Poisonous substances and give a guarantee. The main types of toxic substances

Modern agents are conditionally divided: according to the nature of the damaging effect into neuro-paralytic, general poisonous asphyxiating, skin-blistering, irritating and psychogenic; depending on the boiling point and volatility into persistent and unstable.

Poisonous nerve agents are a group of lethal agents, which are highly toxic phosphorus-containing agents (sarin, soman, Vi-X). All phosphorus-containing substances are highly soluble in organic solvents and fats, easily penetrate through intact skin. They operate in drop-liquid and aerosol (vapours, mist) state. Once in the body, phosphorus-containing agents inhibit (inhibit) enzymes that regulate the transmission of nerve impulses in the systems of the respiratory center, blood circulation, cardiac activity, etc.

Poisoning develops quickly. At low toxic doses (mild lesions), constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis), salivation, chest pain, and shortness of breath occur. In severe lesions, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, stomach cramps, involuntary separation of urine, sometimes vomiting, convulsions and respiratory paralysis immediately occur.

Poisonous substances of general toxic action - a group of fast-acting volatile agents (hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, carbon monoxide, arsenic and phosphorous hydrogen) that affect the blood and nervous system. The most toxic hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride.

In severe poisoning with general poisonous agents, a metallic taste in the mouth, chest tightness, a feeling of intense fear, severe shortness of breath, convulsions, paralysis of the respiratory center are observed. Poisonous substances of asphyxiating action, when inhaled, the upper respiratory tract and lung tissues are affected. The main representatives are phosgene and diphosgene. When inhaled, phosgene smells of rotting hay and an unpleasant sweetish taste in the mouth, there is a burning sensation in the throat, coughing, tightness in the chest.

Upon leaving the contaminated atmosphere, these signs disappear. After 46 hours, the condition of the affected person deteriorates sharply. There is a cough with copious secretion of a foamy liquid, breathing becomes difficult.

Poisonous substances of blistering action mustard gas and nitrogen mustard gas. Mustard gas easily penetrates through the skin and mucous membranes; getting into the blood and lymph, it spreads throughout the body, causing general poisoning of a person or animal. If drops of mustard gas get on the skin, signs of damage are detected after 48 hours. In mild cases, reddening of the skin appears, followed by the development of edema and itching. In more severe skin lesions, blisters form, which burst and form ulcers after 23 days. In the absence of infection, the affected area heals after 10-20 days.

It is possible to damage the skin with mustard gas vapors, but weaker than drops. Vapors of mustard gas cause damage to the eyes and respiratory organs. When the eyes are affected, there is a feeling of clogging of the eyes, itching, inflammation of the conjunctiva, necrosis of the cornea, and the formation of ulcers. 46 hours after inhalation of mustard gas vapors, dryness and soreness in the throat, a sharp painful cough, then hoarseness and loss of voice, inflammation of the bronchi and lungs appear.

Irritant poisonous substances- a group of agents that act on the mucous membranes of the eyes (lachrymators, for example, chloracetophenone) and the upper respiratory tract (sternites, for example, adamsite). The combined irritating action agents of the SI-ES and SI-ER types are most effective.

Poisonous substances of psychogenic action- a group of agents that cause temporary psychosis due to a violation of chemical regulation in the central nervous system. Representatives of these are substances such as "LSD" (lesergic acid ethylamide), Bi-Zet. These are colorless crystalline substances, poorly soluble in water, used in aerosol standing. When ingested, they can cause movement disorders, visual and hearing impairments, hallucinations, mental disorders, or completely change the normal picture of human behavior; (the state of psychosis, similar to that observed in patients with schizophrenia).

Persistent agents- a group of high-boiling agents that retain their damaging effect from several hours to several days and even weeks after application. Persistent poisonous substances (PTS) evaporate slowly, are resistant to air and moisture. The main representatives of Vi-X (Vi-gases), soman, mustard gas.

Unstable agents- a group of low-boiling agents that contaminate the air for a relatively short period (from several minutes to 12 hours). Typical representatives of HOB are phosgene, hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride.

Toxic substances are synthesized compounds with toxic properties.. They are able to penetrate into the bloodstream through the respiratory system, stomach, skin. The effectiveness of poisonous substances in combat operations is estimated by their high degree of toxicity. Poisonous compounds are used not only to suppress enemy manpower, they are also part of the herbicides that are used to control pests of crops.

general characteristics

Poisonous substances are the basic part of chemical weapons, which is in service with some countries. Russia and the United States have the largest stock of toxic compounds, including in the form of warheads. Poisonous substances, when used, cause damage to the enemy's manpower, which reduces the ability to resist and the possibility of a retaliatory attack.

