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Filename:22tr1732.143
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This document is a captured Iraqi military record.
It is provided in its original form to include Iraqi
classification markings (i.e. Top Secret, Secret, etc.).
These classification markings are NOT U.S. Government markings.
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Chapter Three
Types and properties of toxic chemical agents
Their protective measures and decontamination
Nerve agents
General
12. They are toxic chemical components that affect the
physiology of the nervous system. They are highly toxic and very
effective. They penetrate the body through the respiratory
system, the skin, the digestive system, and the eyes. They
are called (organic phosphorus) components. For example: (Sarin,
Suman, Tabun, D.F.P., VX series). Nerve
agents are divided into two categories:
a. G Agents:
Such as Tabun GA, Sarin GB, Suman GD, and D.F.P.
b. V agents:
VX agents are considered dozens of times more toxic
than G agents. They were produced after World War II.
Such agents are O- Methyl - S (N,N,N - Trimethylammonium
ethyl) - Methyl Thiophosphonate).
13. Characteristics of nerve agents
They feature the following:
a. They are highly toxic.
b. They are very effective. The infection symptoms appear
immediately contrary to the blister agents (Mustard and Mustard
Nitrogen) in which infection symptoms appear after the
incubation period.
c. They are mostly persistent toxic chemical agents.
d. They affect humans through the respiratory system, the skin
pores, the digestive system, and the eyes.
e. They require decontamination procedures immediately after the contamination.
f. They require protective clothing to protect the body in general (Protective
equipment number 1).
14. Properties
Most nerve agents are colorless liquids that are either odorless or have a light fruity odor.
Their boiling point is more than 140 Co, their freezing point is less than zero degrees
centigrade from -30 Co to -80 Co. They are slightly soluble in water and very soluble in
organic solvents and oil derivatives.
15. Infection symptoms
Symptoms depend on the dose to which an individual was exposed, how the agent
penetrated, and the exposureÕs duration. In general, the following symptoms appear when
exposed to nerve agents no matter how the agents entered the body.
a. Light infection
One. Pinpoint eye pupils.
Two. Cramps in blood vessels.
Three. Shrinking muscles in lungs, hearts, and chest.
Four. Headache
Five. General weakness and relatively in the senses
These symptoms remain one or two days and sometimes longer.
b. Medium infection
The above symptoms of light infection appear but take effect more quickly and
severely. They are as follows:
One. Extreme pinpoint eye pupils.
Two. Severe pain in visual accommodation.
Three. Dizziness and watery eyes.
Four. Breathing difficulty because of constriction of the bronchi.
Five. High blood pressure and increase in heart beats.
Six. Shrinking muscles and cold sweat.
Seven. Loss of balance during movement
Eight diarrhea
Nine. Shrinking intestines that cause diarrhea
These symptoms remain for a period of more than 4 to 5 days.
c. Severe infection
These symptoms are more severe than in the medium infection and they are as
follows:
One. Extreme difficulty in breathing.
Two. Very watery eyes and severe nasal discharges
Three. Paralysis in muscles
Four. Unconsciousness
Five. Death because of heart failure.
These symptoms appear within 30 seconds. The infected person becomes
unconscious within one minute and dies within 5 to 15 minutes.
An infected person usually dies within one minute or less if exposed through the
respiratory system, within a few minutes if exposed through the digestive system,
and within 5 to 20 minutes if exposed through the skin pores.
16. Protection
Protection from nerve agents occurs by using the following:
a. Protective equipment number 1 which consists of:
One. A protective mask (It is essential to personal protection)
Two. A protective cloak (protective coat / protective suit)
Three. A pair of light protective gloves
Four. A light protective foot gear
b. Two types of shelters: conditioned and non conditioned
Note
Nerve agents cannot be usually recognized (sensed) in combat situations. When exposed
to a nerve agent, initial symptoms are considered the first warning of an attack. As to the
main protective measures, they consist of using protective equipment especially
protective masks.
