Nerve agents analysis

Van der Schans, M.J., Polhuijs, M., Van Dijk, C., Degenhardt, C.E.A.M., Pleijsier, K., Langenberg, J.P., and Benschop, H.P. (2004). Retrospective detection of exposure to nerve agents analysis of phosphofluoridates originating from fluoride-induced reactivation of phosphylated BuChE. Arch. Toxicol., 78, 508-524. 

Retrospective detection of exposure to nerve agents analysis of phosphofluoridates originating from fluoride-induced reactivation of phos-phylated BuChE. Arch Toxicol, 78, 508-524. 

Environment. Detection of environmental degradation products of nerve agents directly from the surface of plant leaves using static secondary ion mass spectrometry (sims) has been demonstrated (97). Pinacolylmethylphosphonic acid (PMPA), isopropylmethylphosphonic acid (IMPA), and ethylmethylphosphonic acid (EMPA) were spiked from aqueous samples onto philodendron leaves prior to analysis by static sims. The minimum detection limits on philodendron leaves were estimated to be between 40 and 0.4 ng/mm for PMPA and IMPA and between 40 and 4 ng/mm for EMPA. Sims analyses of IMPA adsorbed on 10 different crop leaves were also performed in order to investigate general apphcabiflty of static sims for... 

Presently available methods to diagnose and biomonitor exposure to anticholinesterases, e.g., nerve agents, rely mostly on measurement of residual enzyme activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in blood. More specific methods involve analysis of the intact poison or its degradation products in blood and/or urine. These approaches have serious drawbacks. Measurement of cholinesterase inhibition in blood does not identify the anticholinesterase and does not provide reliable evidence for exposure at inhibition levels less than 20 %. The intact poison and its degradation products can only be measured shortly after exposure. Moreover, the degradation products of pesticides may enter the body as such upon ingestion of food products containing these products. 

This paper will focus on methods that are based on the analysis of long-lived protein adducts, i.e., on methods 3 and 4 for nerve agents and on method 3 for mustards. 

Depending on the structure of the nerve agent, a retrospectivity of 2-8 weeks was observed upon analysis of blood samples from rhesus monkeys which had been challenged with a sign-free dose of the nerve agent (4). 

On the defensive side, service requirements were promulgated for a real-time detector for nerve agents in the field, shipboard detectors for Royal Navy vessels, prophylactics and therapy for nerve agent poisoning and a new respirator. The procurement cycle for some of these items was relatively quick, but for others, in particular the respirator, the process was one of continuous improvement reflecting advances in science and technology. However, to try to provide a succinct analysis of the first 20 post-war years of chemical weapon development in Britain is difficult mainly because many topics cannot be reported due to the non-disclosure of sensitive documents by the British government. 

The MEKC separation of organophosphate nerve agents was achieved using amperometric detection. Studies show that the use of MES buffer (pH 5.0) and 7.5 mM SDS provides the best separation performance (short analysis time and adequate resolution) [625],... 

S.A. Oehrle and P.C. Bossle, Analysis of nerve agent degradation products using capillary ion electrophoresis, J. Chromatogr A, 692, 247-252 (1995). 

J. Enqvist (Ed.), Trace Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents, C.l An Approach to the Environmental Monitoring of Nerve Agents, The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Helsinki, 1981. 

Among the above-mentioned methods, SPME is relatively new. It combines sample preparation and injection of the sample into one step. Analytes are adsorbed on a polymeric fiber coated with a stationary phase such as polydimethylsiloxane, which is thermally desorbed in the injection port at 250 °C. The successful use of the technique for the GC/MS analysis of the nerve agents in water has been described (42). Levels of less than... 

R.M. Black, R.J. Clarke, R.W. Read and M.T.J. Reid, Application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of chemical warfare samples, found to contain residues of the nerve agent sarin, sulfur mustard and their degradation products, J. Chromatogr., A, 662, 301-331 (1994). 

---