The damaging properties of poisons of this type differ from other military weapons. They penetrate from the surrounding space into buildings, military equipment, cause harm to military personnel and civilians.

Poisonous compounds, even in small doses, cause significant harm to the human body. A small damage to the skin (cracks, cuts, scratches) provokes infection and the rapid spread of toxins through the blood to the brain and internal organs. This condition often causes the death of a person or irreversible complications for the health of the victim. The characteristic features of toxic substances include:

preservation of properties in the surrounding space;
duration of exposure;
the ability to spread over vast territories;
mass destruction;
danger to all people who are not equipped with chemical protection equipment.

For the civilian population, there is a danger of infection if gusts of wind carry poisonous gases or vapors towards their settlement. The synthesis of the main types of poisonous substances does not require the use of high-tech processes and expensive raw materials. If necessary, as many toxins as needed will be produced to replenish reserves, and in a short time. Today, the relevance of the use of chemical weapons is gradually fading away as a result of signed agreements between the governments of countries with large stockpiles of warheads. But the danger of infection still exists.

Acute intoxication can occur in the event of accidental releases of poison into the atmosphere during emergencies in industrial and chemical industries.

Also, the cause of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest is non-compliance with safety precautions when working with pesticides, their irrational use or improper storage. To avoid the negative consequences of poisoning, one should understand the main types of toxic compounds and the mechanism of their action on the human body, know which groups poisons are divided into.

Main classifications

Since in the overwhelming majority of cases, poisons are used to make military chemical weapons, the following classification of toxic substances is used to characterize toxic properties:

Deadly. They are capable of causing lethal damage to enemy personnel using various methods of poison penetration. In addition to chemical compounds, botulinum toxin belongs to this group.
Temporarily damaging. When ingested into the bloodstream of a person, they provoke extensive intoxication, which lasts from several hours to several days. During the lesion, the functional activity of all vital systems of the body is disrupted., the victim is not able to fight.
Short-term. Most often, such chemical compounds are used by law enforcement agencies for illegal actions of criminals. When exposed to the skin or mucous membranes, toxic substances have an irritating effect that disappears without a trace after a few hours. But there is still a danger of infection for an outsider if he finds himself in this time period in the area where the toxic compound was sprayed.

Chemical warfare agents are in liquefied form, and when used, they take on a vaporous, aerosol or liquid droplet form. If the ground layer of air becomes the object of infection, then compounds are used that can go into a state of vapor or a fine aerosol suspension.

Clouds formed by vapors or aerosols are called primary; they have the strongest damaging properties. If clouds form during evaporation from the soil, then they are secondary, with less pronounced toxic effects. Also, for tactical purposes, toxic substances are classified as follows:

Fast acting. Such compounds have practically no latent period. They provoke the occurrence of suffocation and a violation of the heart rhythm directly when the poison comes into contact with the mucous membranes or skin.
Slow action. The negative effects of intoxication can appear in a person after a few days. Especially dangerous are enterotoxins that penetrate tissues and begin to gradually destroy them. After the symptoms are eliminated, the victim is often diagnosed with chronic pathologies of the liver, kidneys and intestines.

During the conduct of hostilities, the tactics of infecting equipment, uniforms and terrain are used. In these cases, coarse and drop poisonous poisons are used. They retain their toxic properties for several weeks and even months, penetrating deep soil layers and water bodies. The characteristics of toxic substances are based on the ways in which poisons enter the human body:

Through open wounds. When using irritating substances, such intoxication is ineffective due to the washing out of the poison by the blood.
Through the respiratory tract. When toxins enter the walls of the larynx and nasopharynx, the substance is instantly absorbed into the bloodstream. Often the liver is excluded from the circulation, which allows the poison to freely penetrate into all tissues and organs.
Through the gastrointestinal tract. Such poisoning most often occurs in everyday life with careless handling of pesticides, their storage within walking distance for family members. During the conduct of hostilities, this method of intoxication is possible with the use of food and water from the contaminated area.
Through the skin or mucous membranes. Irritant compounds easily penetrate these biological barriers. On the surface of the skin, they form a primary inflammatory focus, and after entering the body, many secondary ones.

