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Nerve agent: Difference between revisions
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== Effects == | == Effects == | ||
[[File:Nerve agent.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Nerve agents are highly toxic to humans, and can induce paralysis in many cases, as seen in this picture.]] | [[File:Nerve agent.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Nerve agents are highly toxic to humans, and can induce paralysis in many cases, as seen in this picture.]] | ||
Nerve agents serve as | Nerve agents serve as organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitors in humans. This complicated term means that nerve agents are organic compounds that contain phosphorous, display neurotoxic characteristics and block enzymes located in the heart, brain, and blood from performing hydrolysis. <ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cholinesterase?s=t cholinesterase]. ''Dictionary'' Web. Accessed May 20, 2013.Unknown Author</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/organophosphorous?s=t organophosphorous]. ''Dictionary'' Web. Accessed May 20, 2013.Unknown Author</ref> Once a nerve agent blocks a tissue enzyme, the enzyme looses the ability to hydrolyze acetylcholine, an ester that allows muscles to move by "transmitting nerve impulses across synapses."<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/acetylcholine?s=ts acetylcholine] ''Dictionary'' Web. Accessed May 20, 2013.Unknown Author</ref> | ||
This process causes the victim of the nerve agent partial to total paralysis, depending on the dose and method of exposure. Sarin, otherwise known as GB, is the nerve agent with the most known effects. If a human is exposed to a small dose of GB vapor, it will immediately effect the airways, eyes, and nose. Contact with lethal amounts of GB in both vapor and liquid form produce much more debilitating effects, such as loss of consciousness, convulsions, lack of breathing, loss of control over muscles, and death. | This process causes the victim of the nerve agent partial to total paralysis, depending on the dose and method of exposure. Sarin, otherwise known as GB, is the nerve agent with the most known effects. If a human is exposed to a small dose of GB vapor, it will immediately effect the airways, eyes, and nose. Contact with lethal amounts of GB in both vapor and liquid form produce much more debilitating effects, such as loss of consciousness, convulsions, lack of breathing, loss of control over muscles, and death. | ||
<ref name=fas.org> [http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/army/mmcch/NervAgnt.htm Nerve Agents] ''Fas.org''. Web. Date Accessed 20 May 2013. Unknown Author.</ref> | <ref name=fas.org> [http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/army/mmcch/NervAgnt.htm Nerve Agents] ''Fas.org''. Web. Date Accessed 20 May 2013. Unknown Author.</ref> | ||
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In 1934, a relatively unknown German chemist by the name of Gerhard Schrader was tasked by Ig Farben, a German chemical industry, to improve upon preexisting insecticides. While the chemist and his team were developing more effective pesticides, they accidentally found that one of the more potent chemicals they had created had toxic effects on humans. Around two years later the deadly phosphorous insecticide was produced under the name of tabun. This was the first substance to be later recognized as a nerve agent. | In 1934, a relatively unknown German chemist by the name of Gerhard Schrader was tasked by Ig Farben, a German chemical industry, to improve upon preexisting insecticides. While the chemist and his team were developing more effective pesticides, they accidentally found that one of the more potent chemicals they had created had toxic effects on humans. Around two years later the deadly phosphorous insecticide was produced under the name of tabun. This was the first substance to be later recognized as a nerve agent. | ||
Between 1942 and 1945 approximately 12,000 tons of the agent was produced. During World War 2 the Germans secretly developed massive quantities of tabun, and other nerve agents such as sarin and soman, also developed by Schrader. Because of the man's discoveries, he is often referred to as "The Father of the Nerve Agents" <ref>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Gerhard+Schrader Gerhard Schrader]. '' | Between 1942 and 1945 approximately 12,000 tons of the agent was produced. During World War 2 the Germans secretly developed massive quantities of tabun, and other nerve agents such as sarin and soman, also developed by Schrader. Because of the man's discoveries, he is often referred to as "The Father of the Nerve Agents" <ref>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Gerhard+Schrader Gerhard Schrader]. ''Toxicpedia''. Web. Published April 3, 2013. DeCarvalho, Juliana P.</ref> | ||
Contrary to popular belief, German military forces never utilized these chemical munitions during the war. In the days leading up to the end of WW2 the Allies discovered the stockpiles, destroyed many of the factories that developed the nerve agents, seized the remaining agents, and began to develop and experiment upon their own nerve chemicals.<ref name=fas.org/>After the discovery of such toxic chemicals, much investigation was poured into transforming the nerve agents into increasingly deadly forms. During this time period, chemists primarily from Britain and the United States researched the chemical makeup and the effects of the nerve agents, as well as a means of protection against the weapon. This research aided in the discovery of new types of nerve agents in the 1950's. These new agents, termed "V-agents" by North American chemists, proved to be much more stable and poisonous than the proceeding chemicals. To this day, those agents discovered in the 1950's are some of the most noxious substances ever created by mankind. | Contrary to popular belief, German military forces never utilized these chemical munitions during the war. In the days leading up to the end of WW2 the Allies discovered the stockpiles, destroyed many of the factories that developed the nerve agents, seized the remaining agents, and began to develop and experiment upon their own nerve chemicals.<ref name=fas.org/>After the discovery of such toxic chemicals, much investigation was poured into transforming the nerve agents into increasingly deadly forms. During this time period, chemists primarily from Britain and the United States researched the chemical makeup and the effects of the nerve agents, as well as a means of protection against the weapon. This research aided in the discovery of new types of nerve agents in the 1950's. These new agents, termed "V-agents" by North American chemists, proved to be much more stable and poisonous than the proceeding chemicals. To this day, those agents discovered in the 1950's are some of the most noxious substances ever created by mankind. | ||
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1st Video: Description of VX Nerve Gas. 2nd Video: Military Video (1964) Explaining the Effects of Nerve Agents, Including a Death Scene of a Goat. | 1st Video: Description of VX Nerve Gas. 2nd Video: Military Video (1964) Explaining the Effects of Nerve Agents, Including a Death Scene of a Goat. | ||
{{#ev:youtube|mkbBnvz0rw0}} {{#ev:youtube|eW7SOyuoO0o}} | {{#ev:youtube|mkbBnvz0rw0}} {{#ev:youtube|eW7SOyuoO0o}} | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
