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Terrorism Home • Terrorism Basics • VDEM Terrorism Toolkit
Description
Q: What are nerve agents?
A: Nerve agents are considered the most dangerous of the chemical warfare agents. Nerve agents can cause loss of consciousness and convulsions within seconds and death within minutes of exposure. The most common nerve agents, Tabun, Sarin and Soman, were originally developed as pesticides by Germany in the 1930s. Great Britain developed another type of nerve agent, VX, in the 1950s.
Q: Aren't nerve agents also known as nerve gases?
A: Although many of the nerve agents are called gases, they actually are oily liquids, which can be released as an aerosol spray or mixed with other liquids.
Q: How do nerve agents work?
A: A nerve agent signals glands in your body to "turn on." However, the glands no longer can turn themselves off. As a result, the body produces copious secretions, runny nose, watery eyes, excess saliva. The nerve impulses cause uncontrollable muscular movement and in the final stages, seizures and convulsions.
Transmission
Q: How do nerve agents get into the human body?
A: Exposure to nerve agents can occur via inhalation (breathing), skin contact or ingestion (digestive tract). All nerve agents are readily absorbed through the skin and eyes in liquid form. In vapor form, they are readily absorbed into the respiratory tract and eyes. Ingestion is rare, but deadly.
Q: How long do nerve agents last in the air?
A: It varies according to the agent:
Q: Can nerve agents be mixed with water?
A: Yes, they are clear, colorless and tasteless liquids that mix in water. They are difficult to detect when mixed, as they are almost odor free. In their pure form, Soman and Tabun have a slightly fruity odor and Sarin and VX are odorless.
Symptoms
Q: What are the symptoms of nerve agent exposure?
A: Nerve agents all produce similar symptoms. Depending on the amount of exposure, nerve agents can cause: pinpoint pupils (miosis), watery eyes, runny nose (rhinorrhea), difficulty in breathing, drooling, excessive sweating, tightness in the chest, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, convulsions, seizures, twitching, jerking, staggering, paralysis, headache, confusion, drowsiness, coma and death.
Q: How quickly do symptoms appear following exposure?
A: The inhalation of vapors causes respiratory tract effects within seconds or minutes. Death can occur within minutes to hours from respiratory failure.
Medical response
Q: Is there treatment for exposure to nerve agents?
A: There is some assistance for nerve agent victims that trained emergency responders can provide, however:
Trained medical responders treat patients in the following ways:
Q: Are there antidotes for nerve agents?
A: Yes, atropine, pralidoxime chloride and diazepam are antidotes. Only trained and properly protected medical personnel can administer these antidotes.
Q: Is there anything I can do to help a nerve agent victim?
A: Unless you are a trained emergency responder or medical provider with proper protective gear, do not enter the area where victims are.
Rescuers can become contaminated with nerve agents by direct contact with skin or clothing or by off-gassing vapor, even after the vapor has dissipated from the area. If you can see the victims, you are too close and will need to be decontaminated. Seek nearby medical assistance and listen to your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television stations for information and instruction.
Decontamination
Q: If nerve agents contaminate me, what can I do to decontaminate myself following exposure?
A: Procedures for decontamination are similar for various nerve agents:
Protective actions
Q: Would wearing a gas mask or protective suit be of any use following an attack with nerve agents?
A: Unless the mask or protective suit is specifically designed for the particular agent used and custom-fitted to the wearer, they will not provide protection. Also to be effective, you would have to keep the mask with you at all times and be prepared to use it within a moments notice.
Description
Q: What are blister agents?
A: Blister agents, also called vesicants, are chemical agents that cause red skin (erythema), blisters, irritation, eye damage, respiratory damage and gastrointestinal damage. Mustard is one of the commonly used blister agents.
Q: Have these agents been used in warfare?
A: Blister agents, specifically mustard have been a military threat since first introduced in World War I. Italy allegedly used mustard in the 1930s against Abyssinia. Egypt used mustard in the 1960s against Yemen. Iraq used mustard against Iran and against the Kurds.