The dangerous properties of many poisonous substances include their cumulative nature. Toxic compounds can accumulate in the body for a long time, reducing the functional activity of all vital systems. This condition occurs in chronic poisoning at home or in industrial production in the absence of proper control. The severity of symptoms in this type of intoxication is mild, which is a provoking factor in the development of numerous pathologies of internal organs, muscles, joints, bones.

For ease of storage in military conditions, the following types of toxic substances are distinguished:

Personnel. Toxic compounds are in service, so they are in warehouses in the quantities established by the standards. As the expiration dates expire, enough poisons are produced to replenish the required supplies.
Reserve. If necessary, toxins are produced at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex in the required volumes.

In agriculture, a strict record of used pesticides and herbicides is maintained. Before processing the fields from pests, the population is notified about the upcoming work. As a rule, non-persistent toxins are used for spraying cereals during planned activities or during locust invasions.

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Poison nerve agents

According to their physiological properties, toxic substances are divided into several groups, and the most numerous are nerve poisons. After even a small amount of toxin penetrates into the bloodstream, a significant damage to the central nervous system occurs. The distinctive features of this method of poisoning include persistent constriction of the pupil.

Sarin

Easily volatile, colorless compound in liquid form, without a characteristic odor, does not solidify at low temperatures. Soluble in water and organic ingredients in various proportions, has the ability to form a homogeneous mixture with fats.

Sarin does not break down into its constituent elements when exposed to water for a long time. After contamination of the area with this poison, a stable toxic effect of the compound persists for two months. The toxic substance penetrates the body when drinking water from ponds or lakes located in the area.

Sarin is used in a vaporized state to eliminate the enemy by infecting the territory during a tactical air raid. The substance easily moves around the area with gusts of wind, it is thermolabile - it quickly decomposes in warm weather, and in winter it remains stable for several days.

In addition to defeating the enemy's manpower, sarin settles on equipment, buildings and uniforms. Therefore, it is impossible to remove the gas mask, even after leaving the danger zone for a sufficient distance. First, specialists treat the equipment with detoxifying solutions and control the state of the airspace.

V-ex

Liquid substance with low volatility, practically odorless. Capable of not freezing at sub-zero temperatures and soluble in organic compounds. After penetration into the human body, it is absorbed in fatty tissues. When conducting hostilities, coarse aerosols are used, which retain toxic properties in open water for about 5-6 months.

Vi-ex affects a person, entering the bloodstream through the respiratory tract or skin. Methods of infection with toxic substances are varied: in contact with military equipment, uniforms, equipment.

A toxic compound binds red blood cells, causing oxygen starvation of brain cells. There is a disorder in the regulation of all vital systems - breathing is disturbed, the heart rate decreases, the lung parenchyma swells. In the absence of medical intervention, death is possible within a few minutes after infection.

Soman has a nerve-paralytic effect. Its physical and chemical properties are similar to those of Sarin and VEX. It is a colorless or slightly colored liquid with a specific camphor smell. Soman is slightly soluble in water, and with organic solvents quickly forms homogeneous dilutions.

After the penetration of toxic substances through the respiratory tract, the pupils of a person narrow sharply, breathing becomes difficult, saliva and mucus are abundantly secreted from the nasal cavity. The headache is localized in the temples and is not eliminated even with the help of antispasmodics for several days.

If neuropsychological substances penetrate the blood through the skin or mucous membranes, then the signs of intoxication are no less pronounced, but occur after a few hours. This route of infection is characterized by the appearance of a tremor of the limbs, and then convulsions.

Poisonous substances of blistering action

In terms of effects on the human body, mustard gas is the most dangerous compound for humans.. It is a yellowish or dark brown liquid with a characteristic garlic or mustard odor, forming homogeneous mixtures with organic solvents, but poorly soluble in water. In drop liquid or aerosol form, it infects the environment, ammunition, military equipment.

Mustard gas infects the area for several weeks, and then gradually decomposes into harmless components. Poison in the form of steam is carried by gusts of wind for tens of kilometers and becomes a source of the spread of toxins.

A poisonous substance affects the human body after penetrating into the bloodstream. A slight concentration of poison irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, pharynx, bronchi and bronchioles. In acute intoxication, internal organs, lungs, and muscle tissues are damaged. As the substance accumulates within a few hours, blood cells are destroyed, the functional activity of the urinary system decreases.

