Military toxic substances. Chemical warfare agents

RADIATION, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION

Subject. Combat properties and damaging factors of nuclear,

chemical, biological weapons, hazardous chemicals and weapons,

based on new physical principles.

Class. Purpose and combat properties chemical weapons. Main types and classification of toxic substances. Means of using toxic substances. Basic properties of toxic substances, nature of contamination of objects, detection methods.

Signs of injury, self- and mutual assistance in case of injury by toxic substances. Emergency chemical hazardous substances (HAS) and other toxic substances, their effects on the human body, methods of detection and protection.

General information about toxic substances

Chemical weapons are chemical agents, munitions, and devices specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of agents released by such munitions or devices.

Poisonous substances are called toxic chemical compounds, intended to inflict mass casualties on manpower during combat use. Toxic substances form the basis of chemical weapons and are in service with the armies of a number of states.

Based on the nature of their effect on the human body, agents are divided into nerve agents, vesicants, general poisonous agents, asphyxiating agents, psychochemical agents, and irritants.

Based on the nature of the tasks being solved when using agents, they are divided into lethal, temporarily incapacitating and short-term incapacitating. When used in combat, lethal chemical agents cause severe (fatal) injuries to manpower. This group includes agents of nerve paralytic, blister, general toxic and asphyxiating types, as well as toxins (botulinum toxin). Temporarily incapacitating agents (psychochemical action and staphylococcal toxin) deprive personnel of combat effectiveness for a period of several hours to several days. The damaging effect of short-term incapacitating agents (irritating effects) manifests itself during the time of contact with them and persists for several hours after leaving the contaminated atmosphere.

For combat use, chemical agents can be converted into vapor, aerosol and droplet-liquid states. Toxic substances used to infect the ground layer of air are converted into a vapor and fine aerosol state (smoke, fog). The cloud of vapor and aerosol formed during the use of chemical munitions is called the primary cloud of contaminated air. The vapor cloud formed due to the evaporation of OM from the soil surface is called secondary. Agents in the form of vapor and fine aerosol, carried by the wind, affect manpower not only in the area of ​​application, but also at a considerable distance, provided that the damaging concentrations are maintained. The depth of OM distribution in rough and wooded areas is 1.5-3 times less than in open areas. Forests and shrubs, as well as lowlands and basements can be places where organic matter stagnates.

To reduce the combat effectiveness of units and units, the area, weapons and military equipment, uniforms, equipment and the skin of people are contaminated with agents used in the form of coarse aerosols and droplets. Contaminated terrain, weapons and military equipment and other objects are a source of destruction for people. Under these conditions, personnel are forced long time wear protective equipment, which significantly reduces the combat effectiveness of troops.

The persistence of an agent on the ground is the time from its use until the moment when personnel can cross the contaminated area or be on it without protective equipment. Based on their durability, agents are divided into persistent and unstable.

Agents can enter the body in the following ways:

Through the respiratory system (inhalation);

Through wound surfaces (mixed);

Through mucous membranes and skin (skin-resorptive);

When contaminated food and water are consumed, the penetration of chemical agents occurs through the gastrointestinal tract (oral).

Most chemical agents are cumulative, i.e., have the ability to accumulate a toxic effect.

Nerve agents

When entering the body, nerve agent affects nervous system. A characteristic feature of the initial stage of the lesion is constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis).

The main representatives of nerve agents are sarin (GB), soman (GD) and VX (VX).

Sarin (G.B.) - a colorless or yellowish, highly volatile liquid, odorless or with a faint fruity odor, does not freeze in winter. Miscible with water and organic solvents in any ratio, soluble in fats. It is resistant to water, which causes contamination of stagnant bodies of water for a long time - up to 2 months. When it comes into contact with human skin, uniforms, shoes and other porous materials, it is quickly absorbed into them.

Sarin is used to destroy manpower by contaminating the ground layer of air through short fire raids by artillery, missile strikes and tactical aircraft. The main combat state is steam. Under average meteorological conditions, sarin vapors can spread downwind up to 20 km from the place of application. Durability of sarin (in funnels): in summer - several hours, in winter - up to 2 days.

When units operate military equipment in an atmosphere contaminated with sarin, gas masks and a combined arms comprehensive protective kit are used for protection. When operating in contaminated areas on foot, additionally wear protective stockings. When staying for a long time in areas with high levels of sarin vapor, it is necessary to use a gas mask and a general protective kit in the form of overalls. Protection against sarin is also ensured by the use of sealed equipment and shelters equipped with filter-ventilation units. Sarin vapors can be absorbed by uniforms and, after leaving the contaminated atmosphere, evaporate, contaminating the air. Therefore, gas masks are removed only after special treatment of uniforms, equipment and control of air contamination.

V-Ex (VX) - a low-volatile, colorless liquid that is odorless and does not freeze in winter. It is moderately soluble in water (5%), well soluble in organic solvents and fats. Infects open water bodies for a very long period - up to 6 months. The main combat state is coarse aerosol. VX aerosols infect ground-level air and terrain, spread in the direction of the wind to a depth of 5 to 20 km, affect manpower through the respiratory system, exposed skin and ordinary army uniforms, and also infect terrain, weapons and military equipment and open water bodies. VX is used by artillery, aviation (cassettes and airborne devices), as well as with the help of chemical landmines. Weapons and military equipment contaminated with VX droplets pose a danger for 1-3 days in summer and 30-60 days in winter. Resistance of VX on terrain (skin-resorptive effect): in summer - from 7 to 15 days, in winter - for the entire period before the onset of heat. Protection against VX: gas mask, combined arms protective kit, sealed military equipment and shelters.

Toxic nerve agents also include soman (G.D.), which, in its physicochemical properties, occupies an intermediate position between sarin and VX. Soman is a colorless or slightly colored liquid with a camphor odor. Solubility in water is insignificant (1.5%), in organic solvents it is good.

Nerve agents can affect humans through any route of entry into the body. With mild inhalation damage, blurred vision, constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis), difficulty breathing, a feeling of heaviness in the chest (retrosternal effect), and increased secretion of saliva and mucus from the nose are observed. These phenomena are accompanied by severe headaches and can last from 2 to 3 days. When the body is exposed to lethal concentrations of chemical agents, severe miosis, suffocation, profuse salivation and sweating occur, a feeling of fear, vomiting and diarrhea, convulsions that can last several hours, and loss of consciousness appear. Death occurs from respiratory and cardiac paralysis.

When exposed through the skin, the pattern of damage is basically similar to that caused by inhalation. The only difference is that the symptoms appear after some time (from several minutes to several hours). In this case, muscle twitching appears at the site of contact with the agent, then convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

First aid. The affected person must put on a gas mask (if an aerosol or droplet-liquid agent gets on the skin of the face, the gas mask is put on only after treating the face with liquid from the PPI). Administer an antidote and remove the affected person from the contaminated atmosphere. If the convulsions are not relieved within 10 minutes, re-administer the antidote. If breathing stops, perform artificial respiration. If the agent gets on the body, the infected areas should be immediately treated with a PPI. If the agent gets into the stomach, it is necessary to induce vomiting, and, if possible, rinse the stomach with a 1% solution of baking soda or clean water, rinse affected eyes with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. Affected personnel are transported to a medical station.

