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Chemical Warfare: Types of Chemical Agents and Effects on the Body

Chemical agents are inorganic substances used in warfare to attack the organs of the human body in order to prevent the human body from functioning at all or to hinder its normal functioning. Chemical warfare includes the use of toxic chemical compounds in warfare.

Types of Chemical Agents

Duration of Effectiveness

Means the time for which the effects lasts depends on physical characteristics, amount of agent delivered, weapon system used, weather condition in the target area.

Illustration: Duration of Effectiveness
  • Non-Persistent Agents: These agents disperse rapidly after release and present an immediate short duration hazard. They disappear quickly like the dewdrop.
  • Persistent Agents: These agents continue to present a hazard for a considerable period after delivery. They remain in a liquid form and continue to produce vapor by the evaporation of the liquid.

Effects on the Body

Illustration: Effects on the Body

Killer Agents

These agents are used to kill humans and are deadly.

Nerve Agent

  • These interfere with the nervous system and disrupt essential body functions like breathing, muscular control and vision. The known agents are classified as either V (Persistent) or G (non-persistent) agents.
  • V agents are colorless and relatively in volatile liquids, which slowly emit an odorless toxic vapor, which can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or swallowed with contaminated food or water.
  • G Agents: The non-persistent G agents, which are also colorless and odorless, are in contrast to the V agents, highly volatile and they vaporize rapidly to form a highly toxic cloud. They attack through the eyes and respiratory area but may also penetrate normal clothing to attack through the skin.
  • The order of the onset of the symptoms of nerve agent poisoning varies with the type of attack. With vapors, dimness of vision; when absorbed through the skin, nausea and vomiting occur in the early stages. Followed by eventual death, large doses, death may occur within minutes.

Blister Agents

These agents cause inflammation, blistering of the skin, destruction of internal tissue. Internal injuries will also result due to the consumption of contaminated food and drink. It can seriously damage the eyes, respiratory passage and skin if these are unprotected. Liquid mustard will penetrate normal clothing in a few minutes. In the 20 - 60 minutes after exposure, nausea, vomiting and burning and watering of the eye have occasionally been observed. After 24 hours blisters are large, filled with yellow fluid. After 48 hours, the blistering becomes more marked. Swelling with increased temperature is observed.

Blood Agents

These prevent body tissue from using the oxygen in the blood. Blood agents affect the respiratory system causing inflammatory changes leading to Dizziness.

  • Headache
  • Shivering
  • Anxiety
  • Paralysis and coma
  • Cardiovascular collapse

Choking Agents

These attack the breathing passage and lungs. A mild irritation of eyes, Soreness in the throat, Coughing, tightness of chest, Nausea, vomiting and headache are observed in first 3 hours. Later Rapid breathing and cardiac failure Severe cases show unconsciousness followed by death.

Incapacitating Agents

These agents cause temporary incapacitation of normal human body functioning for a short duration.

  • Nose (Vomiting) Agents: These cause irritation in the nose and throat, which can lead to vomiting.
  • Mental Incapacitates: These cause temporary mental disturbances.
  • Physical Incapacitates: These cause temporary effects such as fainting or paralysis.

Riot Control Agents

Agents selected and approved for use when giving aid to the civil power and in similar operations. These are mostly the incapacitating agents. These cause irritation of the eyes, flow of tears and a hurtful biting sensation.