As a basis for the classification of agents, the most important characteristic properties inherent in a number of substances are usually used, which, according to these characteristics, are combined into certain groups. The division of OM into groups characterized by the commonality of certain properties and features is the basis for various classifications.

The most common toxicological (clinical) classification, according to which all agents, depending on the characteristics of their toxic effects on the body, are divided into seven groups:

1. Nerve agents (nerve gases): Sarin, Soman, V-gases (V-gases).

2. Agent of blistering action (vesicants): mustard gas, nitrogen mustard, lewisite.

3. General poisonous agents: hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride.

4. Suffocating agents: chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene.

5. Tear agents (lachrymators): chloroacetophenone, bromobenzyl cyanide, chloropicrin.

6. Irritating agents (sternites): diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanarsine, adamsite, CS, CR.

7. Psychotomimetic agents: lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), glycolic acid derivatives (BZ).

By the nature of the losses caused OV are divided into: destroying the enemy (sarin, soman, V-gases (V-gases), mustard gas, nitrogen mustard, lewisite, hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene) and temporarily incapacitating (chloroacetophenone, bromobenzyl cyanide, chloropicrin, diphenylchloroarsine, diphenylcyanarsine, adamsite, CS, CR, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), glycolic acid derivatives (BZ)).

According to the duration of the contaminating effect on: persistent (long-acting) substances with a high boiling point (over 150 0 C), they slowly evaporate and infect the area and objects for a long time - (sarin, soman, vigas, mustard gas and lewisite) and unstable (short-acting) - substances with a low boiling point, quickly evaporate and infect the area for a short time up to 1-2 hours - (phosgene, diphosgene, hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride).

By toxicokinetic (damaging) action, depending on the rate of development of the lesion clinic: fast-acting (FOV, hydrocyanic acid, psychotomimetics) and slow-acting (mustard gas and phosgenes).

By physical (aggregate) state divided into: vapors, aerosols, liquids and solids.

By chemical structure toxic substances are organic compounds of various classes:

P organophosphorus compounds– sarin, soman, V-gases, binary FOV;

P halogenated sulfides- mustard gas and its analogues;

P arsenic-containing substances(arsines) - lewisite, adamsite, diphenylchlorarsine;

P halogenated derivatives of carbonic acid- phosgene, diphosgene;

P nitriles– hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, CS;

P derivatives benzyl acid(benzylates) - BZ.

For practical application are divided into:

1. Industrial poisons used in production: organic solvents, fuels, dyes, chemicals, plasticizers and others.

2. Pesticides: chlorophos, hexochloran, granosan, sevin, and others.

3. Medicines.

4. Household chemicals: acetic acid, care product for clothes, shoes, furniture, car and others.

5. Biological plant and animal poisons.

6. Chemical warfare agents.

According to the degree of toxicity are divided into: extremely toxic, highly toxic, moderately toxic, and non-toxic toxic substances.

In the US and NATO armies, poisonous substances are divided into service and limited service (reserve) ones. Standard agents most likely to be used on a mass scale include sarin, V-gases, binary OPs, mustard gas, CS, CR, phosgene, and BZ. The rest of the OVs are classified as limited personnel.

Medico-tactical characteristics of chemical foci

The focus of chemical damage is a territory with people, water and atmosphere located on it, exposed to toxic substances.

In the medical-tactical characterization of the focus of chemical damage, the following are estimated: the size of the chemical focus, the type and durability of the agent, the method of its application, meteorological conditions (temperature, wind speed and direction), the time during which the danger of damage to personnel and the population remains, the ways in which the agent enters into the body and their damaging effect, the estimated number of sanitary losses, the probable period of death of people in case of poisoning with lethal doses, the availability of protective equipment, the organization of chemical reconnaissance, the notification of the “chemical alarm” signal and chemical protection.

The size of the focus of chemical damage depends on the power of the chemical strike, the enemy, the means and methods of using agents, their type and state of aggregation.

In accordance with the medical and tactical classification, the following types of chemical foci are distinguished (options):

The focus of damage with persistent high-speed agents is formed by V-gases during inhalation intake, as well as sarin and soman;

The focus of damage by persistent agents of delayed action is formed by V-gases, mustard gas when entering through the skin;

The lesion site with unstable high-speed agents is formed by hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, chloroacetophenone;

The focus of damage by unstable slow-acting agents is formed by BZ, phosgene, diphosgene.

