Richard Justice

The Dastardly Story of Mustard Gas

Discovery/HistoryThere are a total of three

mustard gases, but the one that is most commonly known is called “Sulfur Mustard.”

Sulfur Mustard Gas was first synthesized in 1859 by Dr. Guthrie.

Was first used by the Germans in World War I in 1917 in Ypres, Belgium. (Stewart)

History continuedIt was designed to take the soldiers out of the fight

but not kill them, ie: high causality rates but “low” death rates.

In WWI the death rate from mustard gas is said to be 2.5%

It was also used in 1936 in the Italian-Ethiopian conflict and most recently used in the 1980’s in the wars with Iraq and Iran (Sullivan).

Physical Properties Formula: C4H8Cl2S Melting/Freezing Point at 1 atm:

13-14˚C Boiling Point at 1 atm: 215-

217˚C Molecular Weight: 159.08g Solubility: Slightly soluble in

water, very soluble in lipid/fat solvents

Appearance: colorless when pure, usually yellow or brown when not pure

Odor: garlic-like (Pechura)

SynthesisDr. Meyer first synthesized pure sulfur-mustard gas by

having 2-chloroethanol to react with potassium sulfide to produce thiodiglycol.

2ClCH₂CH₂OH + K₂S → S(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ + 2KClThe next step is to have thiodiglycol react with

phosphorus trichloride to produce mustard gas.3S(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ + 2PCl₃ → 3S(CH₂CH₂Cl)₂ +

2P(OH)₃HCl, COCl₂, and SOCl₂ can be used instead of 2PCl₃

(Pechura)

Why use it?Very potentHard to detectCheap, easy synthesisReadily deployed in explosivesDifficult to protect from

Garment penetrationLingers on clothes and equipment (Stewart)

Concentration ppm Exposure Time (minutes) Damage Area0.1 10 eye and skin

1 60 lung (serious)10 60 life threatening

100 10 terminal within hours

Mechanism of ToxicityBinds to DNA and forms cross linking that

inhibits mitosis, glycolysis, releases tissue proteases, and eventually results in cellular death.

Binding is done through an alkylation reactions that are fast and irreversible. (Stewart)

+Cl

SCl

HClH2N

SCl

DNA--------NH_2 +

DNA-----------

Health EffectsLike any other chemical both the amount and time

of exposure are what determines how much damage and where the damage to the body is.

Overall Mustard Gas is a mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic.

The most common body parts that are effected by the gas are the lungs, eyes, skin. There are a few other parts included as well but the lungs, eyes, and skin are the most effected by it. (Stewart)

SkinMost of the damage is done on the regions

where skin layers are less thick and more moist, such as the face, scrotum, anal regions, groin and axilla

Toxicity increases with temperature.Mild cases lead to effects similar to sunburn

and more severe cases can lead to blisters, black skin, fluid loss, hypovolemia and renial failure. (Stewart)

EyesMost likely to be damagedCan lead to light intolerance, eye spasms, and

even corneal damage in the worst cases, which could lead to blindness. (Stewart)

LungsMost common means organ that damage can lead to deathAfter hours of exposure the victims start to experience

tracheobronchitis which will lead to sore throat, coughing, sinus pain, etc.

Symptoms worsen in 12 hours and responds poorly to any relief.After several days inflammation of airway occurs within a few

days, and in severe cases respiratory failure occurs within 24-48 hours.

Even some mild exposure can lead to lung cancer for some patients (when they get older) (Stewart)

1%-3% mortality rate from exposureKills by respiratory failure, bone marrow damage,

infection, or burns.Spread through contact is high (Stewart)

Treatment:Burns: similar to thermal burns, use silver sulfadiazine

creamsEyes: atropinre eye drops, topical steroids, dark eye

glasses to cover eyes Inhalation: cool steam and cough drops for mild, oxygen

supplemented breathing support and intubation (most extreme) should used for more severe cases

Cure: NONE (Stewart)

Silent but Lethal

Protection• The best way to prevent

poisoning is to wear a gas mask that can filter out the mustard gas and wear a protective suit that is specifically designed for chemical warfare (like the one in the picture). (Stewart)

• The most important detail about the suit is that it MUST NOT have any leaks or be too thin with the protection, otherwise you will get poisoned.

Stewart, Charles. Weapons of Mass Casualties and Terrorism Response. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers Inc., 2006. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=7ZnXZfwWwgcC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=levinstein+inventor+mustard&hl=en#v=onepage&q=levinstein%20inventor%20mustard&f=false. Nov 11, 2012. Pages 46-49.

Pechura, Constance M. and Rall, David P. Veterans at Risk: The Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite. Washington D.C.: National Academic Press, 1993. The National Academic Press. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2058&page=71 Nov 11, 2012. Pages 24, 71-72.

Sullivan, Kathleen. “Vial found in Presidio may be mustard gas/ Army experts expected to identify substance.” San Francisco Chronicle. October 22, 2002. Hearst Newspapers. http://www.sfgate.com/green/article/Vial-found-in-Presidio-may-be-mustard-gas-Army-2760483.php. Nov 11, 2012.

References

Angelfire. War in Iraq. NBC protection suits. Apr 8, 2003. http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/war.in.iraq/pages/22.htm. Nov 14, 2012.

Dr. Dayat. Causes of Lung Cancer. Lung with Cancer damage. 2010. http://lung-cancer-treatments.blogspot.com/2011/06/causes-of-lung-cancer-asbestos-cancer.html. Nov 14, 2012.

Dr. Sidell, Frederick R. Vesicants. Ann Med Milit Belg. 1989; 3s:12. http://www.sc-ems.com/ems/NuclearBiologicalChemical/MedicalAspectsofNBC/chapters/chapter_7.htm. Nov 14, 2012.

Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Sri Lanka Launches Gas Attacks on Tamil Civilians, and Tamils Prepare for More. A Civilian Victim of Chemical Weapons in the no fire zone. May 3, 2009. http://www.sangam.org/2009/05/Gas_Attacks.php?uid=3480. Nov 14, 2012.

Image References

Royality Free Images. Sulfer Mustard Gas Molecule Image. 2012. http://www.inmagine.com/spl018/spl018511-photo. Nov 14, 2012.

Norton, Amy. Sulfer Mustard is one of the oldest chemical weapons. Mar 27, 2011. http://www.onislam.net/english/health-and-science/news/451565-working-with-mustard-gas-linked-to-lung-cancer.html. Nov 14, 2012.

Image References Continued