Arsines

Arsines

Source: A FOA Briefing Book on Chemical Weapons

Among the arsenal of chemical weapons can be found mustard agent mixed with lewisite which is an aliphatic arsenic compound, 2-chlorovinyldichloroarsine. Pure lewisite is a colorless liquid. Solubility in water is approximately the same as for mustard agent but the volatility is much higher. Hydrolysis in water is faster than for mustard agent. Injuries caused by lewisite are similar to those caused by mustard agent.

However, the mechanism of action for lewisite is different. From the diagnostic viewpoint, an important difference is that symptoms in lewisite poisoning are not delayed and the irritating effect occurs immediately. Skin damage is treated in the same way as after exposure to mustard agent. A specific antidote (BAL, British Anti Lewisite, dimercaptopropanol) gives good protection against local injuries to skin and mucous membrane. BAL also has effect against systemic poisoning.

Other arsenic-containing substances have also been of interest as CW agents. One example is adamsite, 10-chloro-5,10-dihydrophenarsazine, which is a nasal and throat-irritating powder.

Nuclear	Biological	Chemical
North Anna Power Station Surry Power Station UVA Nuclear Reactor Facility Decommissioned in 1998 FEMA Fact Sheet: Nuclear Power Plant Emergency	Introduction Medical Management History of Biological Warfare and Current Threat Medical Aspects of the Biological Threat Bacterial Agents   Anthrax    Brucellosis    Cholera    Glanders    Plague    Tularemia    Q Fever Viruses     Smallpox     Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis     Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Biological Toxins   Botulinum    Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B    Ricin    T-2 Mycotoxins Personal Protection Decontamination Appendix A: Glossary of Medical Terms Appendix B: Patient and Precaution Levels Appendix C:  Comparative Lethality: Toxins/Chemicals Appendix D: Aerosol Toxicity: Toxins Appendix E: Differential Diagnosis: Toxins/Nerve Agent Appendix F: Specimens for Lab Diagnosis Appendix G: BW Agents: Lab Identification Appendix H: BW Agents: Characteristics Appendix I: BW Agents: Vaccines, Therapeutics and Prophylactics Appendix J: Medical Sample Collection for Biological Threat Agents	Introduction Nerve Agents Mustard Agents Hydrogen Cyanide Tear Gases Arsines Psychotomimetic Agents Toxins Potential CW Agents