Nerve agents chemical

Nerve agent Chemical agent inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested that causes interference with the neural synapses and overstimulation of the nervous system, which in turn leads to overreactivity in the muscles and malfunctioning of various organs. The primary agents are tabun, sarin, soman, and VX. 

Synonyms Cyclosarin Cyclohexyl methylphos-phonofluoridate CMPF Cyclosin Methyl-phosphonofluoridic acid cyclohexyl ester Methyl cyclohexylfluorophosphonate Cyclohexyl ester of methylphosphonofluoridic acid Cyclo-hexylmethyl-fluorophosphonate Methylfluoro-cyclohexylphosphonate Nerve gas Nerve agent Chemical/Pharmaceutical/Other Class GF is a colorless, liquid, organophosphate human-made nerve agent with intermediate persistence. The evaporation rate is l/20th that of water. It has a... 

J. A. Vale, P. Rice and T. C. Marrs, Managing civilian casualties affected by nerve agents. Chemical Warfare Agents Toxicology and Treatment, ed. T. C. Marrs, R. L. Maynard and F. R. Sidell, John Wiley Sons, Ltd, Chichester, 2007, pp. 249-260. 

Vermillion, W. D. and Crenshaw, M. D., In-line respeciation an ion-exchange chromatographic method applied to the separation of degradation products of chemical warfare nerve agents in soil, /. Chromatogr. A, 770, 253, 1997. 

VM also called Edemo is a "V-series" nerve agent closely related to the better-known VX nerve gas. Like most of the agents in the V-series (with the exception of VX), VM has not been studied extensively studied. Little known about this compound other than its chemical formula. Since it is structurally very similar to VX it can be assumed that most properties will be similar also. 

The interplay between the chemical and biological properties of the threat agent, on the one hand, and the specific attack scenario, on the other, can influence the lethality of the attack. Table 2-2 shows the relative respiratory toxicities (expressed as the lethal concentration of toxin at which 50 percent of test animals are killed, or LCT50, in milligrams per minute per cubic meter) of a variety of toxic gases compared with chlorine gas, which was used as a chemical weapon in World War I. According to Table 2-2, the nerve agent sarin (GB) has a respiratory toxicity approximately 100 times that of chlorine, while sulfur mustard (HD) is about 7 times more toxic. However, the lethality of an attack... 

The Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-145) directed the Secretary of Defense to destroy all lethal unitary chemical munitions and agents by September 30, 1994, including organophosphate nerve agents such as GB. The act was amended in 1988 (Public Law 100-456) to allow for complete disposal of chemical munitions by April 1997. 

Structural firefighters protective clothing is recommended for fire situations only it is not effective in spill situations or release events. If chemical protective clothing is not available and it is necessary to rescue casualties from a contaminated area, then structural firefighters gear will provide very limited skin protection against nerve agent vapors. Contact with liquids, solids, and solutions should be avoided. 

Edgewood Research Development, and Engineering Center, Department of the Army. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Lethal Nerve Agent (GA). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Chemical Biological Defense Command, Revised February 28,1996. 

Fusek, J. and J. Bajgar. "Antidotal Treatment of Intoxication with New Nerve Agent G V." In Proceedings of the CB Medical Treatment Symposium an Exploration of Present Capabilities and Future Requirements for Chemical and Biological Medical Treatment. Edgewood, MD Battelle Memorial Institute, 1994, 6.6—6.8. 

This class of agents is not covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Because of the toxicity of the agents and lack of commercial application, carbamate nerve agents would be prohibited based on the Guidelines for Schedules of Chemicals. 

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