Nerve Agents - Novichok

Nerve Agents are hazardous through inhalation, skin and eye exposure, ingestion, and abraded skin (e.g., breaks in the skin or penetration of skin by debris). 

Human toxicity data for the Novichok series Nerve Agents has not been published or has not been established. However, available information indicates that under optimum conditions Novichok agents are 5 to 8 times more effective than nerve agent VX (see Agent Index AGIO, Class Index C02). 

Novichok Nerve Agents may occur in a binary form (see Class Index COS). Components, byproducts, or solvents may have toxic properties and present additional hazards. These materials may also impact the rate that the agents volatilize or penetrate the skin. 

The rate of detoxification of other nerve agents by the body is very low and exposures are essentially cumulative. It should be assumed that Novichok agents are also cumulative. 

Emergency Action for Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents 

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Although no details are available, these agents are a novel family of binary nerve agents. Novichok compounds were derived from this new set of unitary agents (no official name for this series of compounds is available, so for lack of a better name, A-series nerve agents) designated A-230, A-232, and A-234, which had been created earlier. 

This series of agents are a new class of nerve agents developed by the former Soviet Union. Very little information is available about them.. It has been reported that this class of agents are five to eight, possibly as much as lOx stronger as VX. They are conjectured to be the unitary nerve agents from the binary novichoks. A-230 maybe the result of novichok- and novichok- combining. 

Solid hypochlorites (e.g., HTH, STB, and Dutch powder) should also be effective in destroying novichok series nerve agents. Reaction with hypochlorites, including household bleach, may produce toxic gases such as chlorine. 

Although specific data have not been published in the unclassified literature, preliminary studies indicate that reactive oximes and their salts, such as potassium 2,3-butanedione monoximate found in commercially available RSDL, are extremely effective at rapidly detoxifying novichok series nerve agents. Also, based on similarities to other organophosphates, basic peroxides (e.g., a solution of baking soda, 30-50% hydrogen peroxide, and an alcohol) should rapidly detoxify novichok agents. 

OPs are known to induce time-delayed neurotoxicity. This is due to the inhibition of an esterase in nerve tissue, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), that is also found in muscle and blood cells. The NTE level in the blood is an indicator of the inhibition of the enzyme. Inhibition of NTE and aging, the process of following the OP binding to an active esterase site that prevents the reactivation of the site, is important for selection of an antidote against certain OP nerve agents. It is of primary concern for Novichok agent. There is little information available on OP-caused neurotoxicity and the cardiac toxicity. 

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. 

Information on any physical characteristics of Novichok Nerve Agents has not been published. 

Liquids It is not known which, if any, detector systems are capable of detecting Novichok Nerve Agents. 

As with other Nerve Agents (see Class Indices COl through C03) Novichok Nerve Agents pose both a severe respiratory and severe contact hazard. Wear appropriate fully encapsulating protective gear with positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters protective... 

It has not been published how Novichok Nerve Agents will respond to treatment with standard antidotes (i.e., atropine in combination with pralidoxime chloride. See Class Indices COl through C03). It is known that some of the agents in this class have been designed to be resistant to therapy. 

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