The presence of nerve agents in the air, on the ground, in weapons and military equipment is detected using chemical reconnaissance devices (an indicator tube with a red ring and a dot) and gas detectors. An indicator film is used to detect VX aerosols.

Poisonous substances with blister action

The main agent for blister action is mustard gas. The US Army uses technical (H) and distilled (purified) mustard gas (HD).

Mustard gas is a slightly yellowish (distilled) or dark brown liquid with the odor of garlic or mustard, highly soluble in organic solvents and poorly soluble in water. Mustard gas is heavier than water, freezes at a temperature of about 14°C, and is easily absorbed into various paints, rubber and porous materials, which leads to deep contamination. In air, mustard gas evaporates slowly. The main combat state of mustard gas is droplet-liquid or aerosol. However, mustard gas is capable of creating dangerous concentrations of its vapors due to natural evaporation from the contaminated area. In combat conditions, mustard gas can be used by artillery (mortars), aviation using bombs and pouring devices, as well as landmines. The defeat of personnel is achieved through contamination of the ground layer of air with vapors and aerosols of mustard gas, contamination of exposed skin, uniforms, equipment, weapons and military equipment and areas of terrain with aerosols and drops of mustard gas.

The depth of distribution of mustard gas vapor ranges from 1 to 20 km for open areas. Mustard gas can infect an area for up to 2 days in summer, and up to 2-3 weeks in winter. Equipment contaminated with mustard gas poses a danger to personnel unprotected by protective equipment and must be decontaminated. Mustard gas infects stagnant bodies of water for 2-3 months. The presence of mustard gas vapor is determined using an indicator tube (one yellow ring) using chemical reconnaissance devices VPKhR and PPKhR. To protect against mustard gas, a gas mask and a general protective kit are used, as well as weapons and military equipment of the shelter, equipped with filter-ventilation units, blocked cracks, trenches and communication passages.

Mustard gas has a damaging effect through any route of entry into the body. Damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract occurs even at low concentrations of mustard gas. At higher concentrations, along with local lesions, general poisoning of the body occurs. Mustard gas has a latent period of action (2-8 hours) and is cumulative. At the time of contact with mustard gas, there is no skin irritation or pain effects. Areas affected by mustard gas are prone to infection. Skin damage begins with redness, which appears 2-6 hours after exposure to mustard gas. After a day, small blisters filled with a yellow transparent liquid form at the site of redness. Subsequently, the bubbles merge. After 2-3 days, the blisters burst and an ulcer forms that does not heal for 20-30 days. If the ulcer gets infected, healing occurs in 2-3 months. When inhaling mustard gas vapors or aerosols, the first signs of damage appear after a few hours in the form of dryness and burning in the nasopharynx, then severe swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa occurs, accompanied by purulent discharge. IN severe cases pneumonia develops, death occurs on the 3rd - 4th day from suffocation. The eyes are especially sensitive to mustard vapors. When exposed to mustard gas vapors on the eyes, a feeling of sand appears in the eyes, lacrimation, photophobia, then redness and swelling of the mucous membrane of the eyes and eyelids occurs, accompanied by copious discharge of pus. Contact with droplets of liquid mustard gas in the eyes can lead to blindness. When mustard gas enters the gastrointestinal tract, within 30-60 minutes sharp pain in the stomach, drooling, nausea, vomiting appears, and diarrhea (sometimes with blood) subsequently develops.

First aid. Drops of mustard gas on the skin must be immediately degassed using PPI. The eyes and nose should be rinsed generously, and the mouth and throat should be rinsed with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. In case of poisoning with water or food contaminated with mustard gas, induce vomiting and then administer a slurry prepared at the rate of 25 g of activated carbon per 100 ml of water.

Generally poisonous substances

Generally poisonous substances entering the body disrupt the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the tissues. These are one of the fastest acting agents. These include hydrocyanic acid (AC) and cyanogen chloride (CC). In the US Army, hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride are reserve agents.

Hydrocyanic acid (AC)- colorless, quickly evaporating liquid with the smell of bitter almonds. In open areas it quickly evaporates (after 10-15 minutes) and does not contaminate the area or equipment. Degassing of premises, shelters and closed cars is carried out by ventilation. Under field conditions, significant sorption of hydrocyanic acid by uniforms is possible. Disinfection is also achieved by ventilation. The freezing point of hydrocyanic acid is minus 14°C, so in cold weather it is used in a mixture with cyanogen chloride or other chemical agents. Hydrocyanic acid can be used by large-caliber chemical bombs. Damage occurs when inhaling contaminated air (damage through the skin is possible with prolonged exposure to very high concentrations). Means of protection against hydrocyanic acid are a gas mask, shelters and equipment equipped with filter-ventilation units. When affected by hydrocyanic acid, an unpleasant metallic taste and burning sensation in the mouth, numbness in the tip of the tongue, tingling in the eye area, scratching in the throat, anxiety, weakness and dizziness appear. Then a feeling of fear appears, the pupils dilate, the pulse becomes rare, and breathing becomes uneven. The victim loses consciousness and an attack of convulsions begins, followed by paralysis. Death occurs from respiratory arrest. When exposed to very high concentrations, the so-called fulminant form of damage occurs: the affected person immediately loses consciousness, breathing is rapid and shallow, convulsions, paralysis and death. When affected by hydrocyanic acid, a pink coloration of the face and mucous membranes is observed. Hydrocyanic acid does not have a cumulative effect.

First aid. Put a gas mask on the affected person, crush the ampoule with the antidote for hydrocyanic acid and insert it into the under-mask space of the front part of the gas mask. If necessary, perform artificial respiration. If the symptoms of the lesion persist, the antidote can be re-administered. Hydrocyanic acid is detected using an indicator tube with three green rings using VPHR and PPHR devices.

Cyanogen chloride (CK)- colorless, more volatile than hydrocyanic acid, liquid with a strong unpleasant odor. Its toxic properties are similar to hydrocyanic acid, but unlike it, it irritates the upper respiratory tract and eyes. The means of application, protection, and degassing are the same as for hydrocyanic acid.

Asphyxiating agents

This group of chemical agents includes phosgene. In the US Army, phosgene (CG) is a reserve agent.

Phosgene (CG) under normal conditions, a colorless gas, 3.5 times heavier than air, with a characteristic odor of rotten hay or rotten fruit. It dissolves poorly in water, but is easily decomposed by it. Combat state - par. Durability on terrain is 30-50 minutes, vapor stagnation in trenches and ravines is possible for 2 to 3 hours. The depth of distribution of contaminated air is from 2 to 3 km.