17. Decontamination
The following disinfectants are used to decontaminate nerve agents through equipment
and various methods (decontamination amount/ decontamination equipment/
decontamination vehicles)
a. [ ] powder
b. [ ] Ammonia Non organic chloroxides
c. Decontamination solution number 2. It contains:
One. 2% Sodium Hydroxide
Two. 5% Monoethanolamine
Three. 20% Ammonia
Four. 73 % Water
d. Basic solutions
e. Ammonia Solution
Blister agents
General
18. They are toxic chemical components (that have various chemical components). They
affect humans through:
a. The skin. Their effects appear through a rash, small blisters, and large blisters that
later explode and the area is infected (depending on the contamination level).
These effects are called localized effects.
b. The tear tissues
c. The respiratory system
d. The digestive system
e. These agents also cause a general infection to all tissues and cells of the body and
affect the nuclear acids. They are also accumulative.
Such agents are Sulfuric Mustards, Nitrogen Mustards, and Lewisite
19. Characteristics of blister agents
They are characterized by the following:
a. They are highly toxic
b. They affect humans through the skin pores, the eyes, and the digestive and
respiratory systems)
c. They require measures to protect the body in general (a protective mask and
clothing)
d. They are persistent toxic chemical agents
e. They require decontamination procedures immediately after the infection.
f. These agents have an incubation period that ranges between many hours and many
days, except for Lewisite and Phosgene that have the immediate infection
symptoms.
20. Properties
The main blister agent is called Mustard agent. It is a liquid that is colorless when pure
and dark mocha color when impure. The pure agent has the odor of castor oil and the
impure agent has the odor of garlic and sulfuric components. Its boiling point is very high
and reaches 217 Co for pure mustard and 203 Co for impure mustard. Its freezing point is
14.5 Co for pure mustard and 8.8 Co for impure mustard. It volatility is very low at 0.61
mg/liter in a 20 Co temperature, very hardly soluble in water, very soluble in organic
solvents and oil derivatives.
21. Infection symptoms
Blister agents (Mustard) have localized effects on the skin. They appear like rashes and
small blisters.... They also have general effects on the body since they affect the DNA.
The symptoms of infection with mustard agent are the following:
a. Through the skin
When Mustard drops fall on the skin, they are absorbed within 2 to 3 minutes by
the skin surface. They are later absorbed within 7 minutes by a deeper layer of the
skin where they will be fully absorbed within 20 to 30 minutes. Symptoms do not
appear during this period but after a period that ranges between 2 to 6 hours
(incubation period) and sometimes 12 hours (depending on the contamination level
on the surface of the skin). The infected area becomes red but that disappears
soon for a few days if the exposure level was low. As to the high levels of
exposures, small blisters appear in the red areas within 6 to 30 hours of the
infection. They develop and multiply for 3 to 4 days during which no painful
itching symptoms appear. Later on, the blisters explode and are exposed to
infections . The healing process from these takes a period that ranges from one to
two months and probably longer. The infection leaves brown spots on the
contaminated area after healing.
Note
The infection may be accompanied by a fever (increase or decrease in temperature) and a
tremor.
b. Through the eyes
Eyes are very sensitive to mustard. The following symptoms appear when
exposed to mustard fumes:
One. Red and itchy eyes
Two. Irritated eyes
Three. Severe allergy to light
Four. Tissue inflammation
Five. Loss of vision (permanent blindness) when Mustard drops fall inside the
eyes.
Note
The above symptoms depend on the mustard concentration and the exposure period.
c. Through the respiratory system
If mustard smoke is inhaled, the respiratory system is infected and the following
symptoms appear within 4 to 6 hours.
One. Dry mouth
Two. Chest pains
Three. Breathing difficulty
Four. Gradual loss of voice
Fifth. Inflammation of the respiratory tracks and lungs
Sixth. Death in high concentrations.
The above symptoms depend on the mustard concentration and the exposure
period.
d. Through the digestive system
The effect of the mustard through the digestive system is considered more serious
than its effect through others. The infection symptoms are the inflammation of the
internal tissues of the digestive system (Pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and
intestines) weakness, and headache.
