Combat toxic substances. Types of poisonous substances

Skin and digestive tract. The combat properties (combat effectiveness) of agents are determined by their toxicity (due to the ability to inhibit enzymes or interact with receptors), physicochemical properties (volatility, solubility, resistance to hydrolysis, etc.), the ability to penetrate biobarriers of warm-blooded animals and overcome protective equipment.

Chemical warfare agents are the main damaging element of chemical weapons.

Classification

RH protection

The set of measures for protection against agents includes their indication or detection, degassing, disinfection, as well as the use of personal protective equipment (gas masks, insulating breathing apparatus, raincoats, suits made of rubberized fabric, together with filter-type skin protection, antidotes, protective creams, anti-chemical drugs ) and collective chemical protection.

Historical reference

The first combat use of OV took place during the First World War. The French were the first to use them in August 1914: they were 26-mm grenades filled with tear gas (ethyl bromoacetate). But the Allied stocks of ethyl bromoacetate quickly ran out, and the French administration replaced it with another agent, chloroacetone. In October 1914, German troops opened fire with shells partially filled with a chemical irritant against the British at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, however the concentration of gas achieved was barely noticeable. In February 1915, French troops began using chlorine rifle grenades. However, this method of combat use of poison gases was very ineffective and did not create a significant concentration of them on enemy positions. The experience of the Kaiser troops in the battles near the city of Ypres on April 22 was much more successful: the 4th German Army launched a counterattack on the Ypres ledge, forestalling the Anglo-French troops that was being prepared, and occupied most of the ledge. On the first day of the fighting, the German troops used the spraying of chlorine from the cylinders installed in their forward positions, when the wind blew in the direction of the Anglo-French trenches, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in manpower, achieving the effect of mass destruction, due to which this case of the combat use of OV became widely known. (Actually, this is the first experience of a fairly effective combat use of OV.)

In June 1916, chemical weapons were also widely used by the Russian troops during the Brusilov breakthrough. 76-mm shells with suffocating agents (chloropicrin) and general poisonous (phosgene, vensinite) charges showed their high efficiency in suppressing enemy artillery batteries (and in this case, the Austro-Hungarians).

The Geneva Protocol of 1925 was the first international legal act prohibiting the military use of weapons.

Historical reference taken from Deyne V. de, Ypres..., Liége, 1925.

Impressed by the combat use of warheads in the First World War, many states began feverish preparations for the mass use of warheads in future wars. The training included both equipping the troops with chemical protection equipment and measures to protect the civilian population. In the 1920s, a number of countries conducted regular exercises for the civilian population to act in conditions of a chemical attack. By the beginning of World War II, most of the advanced states came up with a developed system of chemical defense. For example, the paramilitary organization OSOAVIAKHIM was created in the USSR.

Nevertheless, in the entire history of wars and local conflicts after the First World War, the use of combat agents was episodic and, moreover, not massive. The main reason for this was the relatively low effectiveness of the combat use of explosives as a means of mass destruction. The effectiveness of the use of OV in the First World War was largely exaggerated by the psychological shock of their use as a new, previously unknown weapon. The initial lack of means of protection against OV also had a strong effect. In the 1920s, military calculations showed [ ] , that the effect of the combat use of ammunition with explosive agents is much lower than the effect of the use of conventional ammunition (the number of enemy soldiers taken out of action, for example, after an hour-long shelling of positions with chemical and high-explosive shells, was taken into account). Also, the effect of RH largely depends on factors such as weather (wind direction and strength, air humidity and temperature, atmospheric pressure, and so on). This makes the effect of the combat use of OV almost unpredictable. The storage of explosive ammunition is technically much more complicated than the storage of conventional ammunition. Disposal of damaged chemical munitions in the field is not possible. All these factors, plus the mass prevalence of effective means of defense, which has become the norm, have made the military use of weapons difficult and, with rare exceptions, pointless.

But the very presence of chemical weapons in service is a powerful psychological factor in influencing the enemy and deterring him from using his chemical weapons, forcing the armies to carry out large-scale anti-chemical defense measures. The effectiveness of the impact, for all its unpredictability, on an unprepared enemy (and even more so an unprepared civilian population) remains high. Moreover, the psychological effect exceeds the combat itself.

In addition to low combat effectiveness, the main deterrent is the sharply negative attitude of society towards the very fact of the combat use of any WMD, including chemical ones.

Designation

RADIATION, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION

Subject. Combat properties and damaging factors of nuclear,

chemical, biological weapons, AHOV and weapons,

based on new physical principles.

Class. Purpose and combat properties of chemical weapons. The main types and classification of toxic substances. Means of using poisonous substances. The main properties of poisonous substances, the nature of contamination of objects, methods of detection.

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

General information about toxic substances

Chemical weapons are poisonous substances (CW), munitions and devices specifically designed to cause lethal injury or other harm due to the toxic properties of CW released as a result of the use of such munitions or devices.

Poisonous substances are called toxic chemical compounds intended for inflicting massive damage to manpower in combat use. Poisonous substances form the basis of chemical weapons and are in service with the armies of a number of states.

According to the nature of the impact on the human body, agents are divided into nerve-paralytic, blistering, general poisonous, asphyxiating, psychochemical and irritating.

According to the nature of the tasks to be solved in the application of agents, they are divided into lethal, temporarily incapacitating, and short-term incapacitating. When used in combat, lethal agents cause severe (lethal) damage to manpower. This group includes agents of the nerve-paralytic, blistering, general toxic and asphyxiating type of action, as well as toxins (botulinum toxin). Temporarily incapacitating agents (psychochemical action and staphylococcal toxin) deprive personnel of combat capability for a period of several hours to several days. The damaging effect of short-term incapacitating agents (irritant action) manifests itself during the time of contact with them and persists for several hours after leaving the contaminated atmosphere.

For combat use, agents can be converted into a vapor, aerosol, and drop-liquid state. Poisonous substances used to infect the surface layer of air are converted into a vaporous and finely dispersed aerosol state (smoke, fog). The cloud of vapor and aerosol formed at the time of 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. WATER in the form of vapor and fine aerosol, carried by the wind, affects manpower not only in the area of ​​application, but also at a considerable distance, provided that damaging concentrations are maintained. The depth of propagation of OM in rough and wooded areas is 1.5-3 times less than in open areas. Forests and shrubs, as well as lowlands, basements can be places of OM stagnation.

To reduce the combat capability of units and subunits, the terrain, weapons and military equipment, uniforms, equipment and the skin of people are contaminated with toxic agents used in the form of coarse aerosols and drops. Contaminated terrain, weapons and military equipment and other objects are the source of human injury. Under these conditions, personnel are forced to stay in protective equipment for a long time, which significantly reduces the combat capability of the troops.

The persistence of an agent on the ground is the time from its application to the moment when personnel can overcome the contaminated area or be on it without protective equipment. According to the resistance, the agents are divided into persistent and unstable.

