These substances are for producing chemical casualties without regard to long-term consequences or loss of life. They cause injuries that require medical treatment.
Blister agents A
blister agent is a chemical compound that irritates and causes injury to the skin. These substances also attack the eyes, or any other tissue they contact.
Vesicants The vesicants are substances that produce large fluid-filled blisters on the skin.
Nitrogen mustards • Bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine (HN1) • Bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2) • Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3)
Sulfur mustards • 1,2-Bis(2-chloroethylthio) ethane (
Sesquimustard; Q) • 1,3-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-propane • 1,4-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-butane • 1,5-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-pentane • 2-Chloroethylchloromethylsulfide • Bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (Mustard gas; HD) • Bis(2-chloroethylthio) methane • Bis(2-chloroethylthiomethyl) ether • Bis(2-chloroethylthioethyl) ether (
O-Mustard; T)
Arsenicals •
Ethyldichloroarsine (ED) •
Methyldichloroarsine (MD) •
Phenyldichloroarsine (PD) • 2-Chlorovinyldichloroarsine (
Lewisite; L)
Urticants The urticants are substances that produce a painful
wheal on the skin. These are sometimes termed skin necrotizers and are known as the most painful substances produced. •
Phosgene oxime (CX)
Blood agents These substances are metabolic poisons that interfere with the life-sustaining processes of the blood. •
Cyanogen chloride (CK) •
Hydrogen cyanide (AC) •
Arsine (SA)
Choking agents These substances are sometime referred to as
pulmonary agent or
lung irritants and cause injury to the lung-blood barrier resulting in
Asphyxia. •
Chlorine (CL) •
Chloropicrin (PS) •
Diphosgene (DP) •
Phosgene (CG) •
Carbon monoxide Nerve agents Nerve agents are substances that disrupt the chemical communications through the nervous system. One mechanism of disruption, utilized by the G, GV, and V series of chemicals is caused by blocking the
acetylcholinesterase, an
enzyme that normally destroys and stops the activity of
acetylcholine, a
neurotransmitter. Poisoning by these nerve agents leads to an accumulation of acetylcholine at the
nerve axon, producing a perpetual excited state in the nerve (e.g. constant muscle contraction). The eventual exhaustion of muscles leads to respiratory failure and death.
G series These are high volatility nerve agents that are typically used for a nonpersistent to semipersistent effect. •
Tabun (GA) •
Sarin (GB) •
Soman (GD) •
Cyclosarin (GF)
GV series These agents have a volatility between the V and G agents and are typically used for a semi-persistent to persistent effect. •
Novichok agents •
GV (nerve agent) V series These agents have low volatility and are typically used for a persistent effect or liquid contact hazard. •
VE •
VG •
VM •
VX Other Natural toxins that are classified as chemical weapons by the
Chemical Weapons Convention •
Saxitoxin •
Ricin == See also ==