can appear amber to black in its impure form. It has the odor of geraniums. It is more volatile than the mustard agents. Lewisite in the air can cause damage to the eyes, skin, and airways by direct contact. Lewisite in water can lead to exposures from drinking the water or from skin contact, and lewisite-contaminated food can be ingested. Lewisite remains as a liquid under a wide range of environmental conditions, from below freezing to very hot temperatures. 

Sulfur mustard is a component of the H-series blister agents including undistilled sulfur mustard (H sulfur mustard with 20-30% impurities, also known as Levinstein mustard), distilled sulfur mustard (HD or HS 96% pure), a mustard-lewisite mixture (HL), and HD/agent T mixture (HT a mixture of HD and nonvolatile agent T), and an HD/agent Q mixture (HQ a mixture of HD and nonvolatile Agent Q (Agent Q is also known as sesquimustard). 

Pure Lewisite is an oily, colorless liquid, and impure Lewisite is amber to black in color. It has a characteristic odor of geraniums. Lewisite is much more volatile and persistent in colder climates than mustard. Lewisite remains fluid at lower temperatures, which makes it perfect for winter dispersal. Lewisite hydrolyzes rapidly, and, on a humid day, maintaining a biologically active concentration of vapor may be difficult (U.S. Department of Defense, 1990). 

Once formed, lewisite oxide and polymerized lewisite oxide are relatively insoluble in water. Once dry, the oxide will probably not readily redissolve or form the acid in the environment. The degradation products (and impurities) of lewisite are listed in the Appendix, Table A2. 

Lewisite, L. Liquid bp 190°C, colourless when pure brown when impure. Smells of geraniums. Rapidly decomposed by damp air and water. Irritant vesicant, systemic poison due to As. As little as 0.5 ml on skin can cause severe toxicity and 2 ml, death. 

L In a pure form Lewisite is a colorless and odorless liquid, but usually contains small amounts of impurities that give it a brownish color and an odor resembling geranium oil. It is heavier than mustard, poorly soluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. 

Properties Impure Sulfur Mustard Distilled Sulfur Mustard Phosgene Oxime Lewisite... 

Lewisite is an oily, colorless liquid in its pure form and can appear amber to black in its impure form. 

Environmental Fate. When manufactured by normal processes, commercial lewisite is composed of cis and trans isomers in the ratio of 10 90 and several impurities including bis(2- chlorovinyl)chloroarsine and tris(2-chlorovinyl)ar-sine (Rosenblatt et al. 1975). The chemical and physical properties of the two isomers are similar. 

Among vesicants, the majority of analyses apply to sulfur mustard (yperite), and much less to lewisite. After yperite was used in the Iraq-lran war, this agent was analyzed in the munition, water, soil, and body fluids of contaminated soldiers. Numerous products of yperite s decomposition were also analyzed. In a lump of sulphur mustard taken from the sea approximately 50 years after it sank, approximately 40 other chemical compounds have were detected. " Those been probably impurities of the yperite and products of its degradation. GC-MS is frequently used for analysis of those chemical agents, but FPD and ECD may also be used. 

Lewisite [L or L-1 dichloro(2-chlorovinyl) arsine] is an arsenical vesicant developed early in the twentieth century. Lewisite occurs as cis- and trans-isomers, the t5T>ical ratio being 10 90. Several impurities, including bis(2-chlorovinyl)chloroarsine (L-2) and tris(2-chlorovi-nyl)arsine (L-3), are typically present. The chemical and physical properties of cis- and trans-isomers are similar. 

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