scholarly journals A Systematic Review on Nerve Chemical Warfare Agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1329-1333
Author(s):  
Gagan R
Keyword(s):  
Organophosphorus Compounds ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
The Body ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Pralidoxime Chloride ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme ◽  
Neurological System

Abstract: The recent poisoning of Russian opposition figure and critic Alexei Navalny on August 20th , 2020 with a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent reminded the world of the use of chemical agents, especially nerve agents to eliminate individual targets or for mass destruction. Nerve agents are a class of organophosphorus compounds. Soman, Sarin, Tabun, Cyclosarin, VX are a few examples of nerve agents. Nerve agents affect a person by disrupting the mechanism by which nerve signals are passed in the body. They inhibit the action of acetylcholinesterase enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine neurotransmitters leading to accumulation of acetylcholine in the body. Nerve agents have a range of chemical effects on the eye, gastro-intestinal (GI) tract, Central nervous system (CNS), Respiratory system, Cardiovascular system and Neurological system. The management of nerve agent poisoning is done by administering Atropine or Pralidoxime chloride or also by administering anticonvulsants like Benzodiazepines or Diazepam. This review presents all such detailed information on this class of chemical Warfare agents. Keywords: Chemical Warfare Weapon, Nerve Agents, Acetylcholinesterase, Toxicity, Instrumentation

Future Considerations for the Medical Management of Nerve-Agent Intoxication

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pål Aas
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Weapons Of Mass Destruction ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
International Conflicts ◽  
Mass Destruction ◽  
The World ◽  
Warfare Agents

AbstractThe use of chemical warfare agents against civilians and unprotected troops in international conflicts or by terrorists against civilians is considered to be a real threat, particularly following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 against the World Trade Center in New York and against the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Over the past 10 years, terrorists have been planning to use or have used chemical warfare agents on several occasions around the world, and the attacks in 2001 illustrate their willingness to use any means of warfare to cause death and destruction among civilians. In spite of new international treaties with strong verification measures and with an aim to prohibit and prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction, nevertheless, some countries and terrorist groups have been able to develop, produce, and use such weapons, particularly nerve agents, in domestic terrorist attacks or during warfare in international conflicts. This article reviews current medical therapy for nerve-agent intoxication and discusses possible future improvement of medical therapies.Present medical counter-measures against nerve agents are not sufficiently effective particularly in protecting the brain. Therefore, new and more effective countermeasures must be developed to enable better medical treatment of civilians and military personnel following exposure to nerve agents. Therefore, it is important with an enhanced effort by all countries, to improve and increase research in medical countermeasures, in the development of protective equipment, and in carrying out regular training of medical and emergency personnel as well as of military nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) units. Only then will nations be able to reduce the risk from and prevent the use of such weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

scholarly journals Detection Papers with Chromogenic Chemosensors for Direct Visual Detection and Distinction of Liquid Chemical Warfare Agents

Chemosensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Pitschmann ◽  
Lukáš Matějovský ◽  
Kamila Lunerová ◽  
Michal Dymák ◽  
Martin Urban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Bromocresol Green ◽  
Ph Indicator ◽  
Nitrogen Mustards ◽  
Experimental Development ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Hydrophobic Treatment

This work provides a summary of our results in the area of the experimental development of detection paper for the detection of liquid phase chemical warfare agents (drops, aerosol), the presence of which is demonstrated by the development of characteristic coloring visible to the naked eye. The basis of the detection paper is a cellulose carrier saturated with the dithienobenzotropone monomer (RM1a)–chromogenic chemosensor sensitive to nerve agents of the G type, blister agent lewisite, or choking agent diphosgene. We achieve a higher coloring brilliance and the limit certain interferences by using this chemosensor in the mix of the o-phenylendiamine-pyronine (PY-OPD). We prove that the addition of the Bromocresol Green pH indicator even enables detection of nerve agents of the V type, or, nitrogen mustards, while keeping a high stability of the detection paper and its functions for other chemical warfare agents. We resolve the resistance against the undesirable influence of water by providing a hydrophobic treatment of the carrier surface.

scholarly journals Enzymatic Degradation of Organophosphorus Pesticides and Nerve Agents by EC: 3.1.8.2

Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1365
Author(s):  
Marek Matula ◽  
Tomas Kucera ◽  
Ondrej Soukup ◽  
Jaroslav Pejchal
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Activity ◽  
Organophosphorus Compounds ◽  
Organophosphorus Pesticides ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Enzyme Commission Number ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Organophosphorus Acid Anhydrolase ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Heavy Burden ◽  
Medical Countermeasures