The mechanism of poisoning develops as follows:

Upon contact with poison, a person does not feel burning or pain.
At the site of contact, an infectious focus is quickly formed.
After 24 hours, bubbles with liquid contents form on the reddened skin, which merge into a single pathological cavity.
The integrity of the cavity is broken with the formation of a large ulcer.

The work of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted - the victim opens vomiting with impurities of fresh blood. If emergency medical care is not provided, death occurs due to cardiac arrest.

Poisonous substances of general toxic action

There are many poisonous compounds used in warfare. The severity of symptoms is directly dependent on how many classes of compounds are contained in the toxic mixture. The pathogenesis of poisoning is based on a violation of the transfer of molecular oxygen by erythrocytes to the cells of all tissues. This type of toxic substances is one of the fastest in terms of time exposure to the human body.

Hydrocyanic acid is a colorless, easily evaporating liquid with a characteristic almond aroma. In addition to the use in warfare, poisoning with this poison can occur in everyday life when using the nucleoli of some fruit trees.

If a poisonous compound got inside the body by inhaling gas, then after a few hours the victim has such negative signs:

dry mucous membranes, sore throat, cough;
extensive swelling of the nasopharynx and nasal cavity;
decreased visual acuity, redness of the eyes, upper and lower eyelids.

The characteristic features of poisoning include reddening of the skin and a metallic taste on the tongue.. The death of a person occurs as a result of cardiac arrest.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances

Phosgene is the main representative of this class of toxic substances. It is easy to determine that the air contains this poison - it smells like rotten hay or rotting apples. The compound, which is poorly soluble in water, quickly decomposes into its constituent ingredients. The toxin penetrates into the human body by inhalation of vapors, its damaging effect develops after a few minutes.

A characteristic symptom of phosgene intoxication is a sharp rise in temperature, as well as blue lips. This condition can be confused with signs of a bacterial or viral infection.

With intoxication with significant concentrations of poison, the following symptoms develop:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the epigastric region.
Emotional instability: fear, irritability, anxiety, insomnia.
Urination disorders, discoloration of urine, the appearance of blood clots.
Decreased tactile, tendon and muscle reflex.
Paralysis of breathing and heart.

For protection, you need to use a gas mask, a respirator for this type of poisoning is useless. It is necessary to remove a person from the affected area, remove the infected uniform from him. Only the urgent administration of antidote and detoxification therapy can save the life of the victim.

The basis of the damaging effect of chemical weapons is toxic substances (S), which have a physiological effect on the human body.

Unlike other military means, chemical weapons effectively destroy the enemy's manpower over a large area without destroying materiel. This is a weapon of mass destruction.

Together with the air, toxic substances penetrate into any premises, shelters, military equipment. The damaging effect persists for some time, objects and terrain become infected.

Types of poisonous substances

Poisonous substances under the shell of chemical munitions are in solid and liquid form.

At the moment of their application, when the shell is destroyed, they come into a combat state:

vaporous (gaseous);
aerosol (drizzle, smoke, fog);
drip-liquid.

Poisonous substances are the main damaging factor of chemical weapons.

Characteristics of chemical weapons

Such weapons are shared:

According to the type of physiological effects of OM on the human body.
For tactical purposes.
By the speed of the coming impact.
According to the resistance of the applied OV.
By means and methods of application.

Human exposure classification:

OV nerve agent action. Deadly, fast-acting, persistent. They act on the central nervous system. The purpose of their use is the rapid mass incapacitation of personnel with the maximum number of deaths. Substances: sarin, soman, tabun, V-gases.
OV skin blister action. Deadly, slow acting, persistent. They affect the body through the skin or respiratory organs. Substances: mustard gas, lewisite.
OV of general toxic action. Deadly, fast acting, unstable. They disrupt the function of the blood to deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body. Substances: hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride.
OV suffocating action. Deadly, slow acting, unstable. The lungs are affected. Substances: phosgene and diphosgene.
OV psychochemical action. Non-lethal. They temporarily affect the central nervous system, affect mental activity, cause temporary blindness, deafness, a sense of fear, restriction of movement. Substances: inuclidyl-3-benzilate (BZ) and lysergic acid diethylamide.
OV irritating action (irritants). Non-lethal. They act quickly, but for a short time. Outside the infected zone, their effect stops after a few minutes. These are tear and sneezing substances that irritate the upper respiratory tract and can affect the skin. Substances: CS, CR, DM(adamsite), CN(chloroacetophenone).