22. Protection
Protection from blister agents is provided by the following:
a. Protective equipment number 1 that consists of:
One. A protective mask (it is essential in personal protection)
Two. A protective cloak (protective coat / protective suit)
Three. A pair of light protective gloves
Four. A light protective foot gear
b. Both types of shelters: conditioned and non conditioned.
23. Decontamination
The following disinfectants are used to decontaminate from blister agents through
equipment and various means (decontamination quantity / decontamination equipment /
decontamination vehicles)
a. [ ] powder
b. [ ] ammonia non organic chloroxides
c. Decontamination solution number 1. It consists of 10 % Dichloramine that is
diluted in Chlorothen or 5 % Hexachloromelamine that is diluted in dichloroethane.
d. Monochloramine solution that is diluted in 10% alcohol.
e. Sodium Sulfide, Sodium carbonate, thionyl chloride, sufaryl chloride, and sodium
bicarbonate.
f. Ointment that is used to protect the skin from Lewisite agent.
g. Anethole that is used through injections for medical treatment of Lewisite agent.
Choking agents
General
24. The expression Òchoking toxic chemical agentsÓ may include all chemical components that
cause changes in the pulmonary tissues where the lungs fail to provide the body with the
necessary oxygen and eventually lead to the death of the infected person. In fact, most of
the toxic chemical agents can cause such changes such as mustard, Lewisite, and others.
However, choking chemical agents are those that mainly affect the pulmonary tissues and
lead
to their destruction while their effect on other organs and systems in the body is
secondary or absent. Choking agents include Phosgene, Diphosgene, and Triphosgene.
These agents are similar in properties. Most casualties during the World War I were a
result of using Phosgene that caused 80 % of the total of toxic chemical agents losses.
25. Characteristics
They are characterized by the following:
a. They affect humans through the respiratory system only.
b. They are considered among the non persistent (volatile) toxic chemical agents.
c. They are used to contaminate the air only
d. Their incubation period depends on the dose that was received and the
individualÕs vulnerability
e. There is no need to perform decontamination operations in open areas (the field)
Choking agents have very similar chemical, physiological, and psychological
properties
26. Properties
The main agent in this group is Phosgene agent that is colorless and has the odor of
recently mowed grass, yellow corn, or rotten hay. It is highly volatile, badly soluble in
water, and soluble in organic solvents and oil derivatives.
Note
Diphosgene is a liquid while triphosgene in a solid substance.
27. Infection symptoms of choking agents
Upon inhaling air that is contaminated with phosgene, the infected person feels some
irritation in the respiratory tracks, a strange taste in the mouth, slight dizziness, and a
general weakness. After being exposed to Phosgene, the mentioned symptoms disappear
and the incubation period starts and lasts between 4 and 5 hours during which the
infection of the pulmonary tissues increases and the following symptoms appear:
a. Accelerated breathing
b. Excessive coughing that is accompanied by nasal discharges and sometimes blood
c. Pain and dizziness that is accompanied by pains in the chest and the throat
d. Accelerated heart beats, general weakness, and difficulty in breathing
e. Blue marks on the face, the ears, and the hand skin
f. Death within two days after the infection in severe cases because the air vesicles
are torn, phosgene concentrations increased, or high doses were received. In this
case, the incubation period disappears and the symptoms appear immediately.
28. Protection
The protective mask and both types of shelters, -conditioned and non conditioned- are
used to protect from choking agents.
29. Decontamination
There is no need to perform decontamination procedures in open spaces (field)
General effect agents (blood agents)
General
30. General effect agents have a general impact on the body by destroying the vital organs.
However, they do not cause any kind of effects on organs or tissues that they use to
penetrate the body. There are different types of general effect agents. They may have
different physiological effect or chemical components. This group include the following
agents:
a. Hydrogen cyanide.
b. Cyanogen Chloride
c. Arsine
e. Phosphate
f. Carbon monoxide
g. Carbon
g. Alcohols and derivatives.
31. Characteristics
They are characterized by the following:
a. They affect humans through the respiratory system only except for Hydrogen
cyanide which has an effect through the skin in very high concentrations.