As a rule, personal sanitary losses in a chemical outbreak will be massive, especially among the civilian population, if not the entire population is provided with protective equipment (including children, the sick, etc.). Particularly dangerous are the foci of highly toxic agents of rapid lethal action. In chemical foci of other OM, there will be fewer affected, but they will also be numerous. Sanitary losses in chemical outbreaks will occur almost simultaneously, within a few minutes. The affected will be in the contaminated area, under the constant threat of even greater poisoning. All those affected will need emergency medical care, rapid evacuation from the infected focus, and up to 30-40% emergency care for health reasons. Affected by persistent agents, it is necessary to carry out complete sanitization, since the skin and clothing will be contaminated. Medical personnel in the lesion must work in protective equipment, which greatly complicates and slows down the work. Contaminated food and water become dangerous to consume. Persistent agents infect the territory for a long time, paralyze the normal life of people.



Poison gas is a toxic chemical that causes intoxication of the body and damage to internal organs and systems. It enters through the respiratory system, skin, gastrointestinal tract.

List of poison gases according to their toxicological effects:

1. Nerve-paralytic - carbon monoxide, sarin.
2. Skin-blisters - lewisite, mustard gas.
3. Asphyxiants - phosgene, diphosgene, chlorine.
4. Lacrimal - bromobenzyl cyanide, chloroacetophenone.
5. General impact - hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride.
6. Irritant - adamsite, CR, CS.
7. Psychotomimetic - BZ, LSD-25.

Consider the most dangerous gases, the mechanism of their defeat, signs of poisoning in humans.

Sarin

Sarin is a poisonous liquid substance that at a temperature of 20 °C quickly evaporates and has a nerve-paralytic effect on the human body. As a gas, it is colorless and odorless, most dangerous if inhaled.

Symptoms appear immediately upon inhalation. The first signs of poisoning are shortness of breath, constriction of the pupil.

Clinical manifestations:

• irritation of the nasal mucosa, liquid discharge;
• salivation, vomiting;
• chest tightness;
• shortness of breath, blue skin;
• spasm of the bronchi and increased formation of mucus in them;
• pulmonary edema;
• severe cramps and pain in the abdomen.

In case of ingestion of high concentrations of sarin vapours, severe brain damage occurs after 1-2 minutes. A person cannot control the physiological functions of the body - involuntary defecation and urination. There are convulsions, convulsions. A coma develops followed by cardiac arrest.

Mustard gas

Mustard gas is mustard gas. This is a chemical compound of blistering action. In liquid form, the substance has the smell of mustard. It enters the body in two ways - by airborne droplets and by contact of liquid with the skin. Has a tendency to accumulate. Signs of poisoning appear after 2-8 hours.

Symptoms of gas intoxication by inhalation:

• damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• lacrimation, photophobia, feeling of sand in the eyes;
• dryness and burning in the nose, then swelling of the nasopharynx with purulent discharge;
• laryngitis, tracheitis;
• bronchitis.

If liquid enters the eyes, it will cause blindness. In severe poisoning with mustard gas, pneumonia develops, death occurs on the 3-4th day from suffocation.

Symptoms of gas poisoning upon contact with the skin are redness followed by the formation of vesicles containing serous fluid, skin lesions, ulcers, necrosis. Gas destroys cell membranes, disrupts carbohydrate metabolism, partially destroys DNA and RNA.

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Lewisite

Lewisite is the strongest toxic substance, the vapors of which are able to penetrate through a chemical protection suit and a gas mask. It is a brown liquid with a pungent odor. The gas is classified as a skin blister agent. Acts on the body instantly and has no latent period.

Symptoms of gas poisoning in case of damage to the skin develop within 5 minutes:

• pain and burning at the point of contact;
• inflammatory changes;
• painful redness;
• the formation of bubbles, they quickly open;
• the appearance of erosion, heal for several weeks;
• in severe cases, when large concentrations of lewisite are ingested, deep ulcers form.

Gas inhalation symptoms:

• damage to the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, trachea, bronchi;
• nasal fluid;
• sneezing, coughing;
• headache;
• nausea, vomiting;
• loss of voice
• feeling of pressure in the chest, shortness of breath.