Phosgene affects the body only when its vapor is inhaled, and mild irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, lacrimation, an unpleasant sweetish taste in the mouth, slight dizziness, general weakness, cough, tightness in the chest, nausea (vomiting) are felt. After leaving the contaminated atmosphere, these phenomena disappear, and within 4-5 hours the affected person is in a stage of imaginary well-being. Then, due to pulmonary edema, a sharp deterioration in the condition occurs: breathing becomes more frequent, coughing with copious discharge of foamy sputum, headache, shortness of breath, blue lips, eyelids, nose, increased heart rate, pain in the heart, weakness and suffocation. Body temperature rises to 38-39°C, pulmonary edema lasts several days and usually ends in death.

First aid. Put a gas mask on the affected person, remove him from the contaminated atmosphere, provide complete rest, make breathing easier (remove the waist belt, unfasten the buttons), cover him from the cold, give him a hot drink and deliver him to a medical center as quickly as possible.

Protection against phosgene - gas mask, shelter and equipment equipped with filter and ventilation units. Phosgene is detected by an indicator tube with three green rings by VPHR and PPHR devices.

Toxic substances of psychochemical action

Currently, the psychotropic agent Bi-Zet (BZ) is in service with the armies of foreign countries.

Bi-Z (BZ) - white crystalline substance odorless, insoluble in water, soluble in chloroform, dichloroethane and acidified water. The main combat state is aerosol. It is used using aviation cassettes and aerosol generators.

BZ affects the body by inhaling contaminated air and ingesting contaminated food and water. The effect of BZ begins to appear after 0.5-3 hours. When exposed to low concentrations, drowsiness and decreased combat effectiveness occur. When exposed to high concentrations, at the initial stage, rapid heartbeat, dry skin and dry mouth, dilated pupils and a decrease in combat effectiveness are observed for several hours. Over the next 8 hours, numbness and speech inhibition occur. This is followed by a period of excitement, lasting up to 4 days. 2-3 days after exposure to chemical agents, a gradual return to normal begins.

First aid: Put a gas mask on the affected person and remove it from the affected area. When going out to an uncontaminated area, perform partial sanitary treatment of exposed areas of the body using PPI, shake out the uniform, rinse the eyes and nasopharynx with clean water.

Detection of BZ in the atmosphere is carried out by military chemical reconnaissance devices VPKhR and PPKhR using indicator tubes with one brown ring.

Protection from BZ - gas mask, equipment and shelters equipped with filter ventilation units.

Irritant toxic substances (irritants)

Irritants are substances with irritant (sternites) and lachrymatory (lacrimator) effects, related to chemical riot control agents, ways to quickly cause sensory irritation or physical disorders in the human body that disappear within a short period of time after cessation of exposure.

The main substances in this class are CS (CS) and CP (CR) and chloroacetophenone (CN).

CBS (C.S.) - white, solid, slightly volatile crystalline substance with the smell of pepper. It dissolves poorly in water, moderately in alcohol, well in acetone and chloroform. Combat state - aerosol. Used with chemical aircraft bombs, artillery shells, aerosol generators and smoke grenades. Can be used in the form of long-acting formulations CS-1 and CS-2.

CS in low concentrations is irritating to the eyes and upper Airways, and in high concentrations causes burns of exposed skin, in some cases - paralysis of breathing, heart and death. Signs of damage: severe burning and pain in the eyes and chest, severe lacrimation, involuntary closing of the eyelids, sneezing, runny nose (sometimes with blood), painful burning in the mouth, nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, cough and chest pain. When leaving a contaminated atmosphere or after putting on a gas mask, the symptoms continue to increase for 15-20 minutes, and then gradually subside over 1-3 hours.

C-Ar (CR) - yellow crystalline substance. It dissolves poorly in water, but well in organic solvents. Combat use is similar to CS. The toxic effects of CR are similar to CS, but are more irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

Chloroacetophenone acts on the body similar to CS and CR, but is less toxic.

When exposed to irritating agents, it is necessary to wear a gas mask. In case of severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract (severe cough, burning, pain in the nasopharynx), crush the ampoule with the anti-smoke mixture and insert it under the gas mask helmet. After leaving the contaminated atmosphere, rinse your mouth, nasopharynx, and eyes with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. Remove chemical agents from uniforms and equipment by shaking out or cleaning. Gas masks, shelters and military equipment equipped with filter and ventilation units reliably protect against irritating agents.

Toxins and phytotoxicants

Toxins are chemical substances of protein nature of microbial, plant or animal origin that, when they enter the human or animal body, can cause disease and death.

The US Army's standard supply includes substances XR (X-Ar) and PG (P-G), which are new highly toxic chemical agents.

SubstanceXR- botulinum toxin of bacterial origin, entering the body, causes severe damage to the nervous system. Belongs to the class of lethal agents. XR is a white to yellowish fine powder. Brown, easily dissolves in water. Used in the form of aerosols by aviation, artillery or missiles, it easily penetrates the human body through the mucous surfaces of the respiratory tract, digestive tract and eyes. It has a hidden period of action from 3 hours to 2 days. Signs of damage appear suddenly and begin with a feeling of severe weakness, general depression, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. 3-4 hours after the onset of symptoms of the lesion, dizziness appears, the pupils dilate and stop responding to light. Vision is blurry, often double vision. The skin becomes dry, the mouth feels dry and thirsty, severe pain in the stomach. Difficulties arise in swallowing food and water, speech becomes slurred, and the voice becomes weak. For non-fatal poisoning, recovery occurs within 2-6 months.

SubstancePG- staphylococcal enterotoxin - used in the form of aerosols. It enters the body through inhaled air and contaminated water and food. Has a hidden period of action of several minutes. Symptoms of the infection are similar to food poisoning. Initial signs of damage: salivation, nausea, vomiting. Severe abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. Highest degree of weakness. Symptoms last 24 hours, during which time the affected person is incapacitated.

First aid for toxin damage. Stop the entry of the toxin into the body (put on a gas mask or respirator when in a contaminated atmosphere, rinse the stomach if poisoned by contaminated water or food), take it to a medical center and provide qualified medical care.

Protection against XR and PG toxins includes a gas mask or respirator, weapons, military equipment and shelters equipped with filter ventilation units.

Phytotoxicants- chemicals that cause damage to vegetation Plants treated with phytotoxicants lose foliage, dry out and die. For military purposes, special highly toxic formulations are used. The US Army has “orange”, “white” and “blue” formulations. The application of these formulations is carried out by spraying from special devices from airplanes and helicopters.

When using the “orange” recipe, after a week the vegetation completely dies. In the case of using “white” and “blue” formulations, after 2-3 days the leaves completely fall off and are destroyed, and after 10 days the vegetation dies. When using the “orange” and “white” formulations, the vegetation is not restored throughout the entire season, and when using the “blue” formulation, the soil is completely sterilized and the vegetation is not restored for a number of years.

