What Are the Chemical Warfare Agents?
Chemical warfare agents are artificial chemical weapons containing toxic substances mainly used for military operations and terrorist activities, causing mass destruction to life and property. They can be used in the form of gas, aerosols, liquid, or dust and have deadly effects on human life. These chemical weapons or terrorism are highly toxic and can cause massive human suffering, thus posing a severe threat to humanity. Although chemical warfare agents are prohibited in the modern era by Geneva Protocol (1925), their unethical use in any way can be life-threatening globally.
What Are the Types of Chemical Warfare Agents?
1. Nerve Agents- These chemical warfare agents block the enzyme action of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the human nervous system, thus blocking the nerve impulses. Nerve agents have a high toxicity level and can act much faster by getting absorbed through the lungs and skin. These agents are mainly of two types: V-series and G-series agents. V-series have a much more hazardous effect, and only a milligram of this agent can lead to death. In addition, its influence remains in the environment for much longer. In contrast, G-series are less effective and can be found in the environment for a short duration after dispersion.
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Examples: Sarin (GB), Tabun (GA), Cyclosarin(GF), VX.
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Dispersal Forms: Vapor, aerosol, dust, and liquid.
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Common Effects: Headache, blurred vision, salivation, sweating, lacrimation, and high-dose exposure causes muscle paralysis, loss of body control, seizures, and unconsciousness.
Diagnosis: Nerve agents are not easily detectable in routine body testing like urine and blood tests. Therefore, doctors provide treatments according to the signs and symptoms present and the chemical exposure history given by the person.
Treatment: Atropine sulfate treatment is given to neutralize the toxic effects of the poison, and it also helps clear the passage for breathing freely. Mark I kit is a self-administration kit for military purposes in the field that contains atropine and pralidoxime with two spring-loaded devices for injecting.
2. Blister Agents- These agents are very toxic and can cause life-threatening severe burns on the skin that resemble blisters. The blister agents are oily substances that can affect the eyes and the respiratory tract via inhalation of the poison and can cause a high number of casualties but a low death rate.
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Examples: Sulfur mustard (H, HD), Nitrogen mustard (HN), Lewisite (L), and Phosgene (CX).
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Dispersal Forms: Vapor, aerosol, dust, and liquid.
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Common Effects: Skin burns, eye, and mucus membrane; Blisters on skin, lungs, and windpipe.
Diagnosis: Observations are made based on signs and symptoms only because body testing does not serve the purpose.
Treatment: Obstructions in the upper airway are treated with surgery of the tube to free the airway passage. Severe burns can be excruciating; dead tissues are removed and rinsed. Then antibiotics like Sulfadiazine are placed over the area for healing, and a tetanus shot is also given to the affected person. Regular irrigation is done in case of burning eyes, and solutions or corticosteroids are given for topical application as a treatment.
3. Choking Agents- These agents mainly affect the respiratory tract and cause choking by irritating the lungs, nose, and throat. These agents cause the alveoli or air sacs in the lungs to secrete fluid on inhalation of the toxic chemical and produce breathing difficulty, thus causing a choke.
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Examples: Disphogene(DP) , Phosgene(CG),Chlorine(Cl) and Chloropicrin(PS).
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Dispersal Forms: Gas.
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Common Effects: Choking, Fluid accumulation in lungs.
Diagnosis: It is based on signs and symptoms and any known history of chemical agent exposure.
Treatment: A high dose of steroids is given to subside the respiratory swelling. Oxygen therapy or secretion management can be done. In some severe cases, mechanical ventilation and intubation are required to help the patient breathe.
4. Blood Agents- These chemical warfare agents are mainly arsenic or cyanide group of chemicals that can act by blocking the activity of the cells to use oxygen, thus, causing suffocation in the body. These agents can also inhibit the blood cells from oxygen transfer and can be absorbed through the skin and lungs.
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Examples: Arsin (SA), Cyanogen Chloride (CK), and Hydrogen Cyanide (AC).
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Dispersal Forms: Gas.
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Common Effects: It affects the cardiovascular, central nervous, and respiratory systems and impairs the cell's ability to use oxygen.
Diagnosis: Clinical evaluation and triage are done in medical treatment, and laboratory findings usually show low arteriovenous oxygen, an increase in lactate level, and high anion-gap acidemia.
Treatment: For cyanide exposure, antidotal therapy is given, and if the antidote is unavailable, the administration of 100% oxygen and ventilation is helpful. Hydrogen sulfide exposure can also be treated with oxygen therapy and supportive care.
What Are the Preventive Measures Against Chemical Weapons?
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Personal protective gear like face masks, protective clothing, fixed or mobile shelters, filter for masks, and shelter to remove toxic particles can help protect the individual during chemical terrorism.
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Overgarments for protection containing charcoal can reduce exposure and the risk of fatality or casualty.
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These protective gears must be removed in toxic-free shelters, and proper decontamination measures must be followed.
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Antidotes and other emergency medicines must be stocked in health facilities, especially military hospitals because they are at more risk during wars.
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Resuscitation or CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), ventilation, and other emergency equipment must be stocked and maintained adequately during any such situation to minimize the death count due to improper infrastructure.
Conclusion:
Chemical warfare agents are a severe threat to human life and security worldwide. Unethical uses of these agents cannot be prevented due to readily available raw material, information, corruption, and globalization. Mock drills at individual and organizational levels for chemical attack situations must be done for proper protection, detection, and decontamination. The nearest hospitals must have antidotes, protective gear, and decontamination facilities.