OM can enter the body in the following ways:

Through the respiratory system (inhalation);

Through wound surfaces (mixed);

Through the mucous membranes and skin (skin-resorptive);

With the use of contaminated food and water, the penetration of agents is carried out through the gastrointestinal tract (oral).

Most of the agents are cumulative, that is, they have the ability to accumulate a toxic effect.

Poison nerve agents

When ingested, nerve agent agents affect the nervous system. A characteristic feature of the initial stage of the lesion is the narrowing of the pupils of the eyes (miosis).

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

Sarin (GB) - colorless or yellowish volatile liquid, odorless or with a slight fruity odor, does not freeze in winter. Miscible with water and organic solvents in any ratio, soluble in fats. Resistant to water, which causes infection of stagnant water bodies for a long time - up to 2 months. Upon contact with human skin, uniforms, shoes and other porous materials are quickly absorbed into them.

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

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

V-Ex (VX) - low volatile colorless liquid, odorless and does not freeze in winter. It is moderately soluble in water (5%), in organic solvents and fats - well. It infects open water bodies for a very long period - up to 6 months. The main combat state is a coarse aerosol. VX aerosols infect surface layers of air and terrain, spread in the direction of the wind to a depth of 5 to 20 km, infect manpower through respiratory organs, 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 pouring aircraft devices), as well as with the help of chemical land mines. Armament and military equipment contaminated with VX droplets pose a danger in summer for 1-3 days, in winter - 30-60 days. Persistence of VX on the ground (skin-resorptive action): in summer - from 7 to 15 days, in winter - for the entire period until the onset of heat. Protection against VX: gas mask, combined arms protective kit, pressurized objects of military equipment and shelters.

Nerve poisons also include soman (GD), which, in terms of its physicochemical properties, is intermediate between sarin and VX. Soman is a colorless or slightly colored liquid with a camphor odor. Solubility in water is negligible (1.5%), in organic solvents it is good.

Nerve agents are capable of infecting humans through any route of entry into the body. With inhalation damage, visual impairment, constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis), difficulty in breathing, a feeling of heaviness in the chest (retrosternal effect) are observed in a mild degree, the secretion of saliva and mucus from the nose increases. These phenomena are accompanied by severe headaches and can persist from 2 to 3 days. When the body is exposed to lethal concentrations of OM, 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 acting through the skin, the picture of the lesion is basically similar to inhalation. The only difference is that the symptoms appear after a while (from several minutes to several hours). In this case, muscle twitching appears at the site of exposure to the OB, then convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

First aid. The affected person must wear a gas mask (if an aerosol or drop-liquid agent gets on the skin of the face, the gas mask is put on only after the face has been treated with liquid from the IPP). Introduce an antidote and remove the affected from the contaminated atmosphere. If convulsions are not relieved within 10 minutes, re-introduce the antidote. In case of respiratory arrest, perform artificial respiration. If the agent gets on the body, the infected areas should be immediately treated with the help of PPI. If OM enters the stomach, it is necessary to induce vomiting, if possible, rinse the stomach with a 1% solution of baking soda or clean water, rinse the affected eyes with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. The affected personnel are delivered to the medical center.

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

Poisonous substances of blistering action

The main agent of blistering 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 smell of garlic or mustard, highly soluble in organic solvents and poorly soluble in water. Mustard gas is heavier than water, it freezes at a temperature of about 14°C, it is easily absorbed into various paint and varnish coatings, rubber and porous materials, which leads to their deep infection. Mustard gas evaporates slowly in air. The main combat state of mustard gas is drop-liquid or aerosol. However, mustard gas is capable of creating dangerous concentrations of its vapors due to natural evaporation from contaminated areas. In combat conditions, mustard gas can be used by artillery (mortars), aviation using bombs and pouring devices, as well as land mines. The defeat of personnel is achieved by contamination of the surface layer of air with mustard gas vapors and aerosols, infection of open areas of the skin, uniforms, equipment, weapons and military equipment and terrain with aerosols and drops of mustard gas.

The depth of distribution of mustard gas vapors ranges from 1 to 20 km for open areas. Mustard gas is able to infect the area in summer up to 2 days, in winter up to 2-3 weeks. Equipment contaminated with mustard gas poses a danger to unprotected personnel and is subject to degassing. Mustard infects stagnant water bodies for 2-3 months. The presence of mustard gas vapor is determined using an indicator tube (one yellow ring) with chemical reconnaissance devices VPKhR and PPKhR. To protect against mustard gas, a gas mask and a combined-arms protective kit are used, as well as weapons and military equipment of shelters equipped with filter-ventilation installations, blocked slots, trenches and communications.

Mustard gas has a damaging effect in any way of penetration into the body. Lesions of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract appear even at low concentrations of mustard gas. At higher concentrations, along with local lesions, general poisoning of the body occurs. Mustard has a latent period of action (2-8 hours) and has a cumulative effect. At the time of contact with mustard gas, skin irritation and pain effects are absent. Areas affected by mustard gas are prone to infection. Skin lesions begin with redness, which appears 2-6 hours after exposure to mustard gas. A day later, at the site of redness, small blisters are formed, filled with a yellow transparent liquid. Subsequently, the bubbles merge. After 2-3 days, the blisters burst and an ulcer that does not heal for 20-30 days is formed. If an infection gets into the ulcer, then healing occurs in 2-3 months. When inhaled vapors or aerosols of mustard gas, 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. Eyes are especially sensitive to mustard gas vapors. When exposed to mustard gas vapors on the eyes, there is a feeling of sand in the eyes, lacrimation, photophobia, then redness and swelling of the mucous membrane of the eyes and eyelids occur, accompanied by copious discharge of pus. Eye contact with drip-liquid mustard gas can lead to blindness. If mustard gas enters the gastrointestinal tract, after 30-60 minutes there are sharp pains in the stomach, salivation, nausea, vomiting, then diarrhea (sometimes with blood) develops.

First aid. Drops of mustard gas on the skin should be degassed immediately with a PPI. Rinse the eyes and nose with plenty of water, and rinse the mouth and throat 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 inject a gruel prepared at the rate of 25 g of activated charcoal per 100 ml of water.

Poisonous substances of general poisonous action

Poisonous substances of general toxic action, getting into the body, disrupt the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the tissues. This is one of the fastest operating systems. These include hydrocyanic acid (AC) and cyanogen chloride (SC). In the US Army, hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride are spare agents.