Means and methods of using toxic agents

substances and irritants and protection against them

All US Army chemical munitions are painted gray. Colored rings, an OV code are applied to the ammunition body, the ammunition caliber, mass marks, model and code of the ammunition and batch number are indicated.

Ammunition filled with lethal substances is marked with green rings, and those with temporary and short-term incapacitating substances are marked with red rings. Chemical munitions containing nerve agents have three green rings, blister munitions have two green rings, and general poisonous and asphyxiating munitions have one green ring. Ammunition filled with psychochemical agents has two red rings, and ammunition with irritant agents has one red ring.

Code of toxic substances: Vi-X - “VX-GAS”, sarin - “GB-GAS”, technical mustard gas - “H-GAS”, distilled mustard gas - “HD-GAS”, hydrocyanic acid - “AC-GAS”, cyanogen chloride – “CK-GAS”, phosgene – “CG-GAS”, Bi-Z – “BZ-Riot”, CC – “CS-Riot”, CC – “CR-Riot”, chloroacetophenone – “CN- Riot." Botulinum toxin has the code "XR", staphylococcal enterotoxin - "PG".

Chemical weapon- this is one of the types. Its damaging effect is based on the use of toxic chemical agents, which include toxic substances (CA) and toxins that have a damaging effect on the human body and animals, as well as phytotoxicants used for military purposes to destroy vegetation.

Toxic substances, their classification

Toxic substances- these are chemical compounds that have certain toxic and physicochemical properties that, when used in combat, ensure the defeat of manpower (people), as well as contamination of the air, clothing, equipment and terrain.

Toxic substances form the basis of chemical weapons. They are used to stuff shells, mines, missile warheads, aircraft bombs, aircraft jets, smoke bombs, grenades and other chemical munitions and devices. Toxic substances affect the body, penetrating through the respiratory system, skin and wounds. In addition, lesions can occur as a result of consuming contaminated food and water.

Modern toxic substances are classified according to physiological effect on the body, toxicity (severity of damage), speed of action and durability.

According to physiological action Toxic substances on the body are divided into six groups:

• nerve agents (they are also called organophosphorus): sarin, soman, vi-gases (VX);
• vesicant action: mustard gas, lewisite;
• generally toxic: hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride;
• asphyxiating effect: phosgene, diphosgene;
• psychochemical action: Bi-zet (BZ), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide);
• irritants: CS (CS), adamsite, chloroacetophenone.

By toxicity(severity of injury) modern toxic substances are divided into lethal and temporarily incapacitating. Lethal toxic substances include all substances of the first four listed groups. Temporarily incapacitating substances include substances of the fifth and sixth groups of physiological classification.

By speed toxic substances are divided into fast-acting and slow-acting. Fast-acting agents include sarin, soman, hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, cyanide, and chloroacetophenone. These substances do not have a period of latent action and in a few minutes lead to death or loss of ability to work (combat capability). Delayed-action substances include vi-gases, mustard gas, lewisite, phosgene, bi-zet. These substances have a period of latent action and lead to damage after some time.

Depending on the durability of the damaging properties After use, toxic substances are divided into persistent and unstable. Persistent toxic substances retain their damaging effect from several hours to several days from the moment of use: these are vi-gases, soman, mustard gas, bi-zet. Unstable toxic substances retain their damaging effect for several tens of minutes: these are hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, and phosgene.

Toxins as a damaging factor in chemical weapons

Toxins are chemical substances of protein nature of plant, animal or microbial origin that are highly toxic. Typical representatives of this group are butulic toxin - one of the strongest deadly poisons, which is a product of bacterial activity, staphylococcal entsrotoxin, ricin - a toxin of plant origin.

The damaging factor of chemical weapons is the toxic effect on the human and animal body, quantitative characteristics- concentration and toxodosis.

To defeat various types Toxic chemicals called phytotoxicants are intended for vegetation. For peaceful purposes they are used mainly in agriculture for weed control, defoliation of vegetation to speed up fruit ripening and facilitate harvesting (eg cotton). Depending on the nature of the effect on plants and their intended purpose, phytotoxicants are divided into herbicides, arboricides, alicides, defoliants and desiccants. Herbicides are intended for the destruction of herbaceous vegetation, arboricides - tree and shrub vegetation, algaecides - aquatic vegetation. Defoliants are used to remove leaves from vegetation, while desiccants attack vegetation by drying it out.

When using chemical weapons, just as in an accident with the release of OX B, zones of chemical contamination and foci of chemical damage will be formed (Fig. 1). The chemical contamination zone includes the area where the agent was used and the territory over which a cloud of contaminated air with damaging concentrations has spread. A chemical damage site is a territory within which mass casualties of people, farm animals and plants occurred as a result of the use of chemical weapons.

The characteristics of infection zones and lesions depend on the type of toxic substance, means and methods of application, meteorological conditions. The main features of the source of chemical damage include:

• defeat of people and animals without destruction and damage to buildings, structures, equipment, etc.;
• contamination of economic facilities and residential areas for a long time with persistent agents;
• defeat of people on large areas for a long time after using the agent;
• defeat not only people in open areas, but also those in leaky shelters and shelters;
• strong moral impact.

Rice. 1. Zone of chemical contamination and foci of chemical damage when using chemical weapons: Av - means of application (aviation); VX - type of substance (vi-gas); 1-3 - lesions

Workers and employees of facilities who find themselves in industrial buildings and structures at the time of a chemical attack are, as a rule, affected by the vapor phase of the agent. Therefore, all work should be carried out in gas masks, and when using nerve agents or blister agents - in skin protection products.

After the First World War, despite large reserves of chemical weapons, they were not widely used for military purposes, much less against civilians. During the Vietnam War, Americans widely used phytotoxicants (to fight guerrillas) of three main formulations: “orange”, “white” and “blue”. In South Vietnam, about 43% of the total area and 44% of the forest area were affected. At the same time, all phytotoxicants turned out to be toxic to both humans and warm-blooded animals. Thus, colossal damage to the environment was caused.

Poison gas is toxic Chemical substance which causes intoxication of the body and damage to internal organs and systems. Gets through respiratory system, skin, gastrointestinal tract.

List of poisonous gases depending on their toxicological effects:

1. Nervous - carbon monoxide, sarin
2. Blisters – lewisite, mustard gas.
3. Asphyxiants - phosgene, diphosgene, chlorine.
4. Tear relievers – bromobenzyl cyanide, chloroacetophenone.
5. General exposure: hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride.
6. Irritants – adamsite, CR, CS.
7. Psychotomimetic – BZ, LSD-25.

Let's consider the most dangerous gases, the mechanism of their destruction, signs of poisoning in humans.