Transmission
Q: What does mustard look like?
A: Mustard in its pure liquid form is colorless and odorless; however, weapons grade material is yellow to dark brown or black. Mustard's odor is described as similar to horseradish, onions or burning garlic.
Symptoms
Q: How do blister agents affect an individual?
A: The effect of blister agents is similar to that of a corrosive chemical like lye or a strong acid.
Q: What are the specific effects of mustard on a person?
A: Sulfur mustards are extremely toxic if inhaled and may damage the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and suppress the immune system.
Q: When do the effects of mustard show up?
A: Although mustard causes cellular changes within minutes of contact, the onset of pain and other symptoms is delayed. (If a mustard-Lewisite mixture is used the onset of pain is more immediate.)
Medical response
Q: Is there an antidote for mustard?
A: No, there is no antidote for mustard exposure.
Q: Is there treatment for exposure to mustard?
A: Yes, trained personnel in protective gear can provide some treatment. Decontamination within minutes after exposure is the only effective means of decreasing tissue damage. Medical responders may also provide ventilation for respiratory distress.
Q: Can I help mustard victims?
A: Do not attempt to treat victims yourself. Call local emergency responders for assistance. You cannot safely treat victims of chemical poisoning, unless you are trained in emergency medical response and have the proper protective gear.
Decontamination
Q: If I'm contaminated, what can I do to decontaminate myself following exposure?
A: Procedures for decontamination are:
Protective actions
Q: Would wearing a gas mask or protective suit be of any use following an attack with blister agents?
A: Unless the mask or protective suit is specifically designed for the particular agent used and custom-fitted to the wearer, they will not provide protection. Since most attacks occur without warning you would need to wear the proper equipment at all times for it to effectively protect you.
Description
Q: What are blood agents?
A: Blood agents are toxic industrial chemicals such as cyanide. Pure weaponized forms of these agents are gases, but many cyanide compounds are found as solids, powders or in liquid form.
Q: Have blood agents been used as weapons?
A: Yes, the French used about 4,000 tons of cyanide in World War I without significant success.
Q: What is the availability of cyanide?
A: The United States chemical industry manufactures over 300,000 tons of hydrogen cyanide annually. Cyanides are used in electroplating, mineral extraction, dyeing, printing, photography and agriculture, and in the manufacture of paper, textiles and plastics.
Transmission
Q: How can I be exposed to blood agents?
A: Exposure can occur by contact with either liquids or vapors.
Q: How can I tell if I've been exposed to cyanide?
A: Although it is a colorless gas or liquid, some victims report an odor of bitter or burnt almond or peach kernels.
Symptoms
Q: What damage can blood agents cause?
A: These chemicals can cause rapid respiratory arrest and death by blocking the absorption of oxygen to the cells and organs through the bloodstream.
Q: What are the symptoms of exposure to blood agents?
A: These agents irritate the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract. Inhalation of blood agents causes confusion, drowsiness and shortness of breath. Symptoms of exposure may include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, convulsions, cardiac arrest and death.
Medical response
Q: Is there any treatment for blood agents?
A: Yes, there are some antidotes trained medical personnel can use for blood agents. Also, moving the victim to fresh air, if possible, can help minimize the impacts of cyanide exposure.
Q: Is there anything I can do to help a victim?
A: No. There is nothing an untrained person without the proper protective equipment can do to assist a victim of blood agents.
Decontamination
Q: If I'm contaminated, what can I do to decontaminate myself following blood agent exposure?
A: Take the following steps:
Protective actions
Q: Would wearing a gas mask or protective suit be of any use following an attack with blood agents?
A: Unless the mask or protective suit is specifically designed for the particular agent used and custom-fitted to the wearer, they will not provide protection. Since attacks usually occur without warning, you would need to wear the mask and suit all the time for it to be effective.
Description
Q: What are choking agents?
A: Choking (pulmonary) agents are toxic industrial chemicals such as chlorine and phosgene.
