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TABUN

SARIN

SOMAN

GF

VX

All nerve agents are colorless liquids in their pure state. Today, the following nerve agents are the most significant in modern CWA arsenals:

 

All nerve agents are extremely toxic and go into effect very rapidly, whether they enter the body through inhalation or through the skin and in gas, liquid, or aerosol form. Liquids or foods can also be highly toxic when contaminated with nerve agents.

The period required for the nerve agent to start having effect often depends on how it enters the body, as do the symptoms developed and their sequence. Most nerve agents work the fastest when they are inhaled into the lungs, where the agents are carried by numerous blood vessels and reach the target organs through circulation. Nerve agents are fat-soluble and can penetrate the outer layers of the skin, but entry through this way takes more time before the poison reaches the blood vessels.

The symptoms of very low doses of nerve agents include increased production of saliva, a runny nose, and pressure in the chest. The pupil of the eye becomes contracted, short-range vision deteriorates, and the victim cannot focus on nearby objects without pain in the eyes. Headaches, tiredness, slurred speech, hallucinations, and nausea are also typical.

At higher levels of exposure, the secretion of mucous in the respiratory system leads to difficulty in breathing. The discharge of saliva is powerful and the victim may experience running eyes and sweating. Very high doses create more pronounced muscular symptoms, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Muscular paralysis may affect the respiratory muscles and the respiratory center of the central nervous system, causing death by suffocation.

Treatment is provided in two anti-nerve agent drugs—atropine sulfate and pralidoxime chloride. Most who have served in the military are familiar with the Mark I NAAK kit which delivers pre-measured doses of these treatment drugs to stop the progression of nerve agent symptoms.

Effects of Nerve Agents

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