Damage factors of chemical weapons

Toxins are chemical protein substances of animal, plant or microbial origin with high toxicity. Typical representatives: butulic toxin, ricin, staphylococcal entsrotoxin.

The damaging factor is determined by toxodose and concentration. The zone of chemical contamination can be divided into the focus of exposure (people are massively affected there) and the zone of distribution of the infected cloud.

First use of chemical weapons

Chemist Fritz Haber was a consultant to the German War Office and is called the father of chemical weapons for his work in the development and use of chlorine and other poisonous gases. The government set the task before him - to create chemical weapons with irritating and toxic substances. It's a paradox, but Haber believed that with the help of a gas war, he would save many lives by ending the trench war.

The history of application begins on April 22, 1915, when the German military first launched a chlorine gas attack. A greenish cloud arose in front of the trenches of the French soldiers, which they watched with curiosity.

When the cloud came close, a sharp smell was felt, the soldiers stinged in the eyes and nose. The mist burned the chest, blinded, choked. The smoke moved deep into the French positions, sowing panic and death, followed by German soldiers with bandages on their faces, but they had no one to fight with.

By evening, chemists from other countries found out what kind of gas it was. It turned out that any country can produce it. Salvation from it turned out to be simple: you need to cover your mouth and nose with a bandage soaked in a solution of soda, and plain water on the bandage weakens the effect of chlorine.

After 2 days, the Germans repeated the attack, but the Allied soldiers soaked clothes and rags in puddles and applied them to their faces. Thanks to this, they survived and remained in position. When the Germans entered the battlefield, machine guns “spoke” to them.

Chemical weapons of the First World War

On May 31, 1915, the first gas attack on the Russians took place. Russian troops mistook the greenish cloud for camouflage and brought even more soldiers to the front line. Soon the trenches filled with corpses. Even the grass died from the gas.

In June 1915, they began to use a new poisonous substance - bromine. It was used in projectiles.

In December 1915 - phosgene. It smells like hay and has a lingering effect. Cheapness made it easy to use. At first they were produced in special cylinders, and by 1916 they began to make shells.

Bandages did not save from blistering gases. It penetrated through clothes and shoes, causing burns on the body. The area was poisoned for more than a week. Such was the king of gases - mustard gas.

Not only the Germans, their opponents also began to produce gas-filled shells. In one of the trenches of the First World War, Adolf Hitler was also poisoned by the British.

For the first time, Russia also used this weapon on the battlefields of the First World War.

Chemical weapons of mass destruction

Experiments with chemical weapons took place under the guise of developing poisons for insects. Used in the gas chambers of concentration camps "Cyclone B" - hydrocyanic acid - an insecticidal agent.

"Agent Orange" - a substance for deleafing vegetation. Used in Vietnam, soil poisoning caused severe diseases and mutations in the local population.

In 2013, in Syria, in the suburbs of Damascus, a chemical attack was carried out on a residential area - the lives of hundreds of civilians were claimed, including many children. A nerve agent was used, most likely Sarin.

One of the modern variants of chemical weapons is binary weapons. It comes to combat readiness as a result of a chemical reaction after the combination of two harmless components.

Victims of chemical weapons of mass destruction are all those who fell into the strike zone. Back in 1905, an international agreement was signed on the non-use of chemical weapons. To date, 196 countries around the world have signed up to the ban.

In addition to chemical to weapons of mass destruction and biological.

Types of protection

Collective. The shelter can provide long stays for people without personal protective equipment if it is equipped with filter-ventilation kits and is well sealed.
Individual. Gas mask, protective clothing and a personal chemical bag (PPI) with antidote and liquid to treat clothing and skin lesions.

Prohibition on use

Humanity was shocked by the terrible consequences and huge losses of people after the use of weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, in 1928, the Geneva Protocol came into force on the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other similar gases and bacteriological agents. This protocol prohibits the use of not only chemical, but also biological weapons. In 1992, another document came into force, the Chemical Weapons Convention. This document complements the Protocol, it speaks not only of a ban on the manufacture and use, but also on the destruction of all chemical weapons. The implementation of this document is controlled by a specially created committee at the UN. But not all states signed this document, for example, Egypt, Angola, North Korea, South Sudan did not recognize it. It also entered into legal force in Israel and Myanmar.

poisonous substances - toxic chemical compounds that have certain physical and chemical properties that make it possible to use them in combat to destroy manpower, contaminate terrain and military equipment.