Sarin

Sarin is a toxic liquid substance that at a temperature of 20 °C it quickly evaporates and has a nerve-paralytic effect on the human body. As a gas, it is colorless and odorless and is most dangerous if inhaled.

Symptoms appear immediately upon exposure to the respiratory tract. The first signs of poisoning are difficulty breathing and constriction of the pupil.

Clinical manifestations:

• irritation of the nasal mucosa, liquid discharge;
• drooling, vomiting;
• chest tightness;
• shortness of breath, bluish skin;
• spasm of the bronchi and increased formation of mucus in them;
• pulmonary edema;
• severe cramps and pain in the abdomen.

If high concentration sarin vapor enters the body severe brain damage occurs within 1-2 minutes. Man can't control physiological functions body – involuntary defecation and urination. Convulsions and seizures appear. Coma develops followed by cardiac arrest.

Mustard gas

Mustard gas is mustard gas. This is a chemical compound with blister action. In liquid form, the substance has a mustard smell. It enters the body in two ways - by airborne droplets and by contact of liquid with skin. It tends to accumulate. Signs of poisoning appear after 2-8 hours.

Symptoms of gas intoxication by inhalation:

• damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• lacrimation, photophobia, feeling of sand in the eyes;
• dryness and burning in the nose, then swelling of the nasopharynx with purulent discharge;
• laryngitis, tracheitis;
• bronchitis.

If the liquid gets into the eyes, it will cause blindness. In severe cases of mustard gas poisoning, pneumonia develops and death occurs on the 3-4th day from suffocation.

Symptoms of gas poisoning upon contact with the skin are redness followed by the formation of blisters containing serous fluid, skin lesions, ulcers, necrosis. Gas destroys cell membranes, violates carbohydrate metabolism, partially destroys DNA and RNA.

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Lewisite

Lewisite is a highly toxic substance, the vapors of which can penetrate chemical protective suits and gas masks. It is a brown liquid with a pungent odor. The gas is classified as a skin vesicant. Acts on the body instantly and has no latency period.

Symptoms of gas poisoning when affected skin develop within 5 minutes:

• pain and burning at the point of contact;
• inflammatory changes;
• painful redness;
• formation of bubbles, they quickly open;
• the appearance of erosions, which take several weeks to heal;
• in severe cases, when exposed to large concentrations of lewisite, deep ulcers form.

Symptoms when inhaling gas:

• damage to the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, trachea, bronchi;
• fluid from the nose;
• sneezing, coughing;
• headache;
• nausea, vomiting;
• loss of voice;
• feeling of pressure in the chest, shortness of breath.

The mucous membrane of the eyes is highly sensitive to poisonous gas.. It becomes red, the eyelids swell, and lacrimation increases. A person experiences a burning sensation in the eyes. When liquid lewisite enters the gastrointestinal tract, the victim begins to drool profusely and vomit. Join sharp pains in the abdominal cavity. Are affected internal organs, blood pressure drops sharply.

Hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor of rotten eggs. In high concentrations the substance is very toxic. Entering the body by inhalation, symptoms of general intoxication develop - headache, dizziness, weakness. Hydrogen sulfide is quickly absorbed into the blood and affects the central nervous system.

Signs of gas poisoning:

• metallic taste in the mouth;
• paralysis of the nerve responsible for the sense of smell, so the victim immediately ceases to feel any odors;
• respiratory tract damage, pulmonary edema;
• severe cramps;
• coma.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless poisonous substance, lighter than air. Entering the body through the respiratory tract, it is quickly absorbed into the blood and binds to hemoglobin. This blocks the transport of oxygen to all cells, causing oxygen starvation, cellular respiration stops.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• dizziness and headache;
• rapid breathing and heartbeat, shortness of breath;
• noise in ears;
• impaired visual acuity, flickering in the eyes;
• skin redness;
• nausea, vomiting.

In severe poisoning, convulsions are observed. Symptoms preceding coma increase - a drop in blood pressure, severe weakness, loss of consciousness. In the absence of medical assistance, death occurs within 1 hour.

Phosgene

Phosgene is a colorless gas with the odor of rotting hay. The substance is dangerous if inhaled, the first signs of intoxication appear after 4-8 hours. At high concentrations, death occurs within 3 seconds. Gas entering the lungs destroys them, causing instant swelling.

Symptoms on different stages poisoning:

1. Pulmonary edema begins to develop in the latent period, when the victim is unaware of poisoning. The first signals from the body are a sweet, cloying taste in the mouth, nausea. Sometimes there is vomiting. A person feels a sore throat, itching and burning in the nasopharynx. A cough reflex occurs, breathing and pulse are disrupted.
2. After the latent period, the victim’s condition deteriorates sharply. A severe cough appears and the person begins to choke. The skin and lips turn blue.
3. Stage of progressive deterioration - severe pressure in chest, leading to suffocation, the respiratory rate increases to 70 per minute (normal 18). A lot of fluid and mucus forms in the lungs due to the decomposition of the alveoli. A person coughs up sputum containing blood. Breathing becomes impossible. 50% of the bcc (circulating blood volume) goes to the lungs and increases them. The weight of one lung can be 2.5 kg (the norm is 500-600 g).

In severe cases, death within 10-15 minutes. In case of gas poisoning moderate severity death occurs in 2-3 days. Recovery can occur 2-3 weeks after poisoning, but this is rare due to infection.

Hydrocyanic acid

Hydrocyanic acid is a colorless, light and mobile liquid with a pronounced odor. It blocks the chain of oxygen movement through tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. The gas affects the nervous system, disrupting the innervation of organs.

Symptoms of respiratory poisoning:

• dyspnea;
• at the beginning of development clinical picture rapid breathing;
• with severe intoxication - respiratory depression and cessation.

Signs of the heart:

• slowing down heart beats;
• increased blood pressure;
• vasospasm;
• as symptoms increase - drop in pressure, increased heart rate, acute cardiovascular failure, cardiac arrest.

Poisonous gases are strong, fast-acting substances. To save a person, emergency resuscitation measures are necessary. If the outcome is favorable, the victim needs long-term rehabilitation treatment.

It will soon be 100 years since the first chlorine gas attack in April 1915. Over the years, the toxicity of toxic substances has increased approximately 1900 times compared to the chlorine used at that time.

The variety of toxic substances adopted for service, differing from each other in physical and chemical properties and state of aggregation, character toxic effect and toxicity levels, significantly complicates the creation of chemical protection means, especially antidote drugs, indication and warning systems.

Gas masks and skin protection kits, even the newest of them, have an adverse effect on people, depriving them of normal mobility due to the aggravating effect of both the gas mask and skin protection, causing intolerable thermal stress, limiting visibility and other perceptions necessary for combat control. means and communication with each other. Due to the need to decontaminate contaminated equipment and personnel, in some cases it is necessary to withdraw military units from combat. It is indisputable that modern chemical weapons are formidable weapons, especially when used against troops and civilian population without proper chemical protection means, a significant combat effect can be achieved.