Hydrocyanic acid (AS)- a colorless, rapidly evaporating liquid with a smell of bitter almonds. In open areas, it quickly disappears (after 10-15 minutes), does not infect the area and equipment. Degassing of premises, shelters and closed vehicles 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, therefore, in cold weather, it is used in a mixture with cyanogen chloride or other agents. Hydrocyanic acid can be used with large-caliber chemical bombs. The defeat occurs by inhalation of contaminated air (possible damage through the skin with prolonged exposure to very high concentrations). The means of protection against hydrocyanic acid are a gas mask, shelters and equipment equipped with filter-ventilation installations. When affected by hydrocyanic acid, an unpleasant metallic taste and burning sensation in the mouth, numbness of 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 is uneven. The affected person loses consciousness and an attack of convulsions begins, followed by paralysis. Death comes from respiratory arrest. Under the action of very high concentrations, the so-called lightning-fast form of damage occurs: the affected person immediately loses consciousness, breathing is frequent and shallow, convulsions, paralysis and death. When affected by hydrocyanic acid, a pink color of the face and mucous membranes is observed. Hydrocyanic acid does not have a cumulative effect.

First aid. Put on a gas mask on the affected person, crush the ampoule with an antidote for hydrocyanic acid and introduce it into the mask space of the front part of the gas mask. If necessary, give artificial respiration. If symptoms persist, the antidote may be reintroduced. Hydrocyanic acid is detected using an indicator tube with three green rings on the VPKhR and PPKhR devices.

Cyanogen chloride (SC)- colorless, more volatile than hydrocyanic acid, liquid with a sharp unpleasant odor. In terms of its toxic properties, it is similar to hydrocyanic acid, but unlike it, it irritates the upper respiratory tract and eyes. Means of application, protection, degassing are the same as for hydrocyanic acid.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances

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

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

Phosgene affects the body only when its vapors are inhaled, while there is a slight irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, lacrimation, an unpleasant sweetish taste in the mouth, slight dizziness, general weakness, cough, chest tightness, nausea (vomiting). After leaving the contaminated atmosphere, these phenomena disappear, and within 4-5 hours the affected person is in the stage of imaginary well-being. Then, due to pulmonary edema, a sharp deterioration occurs: breathing quickens, a strong cough appears with copious frothy 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 for several days and usually ends in death.

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

Phosgene protection - gas mask, shelter and equipment equipped with filter-ventilation units. Phosgene is detected by an indicator tube with three green rings in the VPKhR and PPKhR devices.

Poisonous substances of psychochemical action

Currently, the armies of foreign states have adopted the psychotropic agent Bi-Zet (BZ).

BZ (BZ) - white odorless crystalline substance, insoluble in water, readily soluble in chloroform, dichloroethane and acidified water. The main combat state is an aerosol. It is applied with the help of aviation cassettes and aerosol generators.

BZ infects the body by inhaling contaminated air and ingesting contaminated food and water. The action of BZ begins to appear after 0.5-3 hours. Under the action of low concentrations, drowsiness and a decrease in combat effectiveness occur. Under the action of high concentrations at the initial stage, rapid heartbeat, dry skin and dry mouth, dilated pupils and reduced combat capability are observed for several hours. In the next 8 hours, numbness and inhibition of speech occur. This is followed by a period of excitation lasting up to 4 days. After 2-3 days after exposure to RH, a gradual return to the normal state begins.

First aid: put on a gas mask on the affected person and remove it from the lesion. When entering an uncontaminated area, perform partial sanitization of open areas of the body with the help of IPP, shake out uniforms, rinse 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 against BZ - gas mask, equipment and shelters equipped with filter-ventilation installations.

Poisonous substances of irritating action (irritants)

Irritants are irritant (sternites) and lachrymatory (lachrymators) substances, related to chemical riot control agents, by means of quickly causing irritation of the sense organs or physical disorders in the human body, which disappear within a short period of time after cessation of exposure.

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

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

CS at low concentrations is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and at high concentrations it causes burns to exposed skin, in some cases - respiratory paralysis, heart failure and death Signs of damage: severe burning and pain in the eyes and chest, severe lacrimation, closure of the eyelids, sneezing, runny nose (sometimes with blood), painful burning sensation in the mouth, nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, cough and chest pain. When leaving the 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 is poorly soluble in water, but well in organic solvents. Combat use is similar to CS. The toxic effects of CR are similar to those of CS, but are more irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

Chloracetophenone acts on the body like CS and CR, but 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 sensation, 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, rinse your eyes with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. Remove OM from uniforms and equipment by shaking or cleaning. Gas masks, shelters and military equipment equipped with filter-ventilation units reliably protect against irritating agents.

Toxins and phytotoxicants

Toxins are chemical substances of a protein nature of microbial, plant or animal origin, capable of causing illness and death when they enter the human or animal body.

In the US Army, XR (X-Ar) and PG (PJ) substances are on the staff supply, related to new highly toxic 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 fine white to yellowish brown powder that is readily soluble in water. It is used in the form of aerosols by aviation, artillery or missiles, easily penetrates into 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 defeat appear suddenly and begin with a feeling of severe weakness, general depression, nausea, vomiting, constipation. 3-4 hours after the onset of the development of symptoms of the lesion, dizziness appears, the pupils dilate and stop responding to light. Blurred vision, often double vision. The skin becomes dry, there is a dry mouth and a feeling of thirst, severe pain in the stomach. There are difficulties in swallowing food and water, speech becomes slurred, the voice is weak. With non-fatal poisoning, recovery occurs in 2-6 months.

SubstancePG- staphylococcal enterotoxin - is used in the form of aerosols. It enters the body with inhaled air and with contaminated water and food. It has a latency period of several minutes. The symptoms are similar to those of food poisoning. Initial signs of damage: salivation, nausea, vomiting. Violent cutting in abdomen and watery diarrhoea. The highest degree of weakness. Symptoms last 24 hours, all this time the affected person is incompetent.

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

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

Phytotoxicants- chemicals that cause damage to vegetation Plants treated with phytotoxicants lose their leaves, dry up and die. For military purposes, special highly toxic formulations are used. The US Army is armed with "orange", "white" and "blue" recipes. The application of these formulations is carried out by spraying from special devices from aircraft and helicopters.

When using the "orange" formulation, a week later, a complete death of the vegetation occurs. 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" recipes, the vegetation does not recover throughout the season, and when using the "blue" recipe, the soil is completely sterilized and the vegetation does not recover for a number of years.

Means and methods of using poisonous

substances and irritants and protection against them

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

Ammunition loaded with lethal substances is marked with green rings, and temporarily and briefly incapacitating - red. Chemical munitions containing nerve agents have three green rings, blister munitions have two green rings, and general poisons and suffocators have one green ring. Ammunition filled with psychochemical agents has two red rings, and irritant agents have one red ring.

Code of toxic substances: VX - "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", B-Z - "BZ-Riot", CS - "CS-Riot", C-Ar - "CR-Riot", chloroacetophenone - "CN- Riot. Botulinum toxin has the code "XR", staphylococcal enterotoxin - "PG".

poisonous substances(OV) - toxic chemical compounds designed to defeat enemy personnel during hostilities and at the same time preserve material assets during an attack in a city. They can enter the body through the respiratory system, skin and digestive tract. The combat properties (combat effectiveness) of agents are determined by their toxicity (due to the ability to inhibit enzymes or interact with receptors), physicochemical properties (volatility, solubility, resistance to hydrolysis, etc.), the ability to penetrate the biobarriers of warm-blooded animals and overcome protective equipment.