Poisonous substances form the basis of chemical weapons. Being in a combat state, they infect the human body, penetrating through the respiratory system, skin and wounds from fragments of chemical munitions. In addition, a person can get injured as a result of eating contaminated food and water, as well as when exposed to agents on the mucous membranes of the eyes and nasopharynx.

Combat state OB - such a state of matter in which it is used on the battlefield in order to achieve the maximum effect in the defeat of manpower. Types of combat state of OV: steam, aerosol, drops. Qualitative differences in these combat states are determined mainly by the particle size of the fragmented OM.

Steam formed by molecules or atoms of matter.

Aerosols are heterogeneous (heterogeneous) systems consisting of solid or liquid particles of a substance suspended in the air. Particles of a substance with a size of 10 -6 -10 -3 cm form finely dispersed, practically not settling aerosols; particles with a size of 10 -2 cm form coarse aerosols, and therefore, in the gravitational field, they settle relatively quickly on various surfaces.

Drops - larger particles with a size of 0.5 . 10 -1 cm and above, which, unlike coarse aerosols, settle (fall on the surface) quickly.

Agents in the state of vapor or fine aerosol contaminate the air and infect manpower through the respiratory organs (inhalation injury). The quantitative characteristic of air contamination with vapors and fine aerosols is mass concentrationWith – the amount of OM per unit volume of contaminated air (g/m 3).

OM in the form of a coarse aerosol or droplets infect the area, military equipment, uniforms, protective equipment, water bodies and are capable of infecting unprotected personnel both at the time of the cloud of contaminated air settling and after the settling of OM particles due to their evaporation from contaminated surfaces, as well as upon contact personnel with these surfaces and when using contaminated food and water. A quantitative characteristic of the degree of contamination of various surfaces is infection density Qm is the amount of OM per unit area of the contaminated surface (g/m2).

The quantitative characteristic of contamination of water sources is OM concentration, contained in a unit volume of water (g / m 3).

Poisonous substances form the basis of chemical weapons.

2 Educational question Classification of toxic substances according to their effect on a living organism. Ways to protect against ov.

In the US Army, the most widely used classification is based on the division of known agents according to tactical purposes and physiological effects on the body.

By tactical purpose OVs are divided into groups according to the nature of their damaging effect: deadly, temporarily incapacitating manpower, annoying and training.

By physiological effect on the body distinguish OV:

nerve agents: GA (tabun), GB (sarin), GD (soman), VX (Vi-X);

blistering: H (technical mustard), HD (distilled mustard), BT and HO (mustard mustard formulations), HN (nitrogen mustard);

general toxic action: AC (hydrocyanic acid), SC (cyanogen chloride);

asphyxiants: CG (phosgene);

psychochemical: BZ (B-Z);

irritants: CN (chloroacetophenone), DM (adamsite), CS (CS), CR (CI-Ar).

All toxic substances, being chemical compounds, have a chemical name, for example: AC - formic acid nitrile; HD, dichlorodiethyl sulfide; CN is phenyl chloromethyl ketone. Some OM also received conditional names of various origins, for example: mustard gas, sarin, soman, adamsite, phosgene. In addition, for practical use (for marking ammunition, containers for explosive agents), symbols are used - ciphers. In the US Army, OB ciphers usually consist of two letters (for example, the previously mentioned GB, VX, BZ, CS). Other ciphers may be used in other NATO armies.

Substances VX, GB, HD, BZ, CS, CR, as well as toxins have received the greatest development recently. Botulinum toxin and staphylococcal enterotoxin can be used as agents.

By speed of attack distinguish:

high-speed agents that do not have a latent period, which in a few minutes lead to death or to loss of combat capability as a result of temporary defeat (GB, GD, AC, CK, CS, CR);

slow-acting agents that have a period of latent action and lead to damage after some time (VX, HD, CG, BZ).

The speed of the damaging effect, for example, for VX, depends on the type of combat state and the route of exposure to the body. If in the state of coarse aerosol and drops the skin-resorptive effect of this agent is slow, then in the state of vapor and fine aerosol its inhalation damaging effect is achieved quickly. The speed of action of the OV also depends on the size of the dose that has entered the body. At high doses, the effect of OB manifests itself much faster.

depending on the duration of the retention of the destructive ability of lethal agents are divided into two groups:

persistent agents that retain their damaging effect for several hours and days (VX, GD, HD);

unstable agents, the damaging effect of which persists for several tens of minutes after their application.

