WARFARE AGENTSWARFARE AGENTS

Anusha Dhammi Anusha Dhammi WeerasooriyaWeerasooriya

Research OfficerResearch OfficerNational Poisons & Drug National Poisons & Drug

Information CentreInformation Centre

Warfare AgentsWarfare Agents Chemical Warfare Agents Chemical Warfare Agents

(CWA)(CWA)

Biological WeaponsBiological Weapons (BW)(BW) Agents that choking or Agents that choking or that irritate the lungsthat irritate the lungsBlood agentsBlood agentsBlistering agentsBlistering agentsNerve agentsNerve agents

HistoryHistory 1915 –CW occurred during World War 1-German 1915 –CW occurred during World War 1-German

forces released 160 tons of clforces released 160 tons of cl2 2 gas-killed 5000 soldiers.gas-killed 5000 soldiers. 1915-1918 WW1 Ger & british forces used 113000 1915-1918 WW1 Ger & british forces used 113000

tons of cltons of cl22,mustard gas, phosphene-killed 92000-1 ,mustard gas, phosphene-killed 92000-1 million pe:million pe:

1925- Geneva protocol banned using of CW and BW –1925- Geneva protocol banned using of CW and BW –initially signed by 38 nations.Now over130 nations.initially signed by 38 nations.Now over130 nations.

1930-1940 WW11 didn’t use BW or CW But Germans 1930-1940 WW11 didn’t use BW or CW But Germans developed CW nerve agents Sarin,Tabun,Somandeveloped CW nerve agents Sarin,Tabun,Soman

1970- During Vietnam War U.S. used defoliants 1970- During Vietnam War U.S. used defoliants 1995 –Sarin gas released into the Tokyo subway 1995 –Sarin gas released into the Tokyo subway

system,killed 12 people & injured over 5500 people in system,killed 12 people & injured over 5500 people in 16 stations.16 stations.

DefinitionDefinition

Any chemical which through its Any chemical which through its chemical effect on living process may chemical effect on living process may cause death, temporary loss of cause death, temporary loss of performance or permanent injury to performance or permanent injury to people and animals.people and animals.

CW Agents are CW Agents are Highly toxicHighly toxic Not too difficult to handleNot too difficult to handle capable of being stored after long periods in containers capable of being stored after long periods in containers

without degradation & corroding without degradation & corroding Resistant to atmospheric water & oxygenResistant to atmospheric water & oxygen With stand the heat developed when dispersedWith stand the heat developed when dispersed

Chemical warfare agentsChemical warfare agentsHighly toxicHighly toxicNot too difficult to handleNot too difficult to handleCapable of being stored after long Capable of being stored after long

periods in containers without periods in containers without degradation & corroding degradation & corroding

Resistant to atmospheric water & Resistant to atmospheric water & oxygenoxygen

Withstand the heat developed when Withstand the heat developed when dispersed with an explosive devicedispersed with an explosive device

Chlorine and PhosgeneChlorine and Phosgene

These can be gaseous or liquid formsThese can be gaseous or liquid formsPhosgene known as a carbonyl Phosgene known as a carbonyl

chloridechlorideLethal type of choking and irritant Lethal type of choking and irritant

agentsagentsCan act as aerosols and penetrate the Can act as aerosols and penetrate the

body through the Respiratory systembody through the Respiratory system

Chlorine and Phosgene Chlorine and Phosgene SymptomsSymptoms

Phosgene:Phosgene:

* Irritation Effects.* Irritation Effects.

* Corrosive effects to the eyes(blurred * Corrosive effects to the eyes(blurred

vision),skin and respiratory tractvision),skin and respiratory tract

* Long term:- Lung fibrosis of the lungs * Long term:- Lung fibrosis of the lungs

causing impaired lung functionscausing impaired lung functions

Chlorine: Chlorine: Quickly burns tissues of the Quickly burns tissues of the nose, nose,

mouth and lungsmouth and lungs

Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide salts (Blood Agent)salts (Blood Agent)

Highly poisonous & sufficient Highly poisonous & sufficient concentrations, rapidly leads to deathconcentrations, rapidly leads to death..

