Compendium of Chemical Warfare Agents

Compendium of Chemical Warfare Agents

Compendium of Chemical Warfare Agents Steven L. Hoenig Senior Chemist/Chemical Terrorism Coordinator Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories-Miami

Library of Congress Control Number: 2006926880 ISBN-10: 0-387-34626-0 ISBN-13: 9780387346267 Printed on acid-free paper 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com

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Preface It should be noted that this book, although it contains some materials from a previously published work, it is by no means the same. Each chemical agent listing has been expanded to include significant additional information. In particular, the listings now include sections containing Informational, Physical and Chemical Properties, Reactivity, Toxicity, Safety, and Military Significant Information. Although listed as Military Significant Information, this section can be used by any first responder, or any person in the field. It is not strictly for military use. The purpose of this particular book is to equip those professionals in the federal, state, and local level organizations that are currently involved in Homeland Security with the necessary information to be able to address a chemical terrorist situation. Those professionals would be from Emergency Operations Centers, HazMat Teams, Fire Departments, Health Departments, Civil Support Teams (CST), Military Personnels, various Intelligence Organizations, Clinical Laboratories, and Environmental Laboratories. This would also include first responders such as emergency medical technicians, emergency room nurses, doctors, technicians, firefighters, police officers, clinicians, laboratorians, health department personnels, epidemiologists, as well as researchers and related professionals. In addition, both private and public hospitals would need this information when those exposed to the suspected chemical terrorist agents are brought in for treatment. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction about the particular class of agent, and then a brief paragraph about each individual agent. Chapters 1 through 7 cover blister, blood, choking, incapacitating, nerve, tear, and vomit agents. There are four additional blister agents in Chapter 1, three additional choking agents in Chapter 3, and seven additional nerve agents in Chapter 5. It should be noted that the subject of Novichok compounds have been addressed in detail in Chapter 5. Do bear in mind that these compounds have been subjected to some debate, but very little is known about them in detail. vii

viii Preface In addition, Chapter 6 has three additional tear agents, mixtures that are not included in the other book on chemical warfare. Chapter 8 covers components that are used to make binary chemical weapons. The chapter covers three main components that are used to make GB2 and VX2 (the binary equivalents of GB and VX). Only those materials not easily found elsewhere are listed. For example, one of the components for binary VX2 is elemental sulfur (designated NE), the information about sulfur is readily available and is not dealt with herein. Appendix A is a glossary of the terminology and abbreviations used throughout the book. Appendix B covers some relevant chemical and physical concepts used in the book. Appendix C is a quick reference chart for signs and symptoms of exposure to chemical terrorism agents. The chart is only meant as a guide and is not to be all-inclusive. Appendix D contains the FTIR spectra of the five listed nerve agents. Appendix E is a quick cross-reference among the chemical agent, symbol, type of agent, and CAS number. Appendix F is a list of precursor chemicals used in the synthesis of typical chemical warfare agents. Appendix G is the periodic table of elements. I hope that all those who use this book find the information useful and practical. Suggestions are always welcomed. Steven L. Hoenig

Acknowledgments I wish to express my thanks to Richard Kolodkin, who has been a true friend and more over all of these years, and through all of the hardships. Once again I express my thanks to Richard Leff, whose friendship I deeply appreciate and without whose assistance I would not be here now. ix

Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1. Blister Agents 1 1.1. Distilled Sulfur Mustard HD 1 1.2. Ethyldichloroarsine ED 5 1.3. Lewisite L-1 8 1.4. Lewisite L-2 11 1.5. Lewisite L-3 14 1.6. Methyldichloroarsine MD 17 1.7. Mustard T 20 1.8. Mustard Lewisite Mixture HL 22 1.9. Nitrogen Mustard HN-1 26 1.10. Nitrogen Mustard HN-2 29 1.11. Nitrogen Mustard HN-3 32 1.12. Phenyldichloroarsine PD 35 1.13. Phosgene Oxime CX 38 1.14. Sesquimustard Q 41 1.15. Sulfur Mustard Mixture HT 43 2. Blood Agents 47 2.1. Arsine SA 47 2.2. Cyanogen Chloride CK 50 2.3. Hydrogen Cyanide AC 53 3. Choking Agents 57 3.1. Chlorine Cl 57 3.2. Diphosgene DP 61 3.3. Nitric Oxide NO 63 3.4. Perfluoroisobutylene PFIB 66 3.5. Phosgene CG 68 4. Incapacitating Agents 72 4.1. Agent BZ 73 vii ix xi

xii Contents 5. Nerve Agents 77 5.1. Nerve Agent A-230 80 5.2. Nerve Agent A-232 83 5.3. Nerve Agent A-234 85 5.4. Amiton VG 88 5.5. Cyclosarin GF 91 5.6. Edemo VM 94 5.7. Ethyl Sarin GE 97 5.8. Nerve Agent GV 100 5.9. Nerve Agent VE 103 5.10. Nerve Agent VS 106 5.11. Nerve Agent VX 109 5.12. Nerve Agent Vx 112 5.13. Russian VX VR 115 5.14. Sarin GB 118 5.15. Soman GD 122 5.16. Tabun GA 125 6. Tear Agents 129 6.1. Bromobenzylcyanide CA 130 6.2. Chloroacetophenone CN 132 6.3. Chloropicrin PS 135 6.4. o-chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile CS 138 6.5. Tear Agent CNB 141 6.6. Tear Agent CNC 144 6.7. Tear Agent CNS 146 6.8. Tear Agent CR 150 7. Vomit Agents 153 7.1. Adamsite DM 153 7.2. Diphenylchloroarsine DA 156 7.3 Diphenylcyanoarsine DC 159 8. Binary Components 162 8.1. Alcohol Amine Mixture OPA 162 8.2. Binary Component QL 165 8.3. Difluoro DF 168 Appendix A Glossary 171 Appendix B Chemical and Physical Concepts 182 Appendix C Chemical Warfare Agents, Signs, and Syndromes 189 Appendix D FTIR/MS Spectra 193 Appendix E Chemical Warfare Agent Cross-Reference Table 209 Appendix F Chemical Warfare Agent Precursor Chemicals: Uses and Equivalents 211 Appendix G Periodic Table of the Elements 218 Index 220