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Battlefield Chemical Inhalation Injury
Published in Jacob Loke, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Inhalation Injuries, 2020
Synonyms for chloropicrin (PS) include klop, “vomiting gas,” Green Cross (when combined with diphosgene in artillery shell), nitrochloroform, trichloronitromethane, nitrotrichloromethane, and chloropicrin. Its formula is CC12N02; vapor density 5.7; specific gravity 1.64; boiling point 112°C. Chloropicrin is a colorless, oily liquid with a penetrating pungent odor that immediately causes tears. The odor threshold is considered sufficiently low to serve as an adequate warning with respect to toxicity. This substance is used as an insecticide and sterilizing agent, especially for cereals in ship holds. It is also used as a warning agent in other fumigants because of its strong odor. Thermal decomposition of this product can produce additional toxic substances in the form of various oxides of nitrogen, as well as phosgene, Cl2, and CO.
Chemistries of Chemical Warfare Agents
Published in Brian J. Lukey, James A. Romano, Salem Harry, Chemical Warfare Agents, 2019
Terry J. Henderson, Ilona Petrikovics, Petr Kikilo, Andrew L. Ternay Jr., Harry Salem
Physical Properties: Chloropicrin is a colorless oil with a bp of 112°C, a mp of −69°C, and a pungent, stinging odor that has been described as anise-like. Its vapor pressure is ~20 mm/Hg at 20°C, and its molecular mass is 164 g/mol (Redeman et al., 1948). The oil has a density of 1.66 g/mL and a vapor density of 5.6 relative to that of air. Chloropicrin has low solubility in water (~2 g/L) but is quite soluble in typical organic solvents (chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, etc.) and a variety of organic compounds including, for example, benzoic acid and various resins. Although chloropicrin is nonflammable, contact with oxidizing agents may lead to fires or explosions. Exposure to high temperatures can produce toxic gases, including phosgene and carbon monoxide. Electron diffraction (Knudsen et al., 1966) and mass spectrometry (Murty et al., 2005) studies of chloropicrin have been reported in addition to the vibrational spectra of bromopicrin and chloropicrin (Mason et al., 1959).
Halogenated hydrocarbons
Published in Bev-Lorraine True, Robert H. Dreisbach, Dreisbach’s HANDBOOK of POISONING, 2001
Bev-Lorraine True, Robert H. Dreisbach
Liquid riot control agents (Mace, etc.) have caused second-degree burns and hyperpigmentation of the skin, blurred vision, corneal scarring, skin sensitization, and hypertension. Chloropicrin causes vomiting and choking, with the possibility of aspiration. Bromobenzyl cyanide is a nauseant and irritant. o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile is a respiratory irritant that smells like pepper and causes uncontrollable sneezing.
Phosgene oxime: a highly toxic urticant and emerging chemical threat
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2021
Satyendra K. Singh, Joshua A. Klein, Holly N. Wright, Neera Tewari-Singh
Among the weapons of mass destruction (WMD), chemical substances whose toxic properties can be utilized to kill, incapacitate, or cause devastating injuries to human beings, are known as chemical weapons. Chemical weapons have been synthesized, stockpiled, and used in warfare as chemical warfare agents (CWAs) or in acts of terrorism on the civilian population (Dacre and Goldman 1996; Ganesan et al. 2010). The main categories of CWAs include: (i) nerve agents (G-agents are sarin, cyclosarin, tabun, and soman; V-agents include VE, VG, VM, VR and VX), (ii) vesicating agents (blistering agents nitrogen mustard and sulfur mustard, arsenical agents like lewisite, and urticant phosgene oxime), (iii) choking agents or asphyxiants (phosgene, chlorine, chloropicrin etc), (iv) riot control agents (tear gases; chloroacetophenone, chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile, dibenzoxazepine, diphenylaminoarsine), (v) blood agents (cyanide), and (vi) toxic industrial chemicals/toxic industrial materials (TICs/TIMs; chlorine, bromine, hydrogen sulfide, methyl isocyanate, etc.) (Watson and Griffin 1992; Saladi et al. 2006; Geraci 2008; Dickinson and Love 2017; Goswami et al. 2018). The first well-documented report on the use of CWAs was in April 1915, when the German Army used thousands of cylinders of chlorine gas in the Battle of Ypres during World War I (WWI) (Ganesan et al. 2010). Toxic chemicals including chlorine, sulfur mustard (mustard gas; SM), phosgene, and nerve agents like sarin have been used in various conflicts since WWI, including the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s (Ganesan et al. 2010).