Chemical weapons of the first generation include four groups of poisonous substances:
1) OB blister action(persistent OM sulfur and nitrogen mustards, lewisite).
2) OB general toxic action(unstable RH hydrocyanic acid). ;
3) OB suffocating action(unstable agents phosgene, diphosgene);
4) OB irritant(adamsite, diphenylchlorarsine, chloropicrin, diphenylcyanarsine).

April 22, 1915, when the German army in the area of ​​the small Belgian town of Ypres used a gas attack with chlorine against the Anglo-French troops of the Entente, should be considered the official date for the start of the large-scale use of chemical weapons (precisely as weapons of mass destruction). A huge, weighing 180 tons (from 6,000 cylinders) poisonous yellow-green cloud of highly toxic chlorine, having reached the advanced positions of the enemy, struck 15 thousand soldiers and officers in a matter of minutes; five thousand died immediately after the attack. The survivors either died in hospitals or became disabled for life, having received silicosis of the lungs, severe damage to the organs of vision and many internal organs.

In the same year, 1915, on May 31, on the Eastern Front, the Germans used an even more highly toxic poisonous substance called "phosgene" (full carbonic acid chloride) against Russian troops. 9 thousand people died. May 12, 1917 another battle at Ypres.

And again, German troops use chemical weapons against the enemy - this time a chemical warfare agent of skin - blistering and general toxic action - 2,2 dichlorodiethyl sulfide, which later received the name "mustard gas".

Other poisonous substances were also tested in the First World War: diphosgene (1915), chloropicrin (1916), hydrocyanic acid (1915). irritating effect - diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanarsine.

During the years of the First World War, all the belligerent states used 125,000 tons of poisonous substances, including 47,000 tons by Germany. About 1 ml of people suffered from the use of chemical weapons during the war. Human. At the end of the war, the list of potentially promising and already tested agents included chloracetophenone (lachrymator), which has a strong irritating effect, and, finally, a-lewisite (2-chlorovinyldichloroarsine).

Lewisite immediately attracted close attention as one of the most promising chemical warfare agents. Its industrial production began in the USA even before the end of the World War; our country began to produce and accumulate lewisite reserves already in the first years after the formation of the USSR.

The end of the war only for a while slowed down the work on the synthesis and testing of new types of chemical warfare agents.

However, between the first and second world wars, the arsenal of lethal chemical weapons continued to grow.

In the 1930s, new poisonous substances of blistering and general toxic effects were obtained, including phosgenoxime and "nitrogen mustards" (trichloroethylamine and partially chlorinated derivatives of triethylamine).

Second generation.
5) OB nerve action.
Since 1932, intensive research has been carried out in different countries on organophosphorus poisonous agents with a nerve-paralytic effect - second-generation chemical weapons (sarin, soman, tabun). Due to the exceptional toxicity of organophosphorus poisonous substances (OPS), their combat effectiveness increases dramatically. In the same years, chemical munitions were being improved. In the 50s, a group of FOVs called "V-gases" (sometimes "VX-gases") was added to the family of second-generation chemical weapons.

First obtained in the USA and Sweden, V-gases of a similar structure will soon appear in service in the chemical troops and in our country. V-gases are ten times more toxic than their "brothers in arms" (sarin, soman and tabun).

Third generation.
6) p sycho-chemical agents

In the 1960s and 1970s, third-generation chemical weapons were being developed, which included not only new types of poisonous substances with unforeseen mechanisms of destruction and extremely high toxicity, but also more advanced methods of their use - cluster chemical munitions, binary chemical weapons, etc. R.

The technical idea of ​​binary chemical munitions is that they are equipped with two or more initial components, each of which can be non-toxic or low-toxic substance. During the flight of a projectile, rocket, bomb or other ammunition to the target, the initial components are mixed in it with the formation of a chemical warfare agent as the final product of the chemical reaction. In this case, the role of a chemical reactor is performed by ammunition.

In the post-war period, the problem of binary chemical weapons was of secondary importance for the United States. During this period, the Americans forced the equipping of the army with new nerve agents, but since the beginning of the 60s, American specialists have returned to the idea of ​​creating binary chemical munitions. They were forced to do this by a number of circumstances, the most important of which was the lack of significant progress in the search for poisonous substances with ultra-high toxicity, i.e., poisonous substances of the third generation.

In the first period of the implementation of the binary program, the main efforts of American specialists were directed to the development of binary compositions of standard nerve agents, VX and sarin.

Along with the creation of standard binary 0V, the main efforts of specialists, of course, are focused on obtaining more efficient 0V. Serious attention was paid to the search for binary 0V with the so-called intermediate volatility. Government and military circles explained the increased interest in work in the field of binary chemical weapons by the need to solve the problems of the safety of chemical weapons during production, transportation, storage and operation.

An important stage in the development of binary munitions is the actual design development of projectiles, mines, bombs, missile warheads and other means of application.

Physiological classification.

Physiological classification, as well as all others, is very conditional. On the one hand, it allows you to combine into a single system for each group of measures for decontamination and protection, sanitization and first aid. On the other hand, it does not take into account the presence of side effects in some substances, sometimes representing a great danger to the affected person. For example, the irritating substances PS and CN can cause severe lung damage, up to death, and DM causes a general poisoning of the body with arsenic. Although it is accepted that the intolerable concentration of irritating substances should be at least 10 times lower than the lethal one, in real conditions of the use of agents this requirement is practically not observed, as evidenced by numerous facts of the severe consequences of the use of police substances abroad. Some 0V in terms of their effect on the body can be simultaneously assigned to two or more groups. In particular, substances VX, GB, GD, HD, L have an unconditionally general poisonous effect, and substances PS, CN have an asphyxiating effect. In addition, from time to time new 0Vs appear in the arsenal of chemical weapons of foreign states, which are generally difficult to attribute to any of the six groups mentioned. tactical classification.

Tactical classification subdivides 0B into groups according to combat purpose. In the US Army, for example, all 0V is divided into two groups:

Deadly(according to American terminology, lethal agents) - substances intended for the destruction of manpower, which include agents of nerve paralytic, blistering, general poisonous and asphyxiating action;

Temporarily incapacitating manpower(according to American terminology, harmful agents) - substances that allow solving tactical tasks to disable manpower for periods ranging from several minutes to several days. These include psychotropic substances (incapacitants) and irritants (irritants).

Sometimes a group of irritants, as substances that disable manpower for a period of time slightly exceeding the period of direct exposure to 0V and measured in minutes - tens of minutes, is allocated to a special group of police substances. Obviously, the goal here is to exclude them from the composition of combat 0V in the event of a ban on chemical weapons. In some cases, educational agents and formulations are allocated to a separate group.

