HOW DO YOU HANDLE A CHEMICAL WEAPONS EXPOSURE

WHAT IS A CHEMICAL WEAPONS ?

 A chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties.

 Munitions, devices and other equipment specifically designed  to weaponize toxic chemicals also  

fall under the definition of chemi.cal  weapons.

This definition includes toxic chemicals and their precursors. 

• Chemical weapons are chemical agents, whether gaseous, liquid, or solid, that are employed because of their direct toxic effects on humans, animals, and plants. They inflict damage when inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested in food or drink. 
• Chemical agents become weapons when they are placed into artillery shells, land mines, aerial bombs, missile warheads, mortar shells, grenades, spray tanks, or any other means of delivering the agents to designated targets.

History:

Chemical weapons were first used in World War I (1914–18), during which gas warfare inflicted more than one million of the casualties suffered by combatants in that conflict and killed an estimated 90,000. 

Chemical arms have been employed numerous times, most notably in the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) and the Syrian Civil War. 

The United States and the Soviet Union, during their decades of confrontation in the Cold War (1945–91), built up enormous stockpiles of chemical weapons. 

World War I (first generation), World War II (second generation), and the Cold War (third generation).

Fourth-Generation Chemical Warfare Agents :

A new category of chemical warfare nerve agents was reportedly developed in the former Soviet Union in the 1970s to 1990s. This class of agent was developed to be highly toxic, untraceable, and undetectable. The so-called fourth generation agents (FGAs), also known as Novichoks or non-traditional agents, are low volatility nerve agents that evaporate even less readily than VX. FGAs are at least as potent as VX; it takes a lower, or a similar, dose of an FGA compared to VX to cause adverse health effects or death. 

Qualities Required for  A CW agent :

1. High Toxicity
2. Imperceptibility to senses
3. Rapidity of action after dissemination
4. Persistency

4 TYPES  of chemical agents :

1. Choking agents

2.  Blister agents

3. Blood agents

4. Nerve agents 

       Choking agents irritate the nose, throat, and lungs when inhaled

Chlorine (Cl), Chloropicrin (PS), Diphosgene (DP), and Phosgene (CG). 

Blister agents affect the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin 

Sulfur Mustard (H, HD), Nitrogen Mustard (HN), Lewisite (L), and 

Phosgene Oxime (CX). 

Blood agents inhibit the ability of cells to use oxygen 

Hydrogen Cyanide (AC), Cyanogen Chloride (CK), and Arsine (SA). 

Nerve agents block the Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme in the nervous system, 

  which causes hyper-stimulation of muscles. 

Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), Soman (GD), Cyclosarin (GF), and venomous 

agent X (VX).

Route of Entry into the body: 1. Inhalation ( Respiratory tract)

            2. Contact ( Skin)

            3. Ingestion ( Digestive tract)

            4. Injection  ( Blood stream)

Transmission/Delivery:

Possible delivery methods for chemical weapons that could expose people in enclosed or crowded spaces include:

•  heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems of a building; 
•  misting, aerosolising devices, sprayers, or improvised chemical dispersal devices; 
•  passive release, such as an open container; chemically enhanced improvised explosive devices intended to disperse a chemical agent;  
• introduction of chemical weapons/toxins into food and beverages; 
• simple manual processes, including splash attacks. 

Health effects :

• eye irritation, visual changes, vomiting and diarrhoea; 
• coughing, breathing difficulties and respiratory irregularities; 
•  muscle weakness, paralysis and seizures; 
• skin redness, irritation and burns; 
• collapse, loss of consciousness, or death.

Management:

Defense against chemical weapons

Masks, protective overgarments, special gloves, and boots are required.

The first and most important line of defense against chemical agents is the individual protection provided by gas masks and protective clothing and the collective protection of combat vehicles and mobile or fixed shelter.

Medical treatment

• Many people will require medical treatment for physical injuries as well as mental distress.
•  Some people may have incurred a physical injury that has been masked by adrenaline during the attack, and injuries caused by chemical exposure may not be immediately apparent. 
• Working with the ambulance service, ensure that all personnel and members of the public are checked, recorded, and given medical treatment where needed.

Grief and trauma counselling

• psychological impact of such a violent event should not be underestimated. 
• Everyone reacts differently. 
• Consider facilitating grief and trauma counselling for all personnel, irrespective of whether they were present during the attack. 

Author: DR. NSTDA, C4A TEAM

Reference : CHEMICAL WEAPONS GUIDELINES FOR CROWDED PLACES

      (Commonwealth of Australia 2023, https://www.creativecommons.org )

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