The mucous membrane of the eyes is highly sensitive to poisonous gas.. It becomes red, eyelids swell, lacrimation intensifies. The person experiences a burning sensation in the eyes. When liquid lewisite enters the gastrointestinal tract, the victim begins to profuse salivation and vomiting. Sharp pains in an abdominal cavity join. Internal organs are affected, blood pressure drops sharply.

hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor of rotten eggs. In high concentrations, the substance is very toxic. Entering the body by inhalation, symptoms of general intoxication develop - headache, dizziness, weakness. Hydrogen sulfide is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects the central nervous system.

Signs of gas poisoning:

• metallic taste in mouth;
• paralysis of the nerve responsible for smell, so the victim immediately ceases to feel any smells;
• respiratory tract damage, pulmonary edema;
• severe convulsions;
• coma.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless poisonous substance, lighter than air. Entering the body through the respiratory tract, it is rapidly absorbed into the blood and binds to hemoglobin. This blocks the transport of oxygen to all cells, oxygen starvation sets in, and cellular respiration stops.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• dizziness and headache;
• rapid breathing and heartbeat, shortness of breath;
• noise in ears;
• impaired visual acuity, flickering in the eyes;
• skin redness;
• nausea, vomiting.

In severe poisoning, convulsions are observed. The symptoms preceding the coma are growing - a drop in blood pressure, severe weakness, loss of consciousness. In the absence of medical care, death occurs within 1 hour.

Phosgene

Phosgene is a colorless gas with an odor of rotten hay. The substance is dangerous if inhaled, the first signs of intoxication appear after 4-8 hours. At high concentrations, death occurs within 3 seconds. Gas, getting into the lungs, destroys them, causing instant swelling.

Symptoms at different stages of poisoning:

1. Pulmonary edema begins to develop in the latent period, when the victim is unaware of poisoning. The first signals from the body are a sweet, sugary taste in the mouth, nausea. Sometimes there is vomiting. A person feels a sore throat, itching and burning in the nasopharynx. There is a cough reflex, breathing and pulse are disturbed.
2. After a latent period, the victim's condition deteriorates sharply. There is a strong cough, the person begins to choke. Blue skin and lips.
3. Stage of progressive deterioration - strong pressure in the chest, leading to suffocation, the respiratory rate increases by 70 per minute (normal 18). The lungs produce a lot of fluid and mucus due to the decomposition of the alveoli. The person coughs up bloody sputum. Breathing becomes impossible. 50% of the BCC (volume of circulating blood) goes to the lungs and increases them. The mass of one lung can be 2.5 kg (norm 500-600 g).

In severe cases, death in 10-15 minutes. In case of gas poisoning of moderate severity, death occurs in 2-3 days. Recovery can occur 2-3 weeks after poisoning, but this is rare due to infection.

Hydrocyanic acid

Hydrocyanic acid is a colorless, light and mobile liquid with a pronounced odor. It blocks the chain of oxygen movement through the tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. Gas affects the nervous system, disrupting the innervation of organs.

Symptoms of respiratory poisoning:

• dyspnea;
• at the beginning of the development of the clinical picture, frequent breathing;
• with severe intoxication - respiratory depression and its stop.

Signs from the heart:

• slowing down of heart beats;
• increase in blood pressure;
• vasospasm;
• as symptoms increase - pressure drop, increased heart rate, acute cardiovascular failure, cardiac arrest.

Poison gases are strong, fast-acting substances. Emergency resuscitation measures are needed to save a person. With a favorable outcome, the victim needs long-term rehabilitation treatment.