Concentration(mg/m3)Concentration(mg/m3) EffectEffect

300300 Immediately lethal Immediately lethal

200 200 Le: after 10 minutes Le: after 10 minutes

150 Le: after 30 min150 Le: after 30 min

120-150120-150 fatal 30-60 min fatal 30-60 min

50-6050-60 20min-1 hr without effect 20min-1 hr without effect

20-4020-40 light sym:after several hrs. light sym:after several hrs.

Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide salts (Blood Agent)salts (Blood Agent) contd…contd…

Colourless liquid, solid and gaseous forms Colourless liquid, solid and gaseous forms avail: avail:

Can wear a protective mask to reduce the Can wear a protective mask to reduce the threat poorly bound to Active carbon.threat poorly bound to Active carbon.

Difficult to use out doors due to high volatilityDifficult to use out doors due to high volatility Suddenly enters the blood stream and inhibit Suddenly enters the blood stream and inhibit

the cytochrome-oxydase the cytochrome-oxydase Reduce the energy(ATP) and reduce the cell Reduce the energy(ATP) and reduce the cell

respiration finally cell death and patient dies.respiration finally cell death and patient dies. (eg:HCN,Cyanogen Chloride)(eg:HCN,Cyanogen Chloride)

Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide

salts (Blood Agent)salts (Blood Agent) SymptomsSymptoms

Restlessness, giddiness, res: Restlessness, giddiness, res: difficulty, unconsciousnessdifficulty, unconsciousness

Extremely high concentrations, no Extremely high concentrations, no times for symptoms to develop, times for symptoms to develop, sudden collapse and death.sudden collapse and death.

Antidote: Dicobolt editate and Antidote: Dicobolt editate and hydroxocobalaminhydroxocobalamin

Arsines/CO(Blood Agent)Arsines/CO(Blood Agent)

Aliphatic arsenic compounds are Aliphatic arsenic compounds are called Lewisitecalled Lewisite

Highly volatile colourless liquidHighly volatile colourless liquid Injuries are similar to mustard agents Injuries are similar to mustard agents

but not delayed.but not delayed.Destroy the ability of the Hb Destroy the ability of the Hb

component of the Blood to bind component of the Blood to bind OxygenOxygen

Arsines/CO(Blood Agent)Arsines/CO(Blood Agent) SymptomsSymptoms

nasal and throat irritationnasal and throat irritationOther symptoms are same as Other symptoms are same as

mustardmustardAntidote: DimercaptopropanolAntidote: Dimercaptopropanol

Mustard Agents Mustard Agents (Blistering Agent)(Blistering Agent)

Eg: 2-Chloroethyl sulphideEg: 2-Chloroethyl sulphideCan release from a baloon or aeroplaneCan release from a baloon or aeroplaneColourless heavy oily liquid and almost Colourless heavy oily liquid and almost

odourlessodourlessSymptoms donot occur until 2-24hrs Symptoms donot occur until 2-24hrs

after exposureafter exposureSp: attacks the blood generating organs.Sp: attacks the blood generating organs.No AntidotesNo Antidotes

Mustard AgentsMustard Agents(Blistering Agent) Contd….(Blistering Agent) Contd….

Attacks the blood generating organs Attacks the blood generating organs (spleen, born marrow and lymphatic (spleen, born marrow and lymphatic

tissues)tissues)Reduction of WBCReduction of WBCReduction immune defenses Reduction immune defenses Risk of severe infectionRisk of severe infectionSevere skin and lung injuriesSevere skin and lung injuriesNo AntidotesNo Antidotes

Mustard AgentsMustard Agents(Blistering Agent) Symptoms(Blistering Agent) Symptoms

MildMild::Aching eyes with tears,Aching eyes with tears, Inflammation of the skinInflammation of the skin Irritation of the mucous membrane and Irritation of the mucous membrane and

coughing, sneezing, hoarsenesscoughing, sneezing, hoarseness SevereSevere: : Loss of sight blisters on the skinLoss of sight blisters on the skin Vomiting and diarrheaVomiting and diarrhea Severe respiratory difficultySevere respiratory difficulty Pulmonary oedema & chemical pneumoniaPulmonary oedema & chemical pneumonia

Sarin Gas (Nerve gas)Sarin Gas (Nerve gas)

