Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents

摘要: Irritant or toxic chemicals have been used in warfare since ancient times and a number of international laws attempted to prevent the use such weapons. However, chemical agents remain be global threat so it is important maintain an understanding their mechanism action, clinical effects identify effective treatment regimes. Chemical traditionally classified according medical effect(s) military application. Vesicant (for example, sulphur mustard lewisite) are highly potent acute contact irritants may cause severe skin damage following dermal exposure as well extensive other epithelial surfaces (such lungs eyes). Vesicants generally considered non-lethal that they debilitating (rather than fatal) injuries. Indeed, some specifically for irritating lethal) effects. For riot control CS CR lachrymators but lack any significant, systemic toxicity respiratory exposure. In contrast, developed on account lethality these include nerve sarin, tabun, soman VX), lung damaging (phosgene chlorine) poisons cyanides. A large miscellany other, more exotic exist endogenous bioregulators plant, animal, marine fungal toxins. Keywords: chemical warfare; mustard gas; nerve agent; cholinesterase; decontamination; phosgene