Chlorine, phosgene, mustard gas and other gases originally used can be called poisonous substances of the 1st World War. Organophosphorus toxic substances can rightfully be called chemical weapons of the 2nd World War. And the point is not so much that their discovery and development occurred during the years of this war and the first post-war years. Their damaging properties, toxic nerve agents in the most to the fullest could have manifested itself precisely during the years of the last world war. For their effective application There were vulnerable targets - troop positions saturated with openly located manpower. In those years, several thousand people were concentrated in the front breakthrough areas on every square kilometer, and they also did not have full-fledged means of anti-chemical protection. To use chemical shells and aerial bombs, the necessary combat groups of artillery and aviation were available.

The arrival of organophosphorus nerve agents into weapons arsenals marked the apogee in the development of chemical weapons. There is no further increase in its combat power and is not predicted in the future. Obtaining new toxic substances that would exceed the level of toxicity of modern lethal toxic substances and at the same time have optimal physicochemical properties (liquid state, moderate volatility, the ability to cause damage when exposed through the skin, the ability to be absorbed into porous materials and paint coatings, and etc.) is excluded. This conclusion is supported by the experience of developing chemical weapons over the past sixty years. Even binary munitions created in the 70s were filled with sarin and other toxic substances obtained approximately 30 years ago.

Over the past decade, there have been fundamental changes in weapons systems. The combat qualities of conventional weapons have sharply increased, primarily due to the introduction into service of high-precision weapons capable of inflicting damage on individual objects and even finding the required targets among others thanks to “intelligent” control and guidance systems.

This, and also the ending " cold war"and extremely negative attitude in society towards chemical warfare agents led to the conclusion in 1993 of the international Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which entered into force on April 29, 1997.

Strange as it may seem, the countries where the largest reserves of toxic substances were accumulated were interested in the elimination of chemical weapons. The likelihood of a “big war” was reduced to a minimum; in these conditions, nuclear weapons became quite sufficient as a means of deterrence. The removal of toxic substances from the limits of international law has become beneficial to countries with nuclear arsenals, since chemical weapons were considered by many odious regimes as “ atomic bomb for the poor."

INCAPACITANTS

The convention does not cover substances used by “law enforcement agencies” to “fight riots.”
Incapacitants include large group physiologically active substances With different character toxic effect. In contrast to lethal substances, incapacitating doses of incapacitants are hundreds or more times lower than their lethal doses. Therefore, if these substances are used for military or police purposes, fatalities can be avoided. Incapacitants include irritants and disregulators. Irritants were used during the First World War, but they have not lost their importance to this day.

In the early 50s, the British chemical research center in Porton Down developed a technology for producing a new irritant, which received the CS code. Since 1961 it has been in service American army. Later it entered service with the army and police of a number of other countries.

The substance CS was used in large quantities during vietnam war. In terms of irritant action, the CS substance is significantly superior to the irritants of the First World War - adamsite (DM) and chloroacetophenone (CN). It is widely used by police and civilian self-defense.

There is a widespread opinion among ordinary people that this substance is “harmless”. However, this is far from true; in case of poisoning in large doses or with prolonged exposure, severe harm to health may occur, including burns to the respiratory tract.

Contact with the eyes can lead to severe burns of the cornea with partial or complete loss of vision. A number of researchers have noted that in people who have repeatedly been exposed to “tear gas” a sharp decline immunity.

In 1962, the irritant CR was produced in Switzerland, 10 times more effective than CS. It was adopted by the army and police of Great Britain and the USA.

At elevated concentrations, its smoke causes intolerable irritation to the respiratory system and eyes, as well as to the skin of the entire body. In a vapor or aerosol state, CR has a powerful tear effect combined with a nettle-like, burning effect. Within seconds of exposure to an atmosphere containing CR vapors and aerosols, unbearable burning of the eyes, mouth and nose occurs, as well as lacrimation, blurred vision, irritation of the upper respiratory tract and burning of the skin.

When drops of a solution of CR substance come into contact with the skin, a sharp skin pain is observed that persists for several hours. Compared to other synthetic irritants, CR creates more discomfort for victims.

Irritants are not included in chemical weapons as defined in the text of the 1993 Chemicals Convention. The convention only calls on its parties not to use these chemicals during hostilities.

In fact, with the help of the latest irritants and other substances with a temporary release action that are not prohibited, it may be possible in the near future to overcome the gas mask, when the penetration of the agent through the gas mask and the irritation of the respiratory tract caused by it will make it impossible to continue wearing the gas mask due to a violation of the regime breathing, due to which the victim will be forced to tear off the gas mask from his face and expose himself to the harmful effects of hundreds of thousands of times higher concentrations of the irritant in the surrounding atmosphere.

Due to their complex of properties, irritants may be of interest as substances for debilitating enemy manpower. Under the chemical convention, they may receive further development, since their development is not prohibited. On the other hand, when current state systems of anti-chemical defense systems for troops, the task of destroying manpower may turn out to be impossible and therefore the task of not destroying, but pinning down the enemy’s manpower will come to the fore, which can not necessarily be solved only with the use of lethal toxic substances.

In the 50s, among supporters of the buildup of chemical weapons, there was a fascination with the idea of ​​a “bloodless war.” New substances were being developed to temporarily disable a significant part of the enemy troops and population. Some of these substances can incapacitate people, sending them into a world of dreams, complete depression or mindless euphoria.” Therefore, we were talking about the use of substances causing disorders mental disorders that disrupt the normal perception of the affected world and even deprive people of their sanity.

The natural hallucinogenic substance LSD has the described effect, but it is not available in significant quantities. In the UK, USA and Czechoslovakia, full-scale tests of the effects of LSD on military personnel were carried out in order to determine the effect of this substance on the ability of those participating in the experiment to perform combat missions. The effects of LSD were very similar to those of alcohol intoxication.

After an organized search for substances similar action on the psyche, in the USA the choice was made in favor of a substance coded BZ. It was in service with the American army and was used in an experimental version in Vietnam.

At normal conditions substance BZ is solid and quite stable. It was intended for use in the form of smoke generated by the combustion of a pyrotechnic mixture containing BZ.
Intoxication of people with the BZ substance is characterized by severe mental depression and disruption of orientation in the environment. Toxic effects develop gradually, reaching a maximum after 30-60 minutes. The first symptoms of damage are rapid heartbeat, dizziness, muscle weakness, and dilated pupils. After about half an hour, weakening of attention and memory occurs, decreased response to external stimuli, loss of orientation, psychomotor agitation, periodically followed by hallucinations. After 1-4 hours, severe tachycardia, vomiting, confusion, loss of contact with the outside world are observed. Subsequently, outbursts of anger, the commission of actions inappropriate to the circumstances, and impaired consciousness with partial or complete loss of memory are possible. The state of poisoning persists for up to 4-5 days, and residual mental disorders can last up to 2-3 weeks.