Cyanogen Chloride also affects the eyes.
b. They are non persistent (volatile) toxic chemical agents
c. They are used to decontaminate the air only
d. They do not have an incubation period except for Arsine.
e. They require a protective mask only to protect the respiratory system
f. There is no need to perform decontamination procedures in the field (open areas)
g. Hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride do not accumulate inside the body.
We will deal with one important agent: Hydrogen Cyanide.
32. Properties of Hydrogen Cyanide / Cyanogen Chloride
Hydrogen Cyanide is a colorless liquid that has the odor of bitter almond. Its boiling point
is 25.6 CO. It is very highly volatile and lighter than air. It is soluble in water and organic
solvents.
33 Infection symptoms of Hydrogen Cyanide
The central nervous system is considered more sensitive than the other body organs.
Therefore, the brains cells are paralyzed. This leads to cramps that are accompanied by
violent tremors and a change in heart beats. The respiratory system is affected and leads
to death. A severe infection with Hydrogen Cyanide (Hydrocyanic acid) through the
respiratory system depends on its concentration in the air and the duration of the
exposure. Therefore, low concentrations that reach 0.04 mg/liter do not cause any effects
even if the exposure period reached (6) six hours because the body can overcome small
doses of this substance and disable its effect totally by transforming it into a relatively
non toxic substance. The following symptoms appear upon infection:
a. A burning and mineral taste in the mouth.
b. A feeling of strange objects in the mouth.
c. Nausea
d. Vomit
e. Headaches and general weakness
f. Difficulty in breathing
g. Paralysis due to heart failure
Note
Cyanogen Chloride is different than Hydrogen Cyanide by its symptoms since it causes
scars to the respiratory tracts.
35. Protection from blood agents
The protective mask and both types of shelters are used to protect from general effect
agents (blood agents)
35. Decontamination of blood agents
There is no need to perform decontamination procedures in open areas (field). Covered
areas are decontaminated by letting air through.
Tear agents
General
36. This type of toxic chemical agents was used during World War I, the US -Vietnam war,
and the Portuguese war with Angola. Those agents are usually known for their use to
control riots and are used for the following purposes:
a. To disperse demonstrations and control riots.
b. To disable people
c. To force the enemy to evacuate a certain area
d. For training purposes, to test masks and effects of toxic chemical agents on
humans.
37. Characteristics
They are the following:
a. They do not cause death in Ònon lethalÓ field concentrations.
b. They are unstable (volatile) toxic chemical agents
c. Their infection symptoms appear immediately
d. Their infection symptoms disappear after exiting the contaminated area.
e. Only protective mask is used for protection.
f. There is no need to perform decontamination procedures in field concentrations
38. Types of tear agents
Many chemical components cause tears. We will not deal with all of them but they
include the following components:
a. Chloroacetophenone
b. Chloro Becrine
c. Bromobenzyl cyanide
d. Ortho-chlorobenzylidenemalonotetrite (CS)
We will deal for the moment with one important tear agent: CS
39. CS agent
CS agent causes immediate effects that start with excessive sneezing even in low
concentrations. Exposed persons lose the capacity to work. The following symptoms
appear after being exposed for a period of 20 to 60 seconds of the infection period:
a. Infected, red, and watery eyes
b. Unintentional eye closure by the infected person
c. Irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tracts, and continuous nasal
discharges
d. Difficulty in breathing and chest pains
e. Pinpoint eye pupils
f. Dizziness
g. Burn in the moist body organs
h. Vomit in high concentrations in addition to the above symptoms.
i. All symptoms appear 5 to 10 minutes after being exposed to fresh
decontaminated air.
j. The concentration which causes symptoms to the eyes reaches 0.001 to 0.005
mg/liter
40. Protection from tear agents
The protection mask provides sufficient protection from all tear agents (the face, eyes,
and respiratory tracts)
Sneezing agents (vomiting)
General
41. These agents were called sneezing agents because they cause severe sneezing by affecting
the sensitive nerve cells in the nasal tissues of the respiratory tracts. This causes a strong
reaction from the body that consist of the following symptoms:
a. Severe coughing and sneezing that are accompanied by constant and excessive
nasal discharges and salivation.