OB GB, depending on the method and conditions of use, can behave both as stable and unstable OB. In summer conditions, it behaves as an unstable agent, especially when infecting non-absorbent surfaces; in winter conditions, it behaves as a persistent agent.

AT capitalist countries producing OM, depending on the level of production they are divided into the following groups:

service OBs (produced in large quantities and are in service; in the USA these include VX GB, HD, BZ, CS, CR);

reserve OBs (toxic substances that are not currently produced, but, if necessary, can be produced by the chemical industry in sufficient quantities; in the USA, this group includes AS CG, HN, CN, DM).

poisonous substances(OV), toxic chemical compounds designed to defeat enemy personnel during hostilities. OM can enter the body through the respiratory system, skin, mucous membranes and the digestive tract. OVs also have a damaging effect when they enter a wound or burn surface. These substances have a certain set of physical and chemical properties, due to which they are in a vaporous, liquid or aerosol state in a combat situation. The production of organic matter is based on simple methods of obtaining from available and cheap raw materials.

For tactical purposes OVs are divided into groups according to the nature of their damaging effect:

deadly;

temporarily incapacitating manpower;

irritating.

By speed of advance damaging effects are distinguished:

· high-speed agents that do not have a period of latent action;

Slow-acting agents with a period of latent action.

Depending on the duration of the retention of striking ability Lethal agents are divided into two groups:

persistent agents that retain their damaging effect for several hours and days;

· unstable agents, the damaging effect of which persists for several tens of minutes after their application.

According to the physiological effects of OM on the body, there are:

· Nerve agents, which are also called organophosphorus agents, since their molecules contain phosphorus; (V-gases, sarin, soman)

skin blister; (mustard gas, lewisite)

general toxic action; (cyanogen chloride, hydrocyanic acid)

suffocating; (phosgene, diphosgene)

psychotropic (incapacitants);

DLC-lysergic acid diethylamite

irritants (irritants). chloroacetophenone, adamsite

poisonous substances nerve agent . According to the chemical structure, all substances of this group are organic compounds, derivatives of phosphorus acids. FOS cause damage by entering the body in various ways: through the skin, wound, mucous membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract. The main combat agents - sarin, soman, V-gases - dissolve well in fats, organic solvents (dichloroethane, gasoline, alcohol), and are easily resorbed through the skin.

Sarin- a colorless volatile liquid, with a boiling point of about 150˚ C, easily soluble in water and organic solvents. Persistence on the ground in summer from several minutes to 4 hours, in winter - from several hours to several days.

Soman- a transparent liquid with a boiling point of 85˚ C, vapors six times heavier than air, with a camphor smell, poorly soluble in water, well - in all organic solvents, other characteristics are the same as sarin.

V - gases (phosphorylcholines)- colorless liquids with a boiling point above 300˚ C, poorly soluble in water, good - in organic solvents, surpass sarin and soman in toxicity, especially when it comes into contact with the skin. Persistence on the ground in summer from several hours to several weeks, in winter - from 1 to 16 weeks.

The mechanism of action of FOS is complex and poorly understood. They inhibit many enzymes (cholinesterases) of the body, contribute to the accumulation of acetylcholine in the tissues, which causes excitation, a deep dysfunction of many organs and systems.

Signs of damage are profuse salivation, nasal discharge, constriction of the pupils (meiosis), suffocation, stomach cramps, paralysis, and death is possible.

Urgent care in the lesion focus is in the order of self- and mutual assistance:

Putting on a gas mask;

The use of antidotes (athens, atropine with a syringe-

tube or taren tablets);

Treatment of infected skin areas and uniforms from

individual anti-chemical package IPP-8;

Removal outside the source of infection. If necessary -

reintroduction of the antidote.

First aid to the seriously affected consists in the repeated administration of antidotes; when breathing stops - in the conduct of mechanical ventilation; subcutaneous injection of cordiamine; additional degassing of open skin areas and uniforms adjacent to them.

Poisonous substances of blistering action . The poisonous substances of the blistering action include lewisite and mustard gas: pure, sulphurous, nitrogenous, oxygen. A characteristic feature of the effect on the body is the ability to cause local inflammatory-necrotic changes in the skin and mucous membranes in combination with a pronounced resorptive effect (after absorption), so they are often called skin-resorptive agents.

