Blood Agents Overview

Blood Agents

• Can be colorless
• Disseminated as vapors or gases
• Inhaled
• Examples:
  • Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
  • Cyanogen Chloride (CNCI)
  • Hydrogen Phosphide or Phosphine Gas

### HCN and CNCI Properties

• HCN Physical State: Gas
• CNCI Physical State: Gas
• HCN Molecular Weight: 27.02
• CNCI Molecular Weight: 61.48
• HCN Vapour Density: 5.63
• CNCI Vapour Density: 4.86
• HCN Volatility: Non-persistent
• CNCI Volatility: Non-persistent

Blood Agent Signs and Symptoms

• Low Concentrations:
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Chest Tightness
  • Drowsiness
• High Concentrations:
  • Fast and Painful Respiration
  • Lack of Coordination of Movement
  • Cardiac Irregularities
  • Hypoxia (oxygen deficiency)
  • Convulsions
  • Coma

Blood Agent Response

• Put a wet handkerchief over your face
• Crush 2 ampules of Amyl Nitrate, Sodium Thiosulphate and Sodium Nitrate and hold close to the nose for 4-5 minutes or until 8 ampules are used.
• Oxygen is supportive
• Wash exposed area with water abundantly

### Blister Agents

• Also known as Vesicants
• Cause skin injury, as well as eye and tissue damage upon contact
• Examples:
  • Sulfur mustard (also known as the "King of CWA)
  • Nitrogen mustard
  • Lewisite

Blister Agent Properties

• Sulfur Mustard:
  • Colorless to dark brown, oily liquid
  • Normally invisible in vapor form
  • Persistent liquid with a garlic-like odor

Blister Agent Properties

• HD (Distilled Mustard):
  • Odor: Garlic
• L (Lewisite):
  • Odor: Geranium
• Nitrogen Mustard-III:
  • Faint odor of amines

Chemical Warfare Agents

• Classified by bodily effects:
  • Nerve Agents
  • Blister Agents
  • Blood Agents
  • Choking Agents
  • Tear Agents

Physical Properties of Chemical Warfare Agents

• Freezing/Melting Point
• Boiling Point
• Vapor Density
• Vapor Pressure
• Volatility
• Persistency

Chemical Warfare Agent Classifications

• Lethal
• Incapacitating
• Riot Control

Industrial Chemicals

• Common Name/Symbol:
  • Chlorine (CL)
  • Phosgene (CG)
  • Hydrogen Cyanide (AC)
  • Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
• Military Class:
  • Choking Agent
  • Blood Agent
• Industrial Use:
  • Sanitation (CL)
  • Plastics (CG)
  • Electroplating, Dyes (AC)
• Odor:
  • Bleach (CL)
  • Mown hay (CG)
  • Bitter almonds (AC)
• Symptoms:
  • Coughing, tightness in the chest (CL)
  • Choking (CG)
  • Gasping for air, red eyes, lips, skin (AC)
• Protection:
  • Respiratory, skin (CL)
• First Aid:
  • Aeration (CL, CG, AC)
  • Cyanide Kit (AC)

CWA Classifications

• Nerve Agents
• Blood Agents
• Vesicants/Blistering Agents
• Choking Agents
• Irritants

Nerve Agents

• Common Name/Symbol:
  • Tabun (GA)
  • Sarin (GB)
  • Soman (GD)
  • Cyclosarin
  • V-Agents (VX, Vx)
  • G-Series (GA, GB, GD)
  • V-Series (VX, Vx)
• Odor:
  • Fruity (G-Series)
  • Sulfur (V-Series)
• Symptoms:
  • Pinpointing of pupils (G-Series)
  • Salivation (V-Series)
  • Vomiting/Diarrhea (V-Series)
  • Twitching (V-Series)
  • Difficulty in breathing (G-Series)
  • Convulsions (V-Series)
  • Eye Constriction/Dimming of vision (G-Series)
  • Headache (G-Series)
  • Running Nose (G-Series)
  • Urination (G-Series)
  • Defecation (G-Series)
  • Decreased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure (G-Series)
  • Muscular Twitches (G-Series)
• Protection: Respiratory and Skin
• First Aid: Atropine + 2-PAM Chloride

Nerve Agent Effects

• Incapacitating at low concentrations
• Death at high concentrations

Nerve Agent Response

• Atropine + PAM chloride (Pralidoxime (2-pyridine aldoxime methyl chloride)) are effective treatments

Physio-Chemical Properties of CWA

• Nerve Agents:
  • Organophosphorus compounds hazard exists in liquid and vapor states
  • Normally in liquid state in temperate conditions
  • G-Agents are non-persistent, colorless, odorless, highly volatile and rapidly vaporize into a highly toxic cloud.

### G-Agent Properties

• GA (Tabun):

  • Molecular Weight: 162 g/mole
  • Vapor Density: 5.63
  • Liquid Density: 1.07 at 25 C
  • Melting Point: -5 C
  • Boiling Point: 240 C
  • Volatility: 610

• GB (Sarin):

  • Molecular Weight: 140 g/mole
  • Vapor Density: 4.86
  • Liquid Density: 1.09 at 25 C
  • Melting Point: -56 C
  • Boiling Point: 158 C
  • Volatility: 22000

• GD (Soman):

  • Molecular Weight: 182 g/mole
  • Vapor Density: 6.33
  • Liquid Density: 1.02 at 25 C
  • Melting Point: -42 C
  • Boiling Point: 198 C
  • Volatility: 3900

• GF:

  • Molecular Weight: 180 g/mole
  • Boiling Point: 239

• VX:

  • Molecular Weight: 267 g/mole
  • Vapor Density: 9.2
  • Liquid Density: 1.01 at 25 C
  • Melting Point: -51 C
  • Boiling Point: 298 C
  • Volatility: 10.5

Nerve Agent Comparison

• Treatment: GD is more resistant to treatment than GB
• Persistency: VX >> GA > GD > GB
• Dissemination: VX is more difficult to aerosolize
• Difficulty of Production: GD > VX > other G Agents
• Toxicity: VX > GD > GB > GA

Sarin (GB) Dosage

• Domed Stadium:
  • Volume: 1.07 x 10^6 m^3
  • Lethal respiratory dose: 100 mg-min/m^3
  • Lethal Amount: 107 kg, about 26 gallons
• Movie Theater:
  • Volume: 12,000 m^3
  • Lethal respiratory dose: : 100 mg-min/m^3
  • Lethal Amount: 1.2 kg, about 5 cups
• Conference Room (50-100 seating):
  • Volume: 400 m^3
  • Lethal respiratory dose: 100 mg-min/m^3
  • Lethal Amount: 33 g, about 1 shot glass

This quiz covers the properties and effects of blood agents, such as Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanogen Chloride. You will learn about their physical states, symptoms caused by exposure, and recommended responses for safety. Test your knowledge on these hazardous substances and their impact on health.