Extremely toxic nerve gas Extremely toxic nerve gas Organophosphorus compoundOrganophosphorus compound Colourless and odourlessColourless and odourless Attacks the nervous system.Attacks the nervous system. In high concentrations, can kill within 2-15 In high concentrations, can kill within 2-15

minutes of exposure.minutes of exposure. Eg: tabun, soman -G seriesEg: tabun, soman -G series VX,VE,VG,VM-V Series-can kill within VX,VE,VG,VM-V Series-can kill within

few few hours (low toxic)hours (low toxic)

Sarin Gas (Nerve gas)Sarin Gas (Nerve gas) SymptomsSymptoms

Blurred vision Blurred vision Chest tightnessChest tightnessNausea,vomittingNausea,vomitting Increase heart rateIncrease heart rateLoss of consciousnessLoss of consciousnessSeizureSeizureParalysis and deathParalysis and death

Biological Weapons(BW)Biological Weapons(BW)

Naturally occurring organisms and Naturally occurring organisms and their toxins or mutant toxins cause their toxins or mutant toxins cause diseases diseases

eg. Bacteria,Viruses,Plantseg. Bacteria,Viruses,PlantsIdeal CharacteristicsIdeal Characteristics High infectivityHigh infectivityHigh potencyHigh potencyNon availability of vaccinesNon availability of vaccinesDelivery as an aerosolDelivery as an aerosol

Biological Weapons(BW)Biological Weapons(BW) SpeciesSpecies

AnthraxAnthraxClostridiumClostridium botulinumbotulinum, , CC. . perfringensperfringensSmallpoxSmallpoxRicinusRicinus(Ricin)(Ricin)Rout of ExposureRout of ExposureCutaneous, Inhalational, OralCutaneous, Inhalational, OralSpecially attacks the mouth, throat, Specially attacks the mouth, throat,

circulatory system, CNS and braincirculatory system, CNS and brain

Biological Weapons(BW)Biological Weapons(BW) SymptomsSymptoms

Microbe symptomsMicrobe symptoms Bacillus anthracis Bacillus anthracis Pulmonary AnthraxPulmonary Anthrax

Septicemia, Flu-like symptoms Septicemia, Flu-like symptoms

Clostridium Clostridium botulinumbotulinum Weakness, Double Vision and Vertigo, Weakness, Double Vision and Vertigo,

Difficulty in Speaking, Swallowing, and Difficulty in Speaking, Swallowing, and Breathing, Muscle Weakness Breathing, Muscle Weakness

Clostridium Clostridium perfringensperfringens Gas gangrene, Severe Abdominal Cramps,Gas gangrene, Severe Abdominal Cramps, Diarrhoea Diarrhoea

RICINRICIN Severe Abdominal Pain,Severe Abdominal Pain, Watery and Bloody Diarrhea, Vomiting, Watery and Bloody Diarrhea, Vomiting,

Weakness, Fever, Cough, and Pulmonary Weakness, Fever, Cough, and Pulmonary EdemaEdema

Variola Virus Variola Virus Severe Abdominal Pain,Severe Abdominal Pain, Watery and Bloody Diarrhea, Vomiting, Watery and Bloody Diarrhea, Vomiting, Weakness, Weakness,

Fever, Cough, and Pulmonary Edema Fever, Cough, and Pulmonary Edema

Antidotes are available for Antidotes are available for following chemicalsfollowing chemicals

Arsines-British Anti Lewisite, Arsines-British Anti Lewisite, DimercaptopropanolDimercaptopropanol

Cyanides-Sodium Cyanides-Sodium thiosulphate,dicobolt thiosulphate,dicobolt editate,Hydroxocobalamin,NaNa2editate,Hydroxocobalamin,NaNa2

Sarin- Atropin & PralidoximSarin- Atropin & Pralidoxim

First AidFirst Aid

Remove the patient away from further Remove the patient away from further exposure.exposure.

Important measure is to rapidly & thoroughly Important measure is to rapidly & thoroughly decontaminate the patient decontaminate the patient

Clothes are removedClothes are removed Body must wash body with soap thoroughlyBody must wash body with soap thoroughly In severe exposure ,hair must be shaved offIn severe exposure ,hair must be shaved off Eyes are rinsed with water or a Normal Saline Eyes are rinsed with water or a Normal Saline

for at least 5min: for at least 5min: Do not give mouth to mouth respirationDo not give mouth to mouth respiration

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