Q: When have these agents been used?
A: Historically, both sides in World War I used chlorine and phosgene. The U.S. military no longer stockpiles these agents.
Q: How do choking agents work?
A: Inhaled chlorine mixes with the moisture in the lungs and turns to hydrochloric acid. The acid causes fluid build-up in the lungs, which impedes oxygen transfer and causes the victim to drown. This condition is often called "dry-land drowning."
Transmission
Q: How can I be exposed to choking agents?
A: Exposure to these agents is through inhalation (breathing) of vapors or skin contact.
Q: Are these agents visible when in use?
A: In its pure form, chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent odor. Phosgene is a colorless gas with the odor of mowed grass or hay.
Symptoms
Q: What are the symptoms of choking agents?
A: The primary effect of choking agents is pulmonary edema – water in the lungs. Other symptoms may include eye and airway irritation, shortness of breath and chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, choking, severe coughing and dry-land drowning.
Q: How quickly following exposure do symptoms occur?
A: Direct skin exposure to any form of phosgene causes immediate pain. Immediate irritation also occurs to the upper respiratory tract. Exposure to high concentrations of chlorine gas immediately leads to respiratory distress.
Q: In what other ways do these agents affect the body?
A: In the following ways:
Medical response
Q: Are there any antidotes for these agents?
A: There is no known treatment for phosgene exposure. Mortality is high; however, some exposed people have survived. There is no antidote for chlorine. Treatment for poisoning by either chemical is supportive.
Q: How can I treat someone exposed to choking agents?
A: Do not attempt to treat victims yourself. Call your local emergency responders for assistance. Only trained emergency medical responders with the proper protective equipment can treat choking agent victims.
Decontamination
Q: If choking agents contaminate me, what can I do to decontaminate myself following exposure?
A: There are some basic decontamination steps to take if you have been exposed to choking agents and if you do not have chlorine gas-induced frostbite. If you have frostbite from chlorine exposure do not attempt decontamination. Do not rinse with water. Seek nearby medical help or wait for help to arrive.
If you do not have frostbite symptoms, you can:
Protective actions
Q: Would wearing a gas mask or protective suit be of any use following an attack with blood agents?
A: Unless the mask or protective suit is specifically designed for the particular agent used and custom-fitted to the wearer, they will not provide protection. Terrorist attacks usually occur without warning. For a mask or suit to be effective, you would need to wear them at all times.
Description
Q: What are chemical irritant agents?
A: Irritants are commonly used in riot control and for personal protection. Some irritants are tear gas, Mace and pepper spray.
Symptoms
Q: What can irritants do to me?
A: Tear gas, Mace and pepper spray cause burning and pain to exposed skin and mucous membranes. Exposure to irritants causes an immediate burning of the eyes, coughing, involuntary eye closure, burning in the nostrils, respiratory discomfort, and tingling of exposed skin. Other symptoms will be tearing, coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting. If pepper spray is used, there will be a characteristic peppery odor in the area and on exposed clothing.
Q: How quickly will I feel the effects of irritants?
A: The effects of irritants occur within seconds of exposure, but seldom persist beyond a few minutes after the exposure has ended. Victims with respiratory problems such as asthma, small children and the elderly may experience symptoms for a longer period.
Medical response
Q: How do I help someone who has been exposed to irritants?
A: Call for medical assistance. You should not attempt to treat victims of irritants if local authorities have not identified the nature of the chemical attact. If you do not know from a reliable source that irritants were used do not approach the scene. To avoid becoming a victim yourself, you must not have any contact with vapor or liquid. If local authorities have identified the chemical agent as an irritant such as tear gas or pepper spray and it has dissipated from the area, victims can be treated in the following ways:
Q: Would wearing a gas mask or protective suit be of any use following an attack with blood agents?
A: Unless the mask or protective suit is specifically designed for the particular agent used and custom-fitted to the wearer, they will not provide protection. Terrorist attacks usually occur without warning. For a mask or suit to be effective, you would need to wear them at all times.