The tactical classification of 0B is also imperfect. So, the group of deadly agents includes the most diverse compounds in terms of physiological action, and all of them are only potentially lethal, because the final result of the action of 0V depends on its toxicity, the toxodose that has entered the body and the conditions of use. The classification also does not take into account such important factors as the chemical discipline of manpower subjected to chemical attack, the availability of protective equipment, the quality of protective equipment, the state of weapons and military equipment. However, physiological and tactical classifications of 0B are used when studying the properties of specific compounds.

Quite often, tactical classifications of 0B are given in the literature, based on taking into account the speed and duration of their damaging effect, suitability for solving certain combat missions.

Distinguish, for example, high-speed and slow-acting agents, depending on whether they have a period of latent action or not. Fast-acting include nerve agents, general poisonous, irritating and some psychotropic substances, i.e. those that in a few minutes lead to death or to loss of combat capability (performance) as a result of a temporary defeat. Slow-acting substances include blistering, asphyxiating and certain psychotropic substances that can destroy or temporarily incapacitate people and animals only after a period of latent action lasting from one to several hours. This separation of 0B is also imperfect, because some slow-acting substances, when introduced into the atmosphere in very high concentrations, will cause damage in a short time, with practically no period of latent action.

Depending on the duration of the preservation of the damaging ability, agents are divided into short-term (unstable or volatile) and long-term (persistent). The damaging effect of the former is calculated in minutes (AC, CG). The action of the latter can last from several hours to several weeks after their application, depending on meteorological conditions and the nature of the terrain (VX, GD, HD). Such a subdivision of 0V is also conditional, since short-term 0V in the cold season often becomes long-term.

The systematization of 0V and poisons in accordance with the tasks and methods of their application is based on the isolation of substances used in offensive, defensive combat operations, as well as in ambushes or sabotage. Sometimes there are also groups of chemical means for destroying vegetation or removing foliage, means for destroying certain materials, and other groups of means for solving specific combat missions. The conditionality of all these classifications is obvious.

There is also a classification of chemical weapons by categories of serviceability. In the US Army, they are divided into groups A, B, C. Group A includes service chemical munitions, which at this stage most fully satisfy the tactical and technical requirements for them. Group B includes spare standard chemical munitions, which, according to the basic tactical and technical requirements, are inferior to samples of group A, but if necessary, can replace them. Group C combines weapons that are currently out of production, but may be in service until their stocks are used up. In other words, group C includes weapons equipped with obsolete poisonous substances.

The most common tactical and physiological classifications of OS.

Tactical classification:
According to saturated vapor pressure(volatility) are classified into:
unstable (phosgene, hydrocyanic acid);
persistent (mustard gas, lewisite, VX);
poisonous smoke (adamsite, chloroacetophenone).

By the nature of the impact on manpower on:
lethal: (sarin, mustard gas);
temporarily incapacitating personnel: (chloroacetophenone, quinuclidyl-3-benzilate);
irritant: (adamsite, Cs, Cr, chloroacetophenone);
educational: (chloropicrin);

By the speed of the onset of the damaging effect:
fast-acting - do not have a latent period (sarin, soman, VX, AC, Ch, Cs, CR);
slow-acting - have a period of latent action (mustard gas, Phosgene, BZ, lewisite, Adamsite);

Physiological classification

According to the physiological classification, they are divided into:
nerve agents: (organophosphorus compounds): sarin, soman, tabun, VX;

General toxic agents: hydrocyanic acid; cyanogen chloride;
blister agents: mustard gas, nitrogen mustard, lewisite;
OS, irritating the upper respiratory tract or sternites: adamsite, diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanarsine;
suffocating agents: phosgene, diphosgene;
eye irritating agents or lacrimators: chlorpicrin, chloracetophenone, dibenzoxazepine, o-chlorobenzalmalondinitrile, bromobenzyl cyanide;
psychochemical agents: quinuclidyl-3-benzylate.

Poisonous substances (OV, BOV - nrk; synonym for chemical warfare agents - nrk) - highly toxic chemical compounds intended for use in war with the aim of destroying or incapacitating enemy manpower; adopted by armies in a number of capitalist states.

Poisonous substances are fast-acting- O. v., clinical signs of damage which appear a few seconds or minutes after their impact on the body.

Poisonous substances that temporarily incapacitate- O. v., causing reversible processes in the human body, temporarily preventing the performance of professional (combat) activities.

Delayed poisons- O. v., clinical signs of damage which appear after a latent period lasting several tens of minutes or more.

Poisonous substances of blistering action(syn.: vesicants, poisonous substances blistered - nrk) - O. v., the toxic effect of which is characterized by the development of an inflammatory-necrotic process at the site of contact, as well as a resorptive effect, manifested by dysfunctions of vital organs and systems.

Poisonous substances, skin-resorptive- O. v., capable of penetrating the body when it comes into contact with intact skin.

Poison nerve agents(syn.: nerve gases - nrk, toxic nerve agents) - high-speed O. v., the toxic effect of which is manifested by a violation of the functions of the nervous system with the development of miosis, bronchospasm, muscle fibrillation, sometimes general convulsions and flaccid paralysis, as well as dysfunction other vital organs and systems.

Poisonous substances are unstable(NOV) - gaseous or rapidly evaporating liquid O. v., the damaging effect of which lasts no more than 1-2 hours after application.

Poisonous substances of general poisonous action- O. century, the toxic effect of which is characterized by rapid inhibition of tissue respiration and the development of signs of hypoxia.

Poisonous substances police- temporarily incapacitating O. in. irritant and lachrymal effect.

Poisonous substances of psychotomimetic action(syn.: O. v. psychotic, O. v. psychotomimetic, O. v. psychochemical) - O. v., causing temporary mental disorders, as a rule, without pronounced disturbances in the activity of other organs and systems.

Irritant poisonous substances(syn. poisonous substances sneezing) - high-speed O. v., the toxic effect of which is characterized by irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Lacrimal poisons(syn. lachrymators) - high-speed O. v., the toxic effect of which is characterized by irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nasopharynx.

Poisonous substances are persistent(OWL) - O. v., the damaging effect of which persists for several hours or days after application.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances- O. century, the action of which is characterized by the development of toxic pulmonary edema.

Poisonous substances organophosphorus(FOV) - O. v., which are organic esters of phosphoric acids; belong to O. in. nerve action.

New generation - Substances that can be used in a combat situation.
There are many groups of substances that have attractive military properties. Often the assignment of a substance to one or another group is very conditional and is carried out according to the primary purpose of the action on the object.
Deadly
Substances of this group are intended for the destruction of enemy manpower, domestic and farm animals.

