Mustard agents toxicity

Extraction of mustard agent from the samples was realized with ethyl alcohol. The remains of the toxic substance in samples were determined with the spectrophotometer SPECOL according to the thymolphtalein reaction [1, 2] with preliminarily made calibration curve. 

Cotton textile material and used dyes for painting contain a lot of such bonds and groups and probably create hydrogen and other chemical bonds with mustard agent. According to reference [3] remained toxic substances bonded chemically samples do not exert influence on the physiological condition of the organism. 

For additional information see AR 385-61, The Army Toxic Chemical Agent Safety Program, DA Pam 385-61, Toxic Chemical Agent Safety Standards, and DA Pam 40-173, Occupational Health Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Occupational Exposure to Mustard Agents H, HD, and HT. ... 

Acoustic wave sensors are also used to detect nerve and blister agents. The surface acoustic wave chemical agent detector (SAW Mini-CAD) is a commercially available, pocket-sized instrument that can monitor for trace levels of toxic vapors of sulfur-based mustard agents (e.g., distilled mustard) and G nerve agents (e.g., tabun, sarin, soman) with a high degree of specificity. Colorimetric tubes are the... 

The chemical agents stored at the two bulk-only sites differ substantially (HD mustard agent at Aberdeen, Maryland, and VX nerve agent at Newport, Indiana). Therefore, different treatment process sequences were selected for use at the two sites. In both processes, the chemical bonds associated with agent toxicity will be destroyed by hydrolysis (with water for HD or aqueous sodium hydroxide for VX) (NRC, 1996a). However, in order to achieve rapid and... 

Once chemical agents are fully dispersed, they do not tend to persist in the environment because of their high chemical reactivity, particularly with water (hydrolysis). However, in extremely dry desert climates, they can persist for considerable periods of time (U.S. Army, 1988). The major environmental degradation products of nerve and mustard agents have recently been assessed and their persistence and toxicity evaluated. A potential hydrolysis product of VX (S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioic acid [EA-2192]) is a degradation product expected to display a high level of mammalian toxicity. Some mustard partial hydrolysis products are also toxic (Munro et al., 1999). 

Due to the toxicity of the nerve and mustard agents and the hazard and risk associated with them, the Army has developed specific criteria based on the concentration of agent vapors in air to determine the potential for equipment to be agent contaminated. These criteria are covered in detail in an Army policy guidance document (U.S. Army, 2004). 

Level 1 Laboratories. Ten laboratories participate in Level 1 activities. At this level, personnel are trained to detect exposure to an expanded number of chemicals in human blood or urine, including all Level 2 laboratory analyses, plus analyses for mustard agents, nerve agents, and other toxic chemicals. 

Sasser, L.B., R.A. Miller, D.R. Kalkwarf, P.W. Mellick, and R.L. Buschbom. 1989b. Toxicology Smdies on Lewisite and Sulfur Mustard Agents Subchronic Toxicity of Sulfur Mustard (HD) in Rats. Final Report. PNL-6860. DTIC AD-A217886. Prepared by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Wash., for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md. 

Jostes, R.F., Jr., L.B. Sasser and R.J. Rausch. 1989. Toxicology studies on lewisite and sulfur mustard agents Genetic toxicity of lewisite (L) in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Final Report, Pacific Northwest Laboratory Report, PNL-6922, Richland, WA. 

Similar to the mustard agents, exposure prevention is the first line of defense against lewisite. Rapid decontamination is especially relevant to lewisite exposure due to the rapid development of pain (1-2 min) associated with lewisite exposure. Unlike other vesicants, an effective antidote for lewisite toxicity exists in the form of British anti-lewisite (BAL 2,3-dimercaptopropanol) which binds with arsenicals, thereby countering the lewisite-induced damage. Such chelation therapy is associated with notable side effects (e.g. renal effects) and requires carefiil medical management. More effective analogs of BAL have been developed with less significant side effects. 

Little is known about lewisite s stability in the environment, but it can react with water in a manner whereby its volatility and most of its blistering potency are lost. As a potent blister agent, it has irritant effects on the eyes and respiratory system, and has similar toxicities to the other blister agents mentioned above (except that it exhibits less bone marrow suppression). Similar to its dichloroarsine cousins and phosgene oxime, but unlike the mustard vesicants, it can cause pain at the time of initial contact. There is often no erythema around the vesicles as with other mustard agents. 

The toxicity of the product of mustard agent H hydrolysis at BGCAPP... 

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