Organophosphorus nerve agent

The potency of these insecticides towards humans was not realized until there was yet another accident, which involved a Tabun spill. Schrader and coworkers began experiencing symptoms, such as miosis (constriction of the pupils of the eyes), dizziness and severe shortness of breath, with numerous effects lasting several weeks [1, 4, 5]. 

A number of years prior to Schrader s discovery, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government required that all inventions with potential military significance must be reported to the government [1, 3,4]. After Schrader s discovery, the government secretly became involved in the development of chemical weapons for military use and built several large classified facilities during World War II for the further investigation 

After the end of World War II, the Allied nations began to divide the captured chemical weapons amongst themselves, and continue research on chemical nerve agents [5]. 

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Cheng T-C, SP Harvey, GL Chen (1996) Cloning and expression of a gene encoding a bacterial enzyme for decontamination of organophosphorus nerve agents and nucleotide sequence of the enzyme. Appl Environ Microbiol 62 1636-1641. 

Very sparingly soluble in water (less than 1%) freely soluble in oils and fats, gasoline, kerosene, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, alcohol, PS, and FM. Miscible with DP, L, ED, PD and the organophosphorus nerve agents. 

K.A. Joshi, J. Tang, R. Haddon, J. Wang, W. Chen, and A. Mulchnadani, A disposable biosensor for organophosphorus nerve agents based on carbon nanotubes modified thick film strip electrode. 

D.P. Dumas, H.D. Durst, W.G. Landis, F.M. Raushel, and J.R. Wild, Inactivation of organophosphorus nerve agents by the phosphotriesterase from Pseudomonas diminuta. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 277, 155-159 (1990). 

There are four major series of organophosphorus nerve agents. 

The rate of detoxification of organophosphorus nerve agents by the body is very low. Exposures are essentially cumulative. 

Most organophosphorus nerve agents decompose slowly in water. Raising the pH of an aqueous solution of these agents significantly increases the rate of decomposition. Reaction with dry bleach may produce toxic gases. 

Enzyme Stabilization in Nanostructured Materials, for Use in Organophosphorus Nerve Agent Detoxification and Prophylaxis... 

Le Moullec S et al (2006) Selective extraction of organophosphorus nerve agent degradation products by molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction. J Chromatogr A 1108(1 ) 7—13... 

A device based on a porous silica substrate used as a Fabry-Perot interferometer has been reported as a sensor for organophosphorus nerve agents. The porous silica is coated with a surfactant and a copper hydrolysis catalyst. The mode of operation... 

Nieuwenhuizen, M.S. and Harteveld, J.L.N., Development of a surface acoustic wave gas sensor for organophosphorus nerve agents employing lanthanide compounds as the chemical interface, Ta/anta, 41, 461 (1994). 

A. Miki, M. Katagi, H. Tsuchihashi and M. Yama-shita, Determination of alkylmethylphosphonic acids, the main metabolites of organophosphorus nerve agents, in biofluids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid-liquid-solid-phase-transfer-catalyzed pentafluorobenzy-lation, J. Anal. Toxicol., 23, 86-93 (1999). 

W.J. Driskell, M. Shih, L.L. Needham and D.B. Barr, Quantitation of organophosphorus nerve agent metabolites in human urine using isotope dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, J. Anal. Toxicol., 26, 6-10 (2002). 

Organophosphorus nerve agents are the most potent of the lethal CW agents declared to the OPCW. They were developed just before, during, and shortly after WW II, but were not used in that conflict. 

Dale TJ, Rebek J Jr. Fluorescent sensors for organophosphorus nerve agent mimics. J Am Chem Soc 2006 128 4500-1. 

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