Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfareand 30 by direct application to the skin. However,exposure data is available on only 68 subjects. Theaerosol exposures ranged from 0.15 to 3.63 minuteswith Ct dosages between 6 and 315 mg•min/m 3 , andthe cutaneous doses ranged from 0.01 to 0.025 mL,applied to bare or clothed arms. Effects on the aerosolexposedsubjects were transient, generally resolvingwithin minutes of removal of the CN. Experiencedsubjects appeared to be tolerant, and closing theireyes often increased tolerance. Predominant effectswere ocular and included lacrimation, blepharospasm,conjunctivitis, and, rarely, palpebral edema. Respiratoryeffects were nasopharyngeal irritation, rhinorrhea,and, rarely, dyspnea. Skin irritation was prominenton shaved areas. Other rare effects were headacheand dizziness. Of the dermally exposed subjects, onlyone had erythema at the exposure site, which lasted7 hours. Five had normal laboratory results, whichincluded urinalyses, complete blood count, blood ureanitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and serum glutamicoxalotransferases 7 days postexposure. Among the 68subjects with exposure records, there were probably nopermanent ocular or pulmonary injuries. These short,low-level exposures caused transient effects on the eyesand respiratory system, and recovery was completewithin minutes. Minimal information is availableon the dermal effects, but sensitization is consideredlikely, causing allergic contact dermatitis and possiblesystemic allergic reactions such as pulmonary fibrosison reexposure, although there is no evidence that thisoccurred among the Edgewood subjects. 60DM (Diphenylaminearsine)DM (CAS 578-94-9, also known as diphenylaminoarsineand 10-chloro-5,10-dihydrophenarsazine)is one of three arsenical war gases developed near theconclusion of World War I. 153 The other two closelyrelated chemicals, DA (diphenylchloroarsine) andDC (diphenylcyanoarsine), proved to have much lessmilitary importance. German scientists first discoveredDA in 1913 (German patent application 281049),but producing the compound proved difficult andexpensive. In 1918 Major Robert Adams, working atthe University of Illinois, discovered a simpler andmore economical way to produce DM (which thentook on the common name adamsite). 154 The UnitedStates produced DM by the end of the war but did notuse it; however, very incomplete reports suggest thatItaly may have used it. 155 In World War II all belligerentstates produced DM, and smoke generators containingDM were developed.After the war it was recognized that DM had applicationsas a possible RCA because of its harassing characteristics;it was eventually classified by the militaryas a vomiting agent and a sternutator. For riot controlpurposes, because of its minimal effects on the eye, DMwas mixed with the tearing agent CN, and this preparationwas used by US troops during Vietnam. 156,157 TodayDM is considered obsolete as an RCA and has no otherapplication. 73 Current US research on DM focuses onthe environmental impact of the parent compoundand its breakdown products near former production,storage, and disposal sites. 158,159Physical Characteristics and DeploymentThe molecular weight of DM is 277.59, and itsmolecular formula is C 12H 9AsClN (Figure 13-10). DMis a yellow-green (depending on purity), odorless(or possessing a faint bitter almond smell) crystallinesubstance with low volatility. It is practicallyinsoluble in water and slightly soluble in organicssuch as benzene, xylene, toluene, and alcohols. 153 DMcan be disseminated as a dry powder by thermal orexplosive methods or by spraying the molten materialsor solutions of the material. 27,153 The M6A1 (a basicArmy riot control munition) and commercial grenades(such as the Spede-Heat [Defense Technology, Casper,Wyo]) are methods used to deploy DM. 153,160 Laboratorymethods of dispersion include molten DM andacetone dispersions.Physiological EffectsOnly a few reports deal with the biological conversionof organoarsenical compounds. Even less dataexists on the metabolism of DM. However, one recentreport suggests the arsenic atom As(III) of DM is oxidizedby manganese peroxide into As(V), which resultsin the release of chloride and the incorporation of dioxygen.158 The relationship between this metabolismand the acute toxicity of DM in humans is unknown.HNAsFig. 13-10. Chemical structure of DM.Cl464