GABA agonists (convulsive poisons) are highly toxic substances, usually of a bicyclic structure. Relatively simple in structure, stable to hydrolysis. Examples: bicyclophosphates (tert-butyl bicyclophosphate), TATS, flucibenes, arylsilatranes (phenylsilatrane).
Bronchoconstrictors are bioregulators. They have a bronchoconstrictive effect, leading to death from respiratory failure. Examples: leukotrienes D and C.
Hyperallergens (nettle poisons) are a relatively new group of toxic substances. A feature of the action is the sensitization of the body, followed by the provocation of an acute allergic reaction. The main disadvantage is the effect of the second dose - the first time it enters the body, it has a much weaker effect than when it is repeated. Examples: phosgenokim, urushiols.
Cardiotoxins are substances that selectively affect the heart. Examples: cardiac glycosides.
Blistering agents are substances used by the military since World War I. They are standard poisonous substances. Significantly less toxic than organophosphates. The main military advantage is the delay in the lethal effect with a crippling effect; this requires the enemy to spend forces and means to provide medical care to the injured. Examples: sulfur mustard, sesquimetal, oxygen mustard, nitrogen mustards, lewisite.
Nerve agents - organophosphates in this group cause death by any route of ingestion. Highly toxic (high toxicity in contact with the skin is especially attractive). They are used as standard poisonous substances. Examples: Sarin, Soman, Tabun, VX, aromatic carbamates.
Systemic poisons (general toxic) - simultaneously affect many systems of the body. Some of them were in service with various countries. Examples: hydrocyanic acid, cyanides, fluoroacetates, dioxin, metal carbonyls, tetraethyl lead, arsenides.
Toxins - substances with extremely high toxicity with a wide variety of symptoms of damage. The main disadvantages of natural toxins, from a military point of view, are a solid state of aggregation, inability to penetrate the skin, high price, instability to detoxification. Examples: tetrodotoxin, palytoxin, botulinum toxins, diphtheria toxin, ricin, mycotoxins, saxitoxin.
Toxic alkaloids are substances of various structures produced by plants and animals. Due to their relative availability, these substances can be used as toxic agents. Examples: nicotine, coniine, aconitine, atropine, C-toxiferin I.
Heavy metals are inorganic substances capable of causing fatal injuries, both acute and chronic. They have more ecotoxic significance, as they persist in the natural environment for a long time. Examples: thallium sulfate, mercury chloride, cadmium nitrate, lead acetate.
Asphyxiants are long-known standard poisonous substances. Their exact mechanism of action is unknown. Examples: phosgene, diphosgene, triphosgene.

crippling
Substances of this group provoke a long-term illness that can cause death. Some researchers also include blistering substances here.

Causing neurolatyrism - cause a specific lesion of the central nervous system, leading to the movement of animals in a circle. Examples: IDPN.
Carcinogenic - a group of substances provoking the development of cancerous tumors. Examples: benzapyrene, methylcholanthrene.
Hearing impaired - used to damage a person's hearing apparatus. Examples: antibiotics of the streptomycin group.
Irreversible paralyzing - a group of substances that cause demyelination of nerve fibers, which leads to paralysis of various extent. Examples: tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate.
Eye-affecting - cause temporary or permanent blindness. Example: methanol.
Radioactive - give acute or chronic radiation sickness. They can have almost any chemical composition, since all elements have radioactive isotopes.
Supermutagens are substances that provoke the occurrence of genetic mutations. They can also be included in various other groups (often, for example, highly toxic and carcinogenic). Examples: nitrosomethylurea, nitrosomethylguanidine.
Teratogens are a group of substances that cause deformities in the development of the fetus during pregnancy. The purpose of military use may be genocide or to prevent the birth of a healthy child. Examples: thalidomide.

Non-lethal
The purpose of the use of substances of this group is to bring a person into an incompetent state or create physical discomfort.

Algogens are substances that cause severe pain when in contact with the skin. Currently, there are compositions for sale for the self-defense of the population. They often also have a lachrymal effect. Example: 1-methoxy-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, dibenzoxazepine, capsaicin, pelargonic acid morpholide, resiniferatoxin.
Anxiogens - cause an acute panic attack in a person. Examples: cholecystokinin type B receptor agonists.
Anticoagulants - reduce blood clotting, causing bleeding. Examples: superwarfarin.
Attractants - attract various insects or animals (for example, stinging, unpleasant) to a person. This can lead to a panic reaction in a person or provoke an insect attack on a person. They can also be used to attract pests to enemy crops. Example: 3,11-dimethyl-2-nonacosanone (cockroach attractant).
Malodorants - cause the removal of people from the territory or from a certain person due to the aversion of people to the unpleasant smell of the area (person). Either the substances themselves or the products of their metabolism can have an unpleasant odor. Examples: mercaptans, isonitriles, selenols, sodium tellurite, geosmin, benzcyclopropane.
Causing pain in the muscles - cause severe pain in the muscles of a person. Examples: thymol amino esters.
Antihypertensive drugs - greatly lower blood pressure, causing orthostatic collapse, as a result of which a person loses consciousness or the ability to move. Example: clonidine, canbisol, analogues of platelet activating factor.
Castrators - cause chemical castration (loss to reproduction). Examples: gossypol.
Catatonic - cause the development of catatonia in the affected. Usually attributed to the type of psychochemical toxic substances. Examples: bulbocapnin.
Peripheral muscle relaxants - cause complete relaxation of skeletal muscles. Can cause death due to relaxation of the respiratory muscles. Examples: tubocurarine.
Central muscle relaxants - cause relaxation of skeletal muscles. Unlike peripheral ones, they affect breathing less and their detoxification is difficult. Examples: myorelaxin, phenylglycerin, benzimidazole.
Diuretics - cause a sharp acceleration in the emptying of the bladder. Examples: furosemide.
Anesthesia - cause anesthesia in healthy people. So far, the use of this group of substances is hampered by the low biological activity of the substances used. Examples: isoflurane, halothane.
Truth drugs cause people to become unable to consciously tell lies. Currently, it has been shown that this method does not guarantee the complete truthfulness of a person and their use is limited. Usually these are not individual substances, but a combination of barbiturates with stimulants.
Narcotic analgesics - in doses higher than therapeutic, have an immobilizing effect. Examples: fentanyl, carfentanil, 14-methoxymethopone, etorphine, athin.
Memory Disorders - Causes temporary memory loss. Often toxic. Examples: cycloheximide, domoic acid, many anticholinergics.
Antipsychotics - cause motor and mental retardation in humans. Examples: haloperidol, spiperone, fluphenazine.
Irreversible MAO inhibitors are a group of substances blocking monoamine oxidase. As a result, when eating foods high in natural amines (cheeses, chocolate), a hypertensive crisis is provoked. Examples: nialamide, pargyline.
Will suppressors - cause a violation of the ability to make independent decisions. They are substances of different groups. Example: scopolamine.
Prurigens - cause intolerable itching. For example: 1,2-dithiocyanoethane.
Psychotomimetic drugs - cause psychosis, which lasts for some time, during which a person cannot make adequate decisions. Example: BZ, LSD, mescaline, DMT, DOB, DOM, cannabinoids, PCP.
Laxatives - cause a sharp acceleration in the emptying of the contents of the intestine. With prolonged action of drugs in this group, exhaustion of the body may develop. Examples: bisacodyl.
Tear agents (lachrymators) - cause severe lacrimation and closure of the eyelids in a person, as a result of which a person temporarily cannot see what is happening around and loses combat effectiveness. There are standard-issue poisonous substances used to disperse demonstrations. Examples: chloroacetophenone, bromoacetone, bromobenzyl cyanide, ortho-(CS).
Sleeping pills - cause a person to fall asleep. Examples: flunitrazepam, barbiturates.
Sternitis - cause indomitable sneezing and coughing, as a result of which a person can throw off a gas mask. There are regular OV. Examples: adamsite, diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanarsine.
Tremorgens - cause convulsive twitches of skeletal muscles. Examples: tremorine, oxotremorine, tremorogenic mycotoxins.
Photosensitizers - increase the sensitivity of the skin to the sun's ultraviolet rays. When exposed to sunlight, a person can get painful burns. Examples: hypericin, furocoumarins.
Emetics (vomit) - cause a gag reflex, as a result of which being in a gas mask becomes impossible. Examples: apomorphine derivatives, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, PHNO.