The organophosphorus substances, including pesticides and nerve agents (NAs), represent highly toxic compounds. Standard decontamination procedures place a heavy burden on the environment. Given their continued utilization or existence, considerable efforts are being made to develop environmentally friendly methods of decontamination and medical countermeasures against their intoxication. Enzymes can offer both environmental and medical applications. One of the most promising enzymes cleaving organophosphorus compounds is the enzyme with enzyme commission number (EC): 3.1.8.2, called diisopropyl fluorophosphatase (DFPase) or organophosphorus acid anhydrolase from Loligo Vulgaris or Alteromonas sp. JD6.5, respectively. Structure, mechanisms of action and substrate profiles are described for both enzymes. Wild-type (WT) enzymes have a catalytic activity against organophosphorus compounds, including G-type nerve agents. Their stereochemical preference aims their activity towards less toxic enantiomers of the chiral phosphorus center found in most chemical warfare agents. Site-direct mutagenesis has systematically improved the active site of the enzyme. These efforts have resulted in the improvement of catalytic activity and have led to the identification of variants that are more effective at detoxifying both G-type and V-type nerve agents. Some of these variants have become part of commercially available decontamination mixtures.

Some Possibilities to Study New Prophylactics against Nerve Agents

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 970-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bajgar ◽  
J. Kassa ◽  
T. Kucera ◽  
K. Musilek ◽  
D. Jun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Huperzine A ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition ◽  
Effective Prophylaxis ◽  
Warfare Agents

Nerve agents belong to the most dangerous chemical warfare agents and can be/were misused by terrorists. Effective prophylaxis and treatment is necessary to diminish their effect. General principles of prophylaxis are summarized (protection against acetylcholinesterase inhibition, detoxification, treatment “in advance” and use of different drugs). They are based on the knowledge of mechanism of action of nerve agents. Among different examinations, it is necessary to test prophylactic effectivity in vivo and compare the results with protection in vitro. Chemical and biological approaches to the development of new prophylactics would be applied simultaneously during this research. Though the number of possible prophylactics is relatively high, the only four drugs were introduced into military medical practice. At present, pyridostigmine seems to be common prophylactic antidote; prophylactics panpal (tablets with pyridostigmine, trihexyphenidyl and benactyzine), transant (transdermal patch containing HI-6) are other means introduced into different armies as prophylactics. Scavenger commercionally available is Protexia®. Future development will be focused on scavengers, and on other drugs either reversible cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., huperzine A, gallantamine, physostigmine, acridine derivatives) or other compounds.

Smart textiles of MOF/g-C3N4nanospheres for the rapid detection/detoxification of chemical warfare agents

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 356-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis ◽  
Yuping Hu ◽  
Marc Florent ◽  
Teresa J. Bandosz
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Smart Textiles ◽  
Cotton Textiles ◽  
Warfare Agents

Impregnated cotton textiles with a MOF based nanocomposite revealed a supreme multi-functionality to adsorb/degrade/sense vapors of a nerve agent surrogate.

scholarly journals Acute Toxicity and Efficacy of Nanomaterial based Decontamination Formulation Developed for Personal Decontamination against Chemical Warfare Agents

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Anshoo Gautam ◽  
Gangavarapu K. Prasad ◽  
Deeksha Singh ◽  
Rajagopalan Vijayaraghavan
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
The Body ◽  
Respiratory Pattern ◽  
Histological Evaluation ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Body Weight Index

Background: This study addresses the efficacy of nanomaterials based formulation developed for personal decontamination application against chemical warfare agents and used in Personal Decontamination Kit (PDK). It has the potential to decontaminate the skin of an individual, protective equipment, and small arms contaminated with chemical warfare agents. As this formulation has been developed for personal decontamination, risk of nanomaterial toxicity would always be there while sprinkling or applying to the affected area. It may get into the body through various routes specifically through the inhalation route. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo decontamination efficiency of the formulation and acute inhalation, intratracheal, intranasal, oral, dermal, and intraperitoneal toxicity of the formulation. Materials and Methods: 14 days survival was recorded for the evaluation of decontamination efficiency of this formulation. Various endpoints were considered while assessing the toxicity of Nanomaterial Decontamination Formulation which include Organ Body Weight Index (OBWI), serum biochemical parameters, and respiratory variables like tidal volume, respiratory rate, time of inspiration, time of expiration, etc. LD50 of the formulation were also determined for various routes. As skin is the primary organ to come in contact with the decontaminant, its primary skin irritation response has also been determined in this study. Results and Conclusion: It was found that there is no gross acute toxicity observed at different doses. Though there were some changes in the initial respiratory pattern, they were all later recovered. The preliminary histological evaluation did not show any adverse effect on various organs after exposure with NDF.

scholarly journals Chemical weapon in the 20th and 21st centuries. Part 1. Chemical warfare agents before G nerve agent group discovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-118
Author(s):  
Marcin Kloske ◽  
Zygfryd Witkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
World War I ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Chemical Weapon ◽  
World War ◽  
The First World War ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
First World ◽  
Agent Group

The publication contains a synthesis of knowledge about chemical weapon and its use during the First World War and in the period after that war, until the nerve agent discovery. It describes chemical warfare agents (CWAs) that were discovered, produced, and used on the battlefield at that time. They are referred to as the first and second CWAs generation. Keywords: chemical weapon, chemical warfare agents, World War I, interwar period

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