Installations for field testing of ammunition loaded with BZ at the Edgewood test site, USA

There are still doubts about how predictable the enemy’s behavior is after exposure to psychochemical substances, and whether the enemy will fight more boldly and aggressively. In any case, the BZ substance was withdrawn from the arsenal of the US Army, but in other armies it did not come to the point of adopting it.

EMETICS

The group of emetics that have a strong emetic effect consists of synthetic substances and toxins. Among synthetic emetics, derivatives of apomorphine, aminotetralin and some polycyclic nitrogen-containing compounds may pose a threat to military use. The most well-known natural emetic is staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The military use of natural emetics is associated with the possibility of causing death to persons in poor health, which can be avoided when using synthetic emetics. Synthetic and natural emetics can cause vomiting and other symptoms of damage through various routes of entry into the body, including inhalation. Victims quickly begin to vomit irrepressibly, accompanied by diarrhea. In this state, people cannot perform certain tasks or combat missions. Due to the release of vomit, those affected by emetics are forced to throw off the gas mask, regardless of whether the damaging agent is present or absent in the surrounding atmosphere.

BIOREGULATORS

IN Lately Publications have appeared regarding the prospects for creating biochemical or hormonal weapons, which are based on the use of endogenous bioregulators. According to experts, up to 10 thousand bioregulators of various chemical natures and functional purposes function in the body of warm-blooded animals. Under the control of bioregulators are mental condition, mood and emotions, sensation and perception, mental abilities, body temperature and blood pressure, tissue growth and regeneration, etc. When bioregulators are imbalanced, disorders occur, leading to loss of performance and health, and even death.
Bioregulators are not prohibited by both chemical and biological conventions. Research, as well as the production of bioregulators and their analogues in the interests of healthcare, can be used to cover up work on the creation of biochemical weapons, bypassing conventions.

NARCOTIC ANALGESICS

The group of narcotic analgesics consists of derivatives of morphine and fentanyl, which have an immobilizing effect. The advantages of substances with morphine-like effects are their high activity, safety in use, as well as a quickly onset and stable incapacitating effect. In the 70-80s, artificially synthesized substances of this group were obtained that had an extremely high “impact” effect. Carfentanil, sufentanil, alfentanil and lofentanil, which are of interest as potential toxic substances, were synthesized.

Carfentanil is one of the most active substances from the entire group of fentanyl derivatives studied. It exhibits its activity through various routes of entry into the body, including inhalation of vapor or aerosol. As a result of one-minute inhalation of carfentanil vapor, immobilization occurs with loss of consciousness.

Narcotic analgesics are used by intelligence services. The case of their use during a special operation related to terrorist act October 26, 2002 at Dubrovka in Moscow, also referred to as "Nord-Ost".

During the storming of a building with hostages held by Chechen militants, a narcotic analgesic was used. The main justification for the need to use gas during a special operation to free hostages is that the terrorists have weapons and explosive devices, which, if detonated, could kill all the hostages. For a number of reasons, the drug released into the building did not have an effect on everyone: some hostages remained conscious, and some of the terrorists continued to fire for 20 minutes, but no explosion occurred and all the terrorists were eventually neutralized.

Of the 916 people taken hostage, according to official data, 130 people died as a result of exposure to chemical agents. The exact composition of the gas used by security forces during the assault remains unknown. Experts from the Laboratory of Scientific and Technological Basic Safety in Salisbury (UK) believe that the aerosol consisted of two analgesics - carfentanil and remifentanil. According to the official statement of the FSB, a “special formulation based on fentanyl derivatives” was used in Dubrovka. Officially the leading cause of death large quantity hostages is called “exacerbation of chronic diseases.”

It is worth noting here that in terms of incapacitating action, the most active of narcotic analgesics, in terms of their level of action, achieve the effect of nerve agents. They are quite capable, if necessary, of replacing non-conventional agents.

When used suddenly, when the enemy is taken by surprise, the effect of narcotic analgesics can be stunning. Even in small doses, the effect of the substance is knockout - the living force that is attacked after a few minutes loses the ability to resist. An overdose results in death, which apparently happened to those killed in Nord-Ost.

In terms of their incapacitating effect, the most active of narcotic analgesics reach the level of toxic nerve agents.

Incapacitating doses of the most active known incapacitants and non-lethal chemical agents

The list of drugs of various effects that can be used as chemical warfare agents is continuously updated, as a product of a “by-product” of the research process in the creation of various medicines and plant protection products (this is how nerve agents were discovered in Germany in the 30s). Work in this area in state secret laboratories has never stopped and, apparently, will not stop. There is a high probability of creating new poisons that are not covered by the provisions of the 1993 Chemical Convention.

This may serve as an incentive to switch scientific teams of military departments and industry from the development and production of lethal toxic substances to the search and creation of new types of chemical weapons in circumvention of the convention.

Based on materials:
http://rudocs.exdat.com/docs/index-19796.html
http://mirmystic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2695&mobile=mobile
ALEXANDROV V.A., EMELYANOV V.I. Poisonous substances. Moscow, Military Publishing House, 1990

Toxic substances (CS) are poisonous chemical compounds intended to harm people.

Toxic substances are classified as means of mass destruction. As a military weapon, explosives have been known since ancient times. They were widely used during the First World War, causing significant losses among the personnel of the warring armies. In 1925, in Geneva, on the initiative of the League of Nations, a treaty was drawn up banning the use of chemical weapons. However, some countries (including the United States) have not ratified this treaty.

OVs were continuously improved. During the Second World War, the Germans obtained the most effective organic phosphorus agents (OPS) of the “tabun” type. There are other weapons in foreign armies.

The means of using chemical agents are artillery shells, rockets and mines, aerial bombs mounted on aircraft, pouring devices and special devices for the formation of aerosols (generators, checkers). Gaseous and aerosol pollutants contaminate the air, while droplet pollutants contaminate areas of tens and hundreds of square kilometers. A chemical cloud, while maintaining an effective concentration of OM, can move in the direction of the wind over long distances.

From a tactical point of view, toxic substances are divided into persistent and unstable. Persistent ones remain active on the ground for days and hours, while unstable ones remain active for tens of minutes. The most common classification of OS - clinical - distinguishes the following groups Agents: 1) nerve agents (tabun, sarin, soman, phosphorylthiocholines); 2) generally toxic (hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, carbon monoxide, arsenic hydrogen, hydrogen phosphide); 3) asphyxiating (chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene, chloropicrin in high concentrations); 4) blister agents (mustard gas, trichlorotriethylamine, lewisite, phosgenoxime); 5) tear relievers (bromobenzyl cyanide, chloroacetophenone, chloropicrin in small concentrations); 6) irritants to the upper respiratory tract (diphenylchloroarsine, diphenylcyanarsine, adamsite, capsaicin and its derivatives).