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 for the manufacture of military chemical weapons, the following classification of toxic substances is used to characterize the 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 contamination, 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:

1. Through open wounds. When using irritating substances, such intoxication is ineffective due to the washing out of the poison by the blood.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 bloodstream 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:

1. Upon contact with poison, a person does not feel burning or pain.
2. At the site of contact, an infectious focus is quickly formed.
3. After 24 hours, bubbles with liquid contents form on the reddened skin, which merge into a single pathological cavity.
4. 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:

1. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the epigastric region.
2. Emotional instability: fear, irritability, anxiety, insomnia.
3. Urination disorders, discoloration of urine, the appearance of blood clots.
4. Decreased tactile, tendon and muscle reflex.
5. 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.

WAR POISON SUBSTANCES(former name - "combat gases", "suffocating agents"), artificial chemical products used in war to destroy living targets - humans and animals. Poisonous substances are the active principle of the so-called. chemical weapons and serve directly to inflict damage. The concept of toxic substances includes such chemical compounds that, if properly used, are capable of incapacitating an unprotected fighter by poisoning him. Poisoning here refers to any disturbance of the normal functioning of the body - from temporary irritation of the eyes or respiratory tract to long-term illness or death.

Story . April 22, 1915 is considered the beginning of the combat use of poisonous substances, when the Germans launched the first chlorine gas attack against the British. Since the middle of 1915, chemical projectiles with various toxic substances were widely used in the war. At the end of 1915, chloropicrin began to be used in the Russian army. In February 1916, the French introduced phosgene into combat practice. In July 1917, mustard gas (a blistering poisonous substance) was used in the German army in combat operations, and in September 1917 arsines were introduced into it (see Combat arsines) - arsenic-containing poisonous substances used in the form of poisonous smoke and fog. The total number of various poisonous substances used in the world war reached 70. At present, the armies of almost all countries have various types of poisonous substances in service, which will undoubtedly be used in future military clashes. Further research on the improvement of production methods and the use of already known poisonous substances is being carried out in all major states.

Combat use of poisonous substances carried out by introducing them into the atmosphere in the form of vapors, smoke or fog, or by applying toxic substances to the surface of the soil and local objects. The most convenient and commonly used medium for introducing toxic substances into the body is air; in certain cases, this role can be played by soil, water, vegetation, foodstuffs and all artificial structures and objects. To defeat through the air requires the creation of a certain "combat" concentration of poisonous substances, calculated in units of weight (mg per liter of air) or volumetric (% or ‰). When soil is contaminated, a certain "density of infection" is required, calculated in grams of toxic substances per m 2 of surface. To bring toxic substances into an active state and to transfer them by the attacking side to the objects of attack, special mechanical devices are used, which make up material part chemical attack techniques.

During the World War, poisonous substances were used in the following methods of chemical attack: 1) gas balloon attack, i.e., the release of a gaseous poisonous substance from special cylinders, carried to the enemy by the wind in the form of a poisoned air wave; 2) firing of field artillery with chemical projectiles containing poisonous substances and an explosive charge; 3) firing chemical mines from ordinary or special mortars (gas throwers); and 4) throwing hand and rifle chemical grenades. At present, the following methods have been developed: 5) burning special candles that produce poisonous smoke when burned; 6) direct contamination of the area with toxic substances by means of ground (portable) vehicles; 7) bombardment from aircraft with aerochemical bombs; and 8) direct spraying or spraying of poisonous substances from aircraft over the surface of the earth.

Poisonous substances as a weapon has a massive damaging effect. The main difference from mechanical weapons is that the very damaging effect of poisonous substances is chemical, based on the interaction of a poisonous substance with the tissues of a living organism, and causes a certain combat effect as a result of a known chemical process. The action of various poisonous substances is extremely diverse: it can vary widely and take the most diverse forms; the defeat usually captures a huge number of living cells (general poisoning of the body). Other features of poisonous substances as weapons are: a) high fragmentation of the substance at the time of action (up to individual molecules, about 10 -8 cm in size, or smoke and fog particles, 10 -4 -10 -7 cm in size), due to which a continuous zone is created defeat; b) the ability to spread in all directions and penetrate with air through small holes; c) the duration of action (from several minutes to several weeks); and d) for some poisonous substances, the ability to act slowly (not immediately) or gradually and imperceptibly accumulate in the body until life-threatening quantities are formed (“cumulation” of poisonous substances).

Requirements for poisonous substances, are put by tactics, military equipment and supply agencies. They boil down mainly to the following conditions: 1) high toxicity (degree of poisoning effect), i.e., the ability of poisonous substances to incapacitate in low concentrations and with a short action, 2) the difficulty of protection for the enemy, 3) ease of use for the attacking side , 4) convenience of storage and transport, 5) availability of manufacturing in large quantities and low cost. Requirement (5) implies the need to closely link the production of poisonous substances with the peaceful chemical industry of the country. Satisfaction of all these requirements is achieved by proper selection of the physical, chemical and toxic properties of poisonous substances, as well as by improving the methods of their manufacture and use.

Tactical characteristics of poisonous substances. Poisonous substances that are difficult to fly and possess high chemical strength are called persistent (for example, mustard gas). Such toxic substances are capable of exerting a long-term damaging effect in the place where they were released from the shell; therefore, they are suitable for pre-infection of areas of the area in order to make them inaccessible or impassable (gas locks). On the contrary, highly volatile or rapidly decomposing toxic substances are classified as unstable, short-acting. The latter also include toxic substances used in the form of smoke.