b. Chest pains, headaches, watery eyes, difficult breathing, fatigue, and fear.
c. Vomit
d. They cause general infection to the body when they penetrate through the
digestive system or the wounds since they contains Zernig, a toxic element
42. Types of Sneezing agents
Most organic Zernig components that are derived from Zernig trichloride (Ascl3) are
considered sneezing agents through respiration. The following agents are examples of
sneezing agents:
a. Adamsite
b. Diphenylchloroarsine
c. Diphenylcyanoarsine
43. Characteristics
They are the following:
a. They affect the nasal and tear tissues
b. They are considered non lethal toxic chemical agents in field concentrations
c. They are non persistent toxic chemical agents
d. For protection, only the protective mask is used.
e. It is unnecessary to perform decontamination procedures in open spaces (field)
44. Protection
The protective mask and both types of shelters - non conditioned and conditioned - are
used for protection from sneezing agents.
Note
Refer to Annex B for the description of tear and vomiting agents, and psycho chemicals.
Psycho chemicals (incapacitating agents)
General
45. Disabling the functions of the body organs may occur either through the direct effect of
the toxic chemical agents or through the effect of these agents on the nervous system that,
in turn, causes these organs to malfunction. The toxic properties of various toxic chemical
agents show that the substances that affect the nerve system (such as the organic
phosphorous components Ònerve agentsÓ) are more toxic than the substances that directly
affect the organs. Thus, in recent years, scientists mainly from the United States of
America launched a campaign of the chemical warfare to stop the use of various chemical
substances that affect the function of the central nervous system which is considered the
most important system of the human body. It is also the most sensitive system of the
body when it comes to various effects. Eventually, these substances were called psycho
chemicals.
46. These agents are considered temporary substitutes for fighting since they remove the
infected person out of the battlefield for a certain period. However, it is very possible
that these agents cause permanent psychological diseases. The infections may become
chronic and may even lead to death.
47. These agents exist in the Unites States of America and its allied countries. They were
discovered by scientists who sought to produce medicine to treat people who suffered
from mental illnesses. As a result of the research, it was noted that some of these
substances irritate the nervous system and some others relieve the nervous system. Later
on, these substances were used for military purposes.
48. There are two types of people who suffer from psychological illnesses: They are either
hyper or unconscious. The most common psychological illness is the lack of logical
thinking or having multiple personalities. The symptoms that interfere with the functions
of the central system are the following:
a. Failure to move or perform physiological activities
b. Abnormal or unrealistic mental state such as hallucinations and phobia etc.
c. These symptoms may be summarized with the fact that the infected person loses
any sense of stability and movement or taking the right decisions.
49. Properties of the psycho chemicals
They are the following:
a. They are considered non lethal agents in field concentrations
b. They are non persistent (volatile) toxic chemical agents
c. They mainly affect people through the respiratory system.
d. Only protective masks are used for protection
e. It is unecessary to perform decontamination to the open areas (the field)
50. Psycho chemicals include the following chemical components:
a. Mescaline
b. LSD - 25
c. BZ
51. Symptoms of infection with LSD - 25
a. Wide eye pupils
b. Accelerated heart beats
c. Loss of control, balance, memory, and capacity to think
d. Unjustified laughing
e. Hallucinations as if to see abnormal things
f. Change in the shape of eyes
g. The skin of the body changes to greenish
h. Schizophrenia
These symptoms are followed by the feeling of fear, melancholia, and passiveness. The
infected person is also unable to measure time. Other illness cases occur such as vomit
and muscles tremors
52 Protection from psychological effect agents
Protective masks and both types of shelters - conditioned and non conditioned - are used
for protection from psycho chemicals.
53. Decontamination
It is unecessary to perform decontamination procedures in open areas (the field)
Annex B
Annex B lays out all types of known toxic chemical agents, their properties, measures of
(protection, decontamination / detection, infection) and infection symptoms etc.
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