The foreign press discusses the combat significance of the new warheads. The code CS denotes an irritant agent: it causes lacrimation, irritation of the upper respiratory tract, and in high concentrations, vomiting. Psychotomimetics - agents such as lysergic acid diethylamide - cause visual and auditory hallucinations, temporary or euphoria, persecutory mania and panic mood, depersonalization and other symptoms resembling schizophrenia; duration of action - up to 12 hours.

The substances that act on crops are 2,4-D-derivatives of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. These chemical agents cause intensive growth of individual parts of the plant and its death due to a sharp disruption of metabolic processes.

Stability and behavior of toxic substances during external environment depend on their physical and chemical properties, as well as from the meteorological and topographic conditions of the area. Of the physico-chemical properties of OM, the most important are the melting and boiling points (which determine the aggregate state of the OM), volatility, chemical activity in the processes of hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction, as well as stability during detonation. Special attention focuses on methods for creating an aerosol cloud, allowing low-boiling liquids and solids to be converted into finely divided particles. In this case, they proceed from the greatest stability in the atmosphere of particles with a diameter of 10 -6 -10 -4 cm and the maximum toxic efficiency (when inhaled) of particles of 10 -5 cm, since smaller ones are partially ejected during exhalation, while larger ones penetrate into the lungs less well. An aerosol cloud can consist not only of solid particles (smoke), but also of liquid ones - in the form of fog and so-called drizzle, which is especially dangerous when it gets on exposed parts of the body. The high toxicity of modern chemical agents makes it possible to create life-threatening concentrations in an aerosol cloud that is almost invisible to the eye. The stability of the concentration of OM in the air depends on meteorological factors (air temperature, wind, rain). Ravines, gorges, vegetation, area development with multi-storey buildings and some others contribute to the stagnation of organic matter.

Toxicological analysis of the action of chemical agents includes determining the routes of their introduction into the body, their distribution and transformation (detoxification, interaction with enzymes) in the body and the route of excretion. The main routes of entry of pollutants into the body are the respiratory tract and the skin. Tear agents act on the eyes. Agents can also enter the digestive tract, for example, with food and water contaminated with agents.

The strength and nature of the toxic effect of toxic substances depend primarily on the amount of chemical agents entering the body. In relation to agents acting on the respiratory organs and eyes, this amount is expressed in concentrations; when the agent acts on the skin and digestive organs - in doses.

The concentration of OM is their relative content per unit volume of air; it is expressed: a) in mg OM per 1 liter of air (mg/l) or in g per cubic meter(g/m 3); b) in volumetric ratios (the volume of OM vapor is taken in the same units as the volume of contaminated air) - per 100 volume units (in percent), per 1000 or per 1,000,000. To convert weight concentrations into volumetric ones and vice versa, the following formulas are used:

where X is the weight concentration of OM in mg/l, V is the volume concentration of OM in cm 3 /l, M is a gram molecule. Calculations using these formulas apply to 0° and 760 mm pressure.

The dose of OM for action on the skin is expressed in m per 1 cm 2 of skin (mg/cm 2) or in mg per 1 kg of body weight (mg/kg). The last designation is also used when the agent acts per os or parenterally. When an area is contaminated, the density of infection in g is taken into account. square meter surface (g/m2). In addition, it is necessary to take into account the duration of action of the agent, during which it accumulates in the body or the summation of its effects. Therefore, time in minutes is added to the numerical designation of concentration.

Depending on the strength and nature of the toxic effect, toxic (damaging) and fatal concentrations are distinguished among the concentrations of chemical agents. The latter cause death during phenomena acute intoxication. In experimental practice, they are differentiated into: a) conditionally lethal, causing death in 50% of experimental animals (CD50); b) minimally lethal, causing death in 75% of experimental animals (SD75); c) absolutely lethal, causing death in 100% of animals (SD100). Concentrations of irritating agents (tear-producing agents and irritants of the upper respiratory tract) are divided into: a) minimally irritating (threshold), at which the onset of action of the agent is observed; b) minimally intolerable, which cannot be tolerated without protective equipment.

WITH practical side in characterizing the toxic effect of an agent, it is necessary to pay attention to: a) selectivity of action, taking into account different ways the entry of the toxic substance into the body and the symptoms of the lesion; b) the speed of appearance of the first signs of damage, distinguishing OS fast action when the effect appears in the very first minutes after contact (tear agents, FOV, hydrocyanic acid), and delayed action agents, when the first symptoms of damage appear after a latent period lasting hours (mustard gas); c) the speed of recovery, since the recovery time can be very different - from a few minutes or hours (lacrimation, irritating the upper respiratory tract) to weeks and months (FOV, mustard gas).

In combat conditions one has to deal mainly with acute forms lesions, which are conventionally divided into mild, moderate and severe.

When diagnosing, it is important to find out from the anamnesis the time of contact with the agent, the conditions under which the lesion occurred, external signs OS, symptoms of damage, whether the affected person used protective equipment. The massive nature of the lesions is especially important diagnostic value. The diagnosis is made based on the victim’s complaints and objective data clinical trial and their differential analysis (see table).

With help chemical analysis Toxic substances can be found on the victim’s clothing and in skin washes. Biochemical analysis blood detects specific changes - inhibition of cholinesterase (with FOV), the presence of carboxyhemoglobin (with CO).

During a pathological examination, changes that occurred in cases of lightning death (occurring in a period from several minutes to 1-2 hours) are distinguished, in acute period(in the first 3 days), in the subacute period (from 4 to 10 days) and in the long-term period (after 10 days). The disorders most specific to OS are observed in the acute period. At differential diagnosis it is necessary to keep in mind similar changes for some infectious diseases(ornithosis, melioidosis, influenza, measles, plague, tularemia, glanders, anthrax, brucellosis). Opening should be carried out in protective clothing and rubber gloves, and contaminated materials should be decontaminated.

Prevention is achieved by using a gas mask (see), protective clothing (see) and using collective funds protection.

Treatment consists of sequential implementation of the following measures. 1. Prevention of further entry of pollutants into the body. To do this, special treatment is carried out on exposed parts of the body (see Degassing, Sanitation) and uniforms using personal degassers anti-chemical package(cm.). The victim is put on a working gas mask (regular or special - for injuries to the head and neck), removed from the contaminated atmosphere, and the stomach is washed out (in case of oral injury). 2. Administration of antidotes for chemical agents (see). There are quite active antidotes against hydrocyanic acid, OPA, arsenic agents. 3. Treatment with symptomatic means.

Urgent therapeutic measures are: special treatment of exposed parts of the body and clothing of the victim (degassing of toxic substances), antidote therapy, gastric lavage in case of oral infection.

When assigning victims for evacuation (see Staged treatment), it is necessary to remember that non-transportable include: a) those affected by organophosphorus agents in severe form, b) those in a state life-threatening, c) affected OS with pulmonary edema. see also Health care(in military field conditions), Medical service civil defense, Sanitary and chemical protection.