The chemical composition of poisonous substances. Almost all poisonous substances, with few exceptions, are organic, i.e., carbonaceous, compounds. The composition of various toxic substances known so far included only the following 9 elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, nitrogen, sulfur and arsenic. Among the poisonous substances used were representatives of the following classes of chemical compounds: 1) inorganic - free halides and acid chlorides; 2) organic - halogenated hydrocarbons, ethers (simple and complex), ketones, mercaptans and sulfides, organic acid chlorides, unsaturated aldehydes, nitro compounds, cyanide compounds, arsines, etc. The chemical composition and structure of the molecule of poisonous substances determine all their other properties, important in combat.

Nomenclature. To designate poisonous substances, either their rational chemical names (chlorine, bromoacetone, diphenylchlorarsine, etc.), or special military terms (mustard gas, lewisite, surpalite), or, finally, conditional ciphers (D. M., K., yellow cross). Conditional terms were also used for mixtures of poisonous substances (martonite, palite, vincennite). During the war, poisonous substances were usually encrypted to keep their composition secret.

Individual representatives The most important chemical agents used in the World War or described in the post-war literature are listed in the attached table along with their most important properties.

Physical properties of toxic substances, affecting their combat suitability: 1) vapor pressure, which should be. significant at ordinary temperatures, 2) evaporation rate or volatility (high for unstable poisons and low for resistant ones), 3) volatility limit (maximum achievable concentration), 4) boiling point (low for unstable poisons and high for persistent ones), 5 ) melting point, 6) state of aggregation at ordinary temperature (gases, liquids, solids), 7) critical temperature, 8) heat of vaporization, 9) specific gravity in liquid or solid state, 10) vapor density of toxic substances (d. b greater than the density of air), 11) solubility (ch. arr. in water and substances of the animal organism), 12) the ability to be adsorbed (absorbed) by anti-gas coal (see Activated carbon), 13) the color of toxic substances and some other properties.

Chemical properties of toxic substances entirely dependent on their composition and structure. From a military point of view, the following are of interest: 1) the chemical interaction of poisonous substances with substances and tissues of an animal organism, which determines the nature and degree of toxicity of poisonous substances and is the cause of their damaging effect; 2) the ratio of toxic substances to water (ability to be decomposed by water - hydrolysis); 3) relation to atmospheric oxygen (oxidizability); 4) attitude towards metals (corrosive effect on shells, weapons, mechanisms, etc.); 5) the possibility of neutralizing poisonous substances with available chemicals; 6) the possibility of recognizing poisonous substances with the help of chemical reagents; and 7) the smell of poisonous substances, which also depends on the chemical nature of the substances.

Toxic properties of toxic substances. The variety of toxic effects of poisonous substances is determined by the diversity of their composition and structure. Substances that are close in chemical nature act in a similar way. Carriers of toxic properties in the molecule of a poisonous substance are certain atoms or groups of atoms - "toxophores" (CO, S, SO 2, CN, As, etc.), and the degree of action and shades of it are determined by the accompanying groups - "auxotoxes". The degree of toxicity, or the strength of the action of toxic substances, is determined by the minimum damaging concentration and duration of action (exposure): it is the higher, the smaller these two values. The nature of toxicity is determined by the routes of penetration of toxic substances into the body and the predominant effect on certain organs of the body. According to the nature of the action, toxic substances are often divided into asphyxiating (affecting the respiratory tract), lachrymal ("lachrymators"), poisonous (acting on the blood or nervous system), abscesses (acting on the skin), irritating or "sneezing" (acting on the mucous membranes of the nose and upper respiratory tract), etc.; the characteristic is given according to the "predominant" effect, since the effect of toxic substances on the body is very complex. Combat concentrations of various toxic substances vary from a few mg to ten-thousandths of a mg per liter of air. Some poisonous substances cause fatal injuries when introduced into the body in doses of about 1 mg or even less.

Production of poisonous substances requires the presence in the country of large reserves of affordable and cheap raw materials and a developed chemical industry. Most often, for the production of toxic substances, the equipment and personnel of existing chemical plants for peaceful purposes are used; sometimes special installations are built (Edgwood chemical arsenal in the USA). The peaceful chemical industry has raw materials in common with the production of poisonous substances, or it produces ready-made semi-finished products. The main branches of the chemical industry, which provide material for poisonous substances, are: the electrolysis of table salt, coke-benzene and wood-acetomethyl production, the production of bound nitrogen, arsenic compounds, sulfur, distillery, etc. Artificial paint factories were usually adapted for the production of poisonous substances.

Determination of poisonous substances can be done in the laboratory or in the field. The laboratory definition represents the precise or simplified chemical analysis of poisonous substances by conventional methods of analytical chemistry. Field determination aims to: 1) detect the presence of poisonous substances in air, water or soil, 2) determine the chemical nature of the applied poisonous substance and 3) determine its concentration, if possible. The 1st and 2nd tasks are resolved simultaneously with the help of special chemical reagents - "indicators" that change their color or release a precipitate in the presence of a certain poisonous substance. For colorful reactions, liquid solutions or papers impregnated with such solutions are used; for sedimentary reactions - only liquids. Reagent d. b. specific, sensitive, acting quickly and sharply, not changing during storage; use of it d. b. simple. The 3rd task is in rare cases solvable in the field; for this, special devices are used - gas detectors, based on known chemical reactions and allowing, by the degree of color change or by the amount of precipitation, to approximately judge the concentration of toxic substances. The detection of poisonous substances using physical methods (changes in the diffusion rate) or physicochemical methods (changes in electrical conductivity as a result of the hydrolysis of poisonous substances), which has been proposed many times, turned out to be very unreliable in practice.

Protection against toxic substances can be individual and collective (or mass). The first is achieved by the use of gas masks that isolate the respiratory tract from the surrounding air or purify the inhaled air from the admixture of toxic substances, as well as special insulating clothing. The means of collective protection include gas shelters; to measures of mass protection - degassing, used mainly for persistent poisonous substances and consisting in the neutralization of poisonous substances directly on the ground or on objects with the help of "neutralizing" chemical materials. In general, all methods of protection against poisonous substances come down either to the creation of impenetrable partitions (mask, clothing), or to filtering the air used for breathing (filtering gas mask, gas shelter), or to such a process that would destroy poisonous substances (degassing).

Peaceful use of poisonous substances. Some poisonous substances (chlorine, phosgene) are starting materials for various branches of the peaceful chemical industry. Others (chloropicrin, hydrocyanic acid, chlorine) are used in the fight against pests of plants and bakery products - fungi, insects and rodents. Chlorine is also used for bleaching, for sterilizing water and food. Some poisonous substances are used for preservative impregnation of wood, in the gold industry, as solvents, etc. There are attempts to use poisonous substances in medicine for medicinal purposes. However, most poisonous substances, the most valuable in combat terms, have no peaceful use.