Mustard gas(as a technical product) - dark brown oily liquid with the smell of mustard or garlic, heavier than water, vapors heavier than air, boiling point 217˚ C; dissolves well in organic solvents, fats, oils, is destroyed by alkalis and chlorine-containing preparations; toxic in vapor, aerosol and droplet state. Persistence on the ground in summer up to 1.5 days, in winter - more than a week. It is able to penetrate the body in any way: through the respiratory organs, intact skin, wound and burn surface, gastrointestinal tract.

Mustard gas affects all organs and tissues with which it comes into contact, causing local inflammatory-necrotic lesions, and in any way it enters the body, it has a general toxic effect in the form of CNS damage, hematopoiesis suppression, circulatory disorders, digestion, thermoregulation of all types of metabolism, immunity etc.

Skin lesions occur under the action of mustard gas in a vapor or liquid state and depend on the temperature and humidity of the air, the area of the infected skin surface and its moisture content, and the time of exposure. The most sensitive places with delicate skin, a high content of sweat ducts (groin, armpits, inner thighs) and tight fitting clothing (belt, collar). The duration of the latent period in the case of the action of vaporous mustard gas is from 5 to 15 hours, liquid - up to 2 - 4 hours.

With the defeat of vaporous mustard gas, only the development of erythema (redness) that occurs on sensitive areas of the skin can be observed. Such erythema is painless, may be accompanied by itching, especially when warming and at night. The prognosis is favorable - by 7-10 days all phenomena disappear, pigmentation can persist for a long time.

The defeat of drip-liquid mustard gas occurs in a more severe form. Against the background of mustard erythema, after 8-12 hours, small blisters appear, often located along the border of redness (“mustard gas necklace”). Then they increase in size, merge, which is accompanied by itching, burning and pain. After the 4th day, the blisters subside with the formation of a slowly healing ulcer and the frequent addition of a secondary purulent infection.

Symptoms of eye damage appear after 30 minutes - 3 hours in the form of photophobia, cramps, lacrimation, redness of the mucosa and slight swelling. The phenomena of uncomplicated conjunctivitis pass without a trace after 1-2 weeks.

At a higher concentration of mustard gas vapors, lesions of moderate severity occur, characterized by more pronounced symptoms with the spread of the process to the skin of the eyelids (blepharitis). The duration of the lesion is 20-30 days, the prognosis is favorable.

In case of damage by drop-liquid mustard gas, the cornea is involved in the process - keratitis develops with the formation of ulcers, clouding of the cornea and a decrease in visual acuity, eye death is possible. The course is long - 4 - 6 months.

Respiratory damage occurs during inhalation of mustard gas vapors and the severity depends on the concentration of agents and the duration of stay in the contaminated area.

With mild lesions, the latent period is more than 12 hours. Then there are signs of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract: runny nose, chest pain, hoarseness or loss of voice. Symptoms go away after 10 to 12 days.

The defeat of moderate severity is characterized by an earlier appearance (after 6 hours) and a more rapid development of the above symptoms. On the 2nd day, worsening occurs, chest pain and cough increase, purulent sputum appears, wheezing, the temperature rises to 38-39º C - tracheobronchitis develops. The dead mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi can be torn off and cause various complications. Recovery occurs in 30 - 40 days.

With a severe lesion, the latent period is shortened to 2 hours. The condition of the affected people deteriorates sharply, shortness of breath increases, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes appears, coughing intensifies, and on the third day mustard pneumonia develops with a protracted course, which is explained by a decrease in immunity. With inhalation of particularly high concentrations of mustard gas vapors or aspiration of drop-liquid mustard gas, necrotizing pneumonia develops on the first day with hemoptysis, respiratory failure, an extremely serious condition and an unfavorable prognosis (with widespread necrosis - death).

The defeat of the gastrointestinal tract is observed when using mustard-contaminated products or water. Death occurs when 50 mg of mustard gas is ingested. The hidden period is short - from 30 minutes to 1 hour. There are severe pains in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, loose stools. They are joined by signs of a general toxic effect, which, along with the depth of local changes, determine the further course.

The resorptive effect is manifested in an increase in body temperature, the appearance of adynamia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a violation of the pulse rate, a decrease in blood pressure, the development of cardiovascular insufficiency, and blood changes.

Lewisite- oily liquid with the smell of geranium leaves, boiling point 190º C, slightly soluble in water, well - in organic solvents, fats, oils; enters the body in any way. Durability in summer - hours, in winter - up to 3 days. Skin-resorptive toxicity is three times higher than mustard gas; mixes with many agents and dissolves them itself. It is neutralized by solutions of caustic alkalis, bleach and other oxidizing agents.