USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE

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Subject: USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE    

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003205

Folder Title: CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE                                                        

Document Number:          1

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          @uG ir. go 11:35                                                P.3





          -S@CD Technical Xemoranduri 90-1


          XFRVE AGENTS: A BRIEF REFERENCE


          B@CKGROUND

          N arve agents were first synthesized by Germany pr4a-WWIX. Germany
                      thousands of nerve agents in munitions during WWII,
                      se them which Was fortunate as the All i es did not know
                        other nations later developed them and have them
                        The nerve agent GA (TABUN) was used by Iraq in its
                        Iran, according to the UN Investigative Commission
          and other sources.


          G      DESCRIPTION

                                   gical effects by inhibiting, or blocking
                                   zyme acetylcholinesterase which allows
                                   ocutaulate. Biological effects are from
                                   ch is not broken down or hydrolyzed.
           facts, basically, are hyperactivity of the structures supplied
            cholinergic nerves.

               agents are organophosphorus compounds. Similar biological
          effects are produced by carbigmates (physostigmine, pyridostigmine,
          n+osti@ne, and many insecticides) and other organophosphorus
          c?mpounds (DFP, malathion.and O-P insecticides). In general, nerve
          arnts are 100-500x more potent than these other compounds.
          T@e nerve agents are GA (TABUN), OB (SARIN), GD (SOMAN), and VX.

          Nerve agents are liquids under temperate conditions.     They are
          clear, colorless, and tasteless. GA (slightly fruity) and GD are
          said to have a slight odor; the others are said to be odorless.

          T             a volatile. GB is the most volatile and is somewhat
          1             than water, but all present a vapor hazard under
          t             itions. vx is oily with little volatility, but large
ure may present a vapor hazard.

          All penetrate the skin well. The G-agents, particularly in small
          amounts, may evaporate off of the skin rather than penetrate it,
          i7
          4t there have been severe human exposures to peroutaneous GS. If
          t4ey are in or under clothing the G-agents will penetrate the skin
          v@ well. All present a percutaneous hazard and a hazard to those
          hlndling casualties.



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Document 22 f:/Week-36/BX003205/CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE/usamricd tech memo 90 1 clinical notes on chem c:12249609312728
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE
Folder Seq # = 31
Subject = USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM C
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 24-DEC-1996