chemical weapons called poisonous substances and the means of their combat use.
Chemical weapons are intended to destroy and exhaust the enemy's manpower in order to hinder (disorganize) the activities of his troops and rear facilities. It can be used with the help of aviation, missile troops, artillery, engineering troops.
poisonous substances called toxic chemical compounds intended for mass destruction of manpower, contamination of the area, weapons and military equipment.
Poisonous substances form the basis of chemical weapons.
At the time of combat use, agents can be in a vaporous, aerosol, or liquid-drop state.
In vaporous and finely dispersed aerosol state(smoke, fog) are transferred agents used to contaminate the surface layer of air. 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. The depth of propagation of OM in rough and wooded areas is 1.5-3 times less than in open areas. Hollows, ravines, forest and shrub massifs can be places of OM stagnation and changes in the direction of its distribution.
To infect the terrain, weapons and military equipment, uniforms, equipment and skin of people, agents are used in the form coarse aerosols and droplets. The terrain, weapons and military equipment and other objects contaminated in this way are a source of human injury. Under these conditions, the personnel will be forced to stay in protective equipment for a long time, due to the resistance of the OV, which will reduce the combat effectiveness of the troops.
OM can enter the body through the respiratory system, through wound surfaces, mucous membranes and skin. With the use of contaminated food and water, the penetration of agents is carried out through the gastrointestinal tract. Most of the agents are cumulative, that is, they have the ability to accumulate a toxic effect.

2. Classification of poisonous substances. The main types of poisonous substances. The main properties of toxic substances and their effect on the human body

2.1. Classification of toxic substances

According to the tactical purpose, OVs are divided into four groups: lethal agents; temporarily incapacitating manpower; annoying and educational.
According to the speed of the onset of the damaging effect, there are: high-speed agents; not having a period of latent action and slow-acting agents; with a latency period.
Depending on the duration of the retention of the damaging ability of lethal agents, they are divided into two groups:

• persistent agents that retain their damaging effect for several hours and days;
• unstable agents, the damaging effect of which lasts only a few tens of minutes after their application. Some agents, depending on the method and conditions of use, can behave as persistent and unstable agents.

K OV lethal action, to defeat or disable manpower for a long time, include: GB (sarin), GD (soman), VX (Vi-X), HD (distilled mustard), HN (nitrogen mustard), AC (hydrocyanic acid), CK (cyanogen chloride), CG (phosgene).

2.2. The main types of poisonous substances. The main properties of toxic substances and their effect on the human body

Poison nerve agents
Sarin (GB), Soman (GD), Vi-X (VX), which affect the nervous system, enter the body through the respiratory system, skin and digestive tract. In addition, they cause a strong constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis). To protect against them, you need not only a gas mask, but also personal protective equipment for the skin.
Sarin It is a volatile colorless or yellowish liquid with almost no odor. Does not freeze in winter. It is miscible with water and organic solvents in any ratio and is highly soluble in fats. It is resistant to water, so it can be used to contaminate water sources for a long time. At ordinary temperatures, it is rapidly destroyed by solutions of alkalis and ammonia. Upon contact with human skin, uniforms, shoes, wood and other porous materials, as well as food, Sarin is quickly absorbed into them.
The effect of sarin on the human body develops quickly, without a period of latent action. When exposed to lethal doses observed: constriction of the pupils (miosis), salivation, difficulty breathing, vomiting, incoordination, loss of consciousness, attacks of severe convulsions, paralysis and death. Not fatal doses of sarin cause lesions of varying severity depending on the dose received. At a small dose, there is a temporary weakening of vision (miosis) and tightness in the chest.
Sarin vapors under average meteorological conditions can spread downwind up to 20 km from the place of application.
Soman- a colorless and almost odorless liquid, very similar in its properties to sarin; acts on the human body like sarin, but is 5-10 times more toxic than it.
The means of application, detection and degassing of soman, as well as the means of protection against it, are the same as for the use of sarin.
The peculiarity of soman is that it infects the area for longer periods than sarin. The danger of lethal injury in areas infected with soman persists in summer up to 10 hours (in places of ammunition explosions - up to 30 hours), in winter - up to 2-3 days, and the danger of temporary damage to vision persists in summer - up to 2-4 days, in winter - up to 2-3 weeks. Soman vapors in dangerous concentrations can spread downwind for tens of kilometers from the place of application. Armament and military equipment contaminated with soman drops, after its degassing, can be operated without skin protection, but poses a risk of injury through the respiratory system.
V-X (VX) - a slightly volatile colorless liquid, odorless and does not freeze in winter. The area infected with VX remains dangerous for damage in summer up to 7-15 days, and in winter - for the entire period before the onset of heat. VX infects water for a very long time. The main combat state of VX is aerosol. Aerosols infect surface layers of air and spread in the direction of the wind to a considerable depth (up to 5-20 km); they infect manpower through the respiratory organs, open areas of the skin and ordinary summer army uniforms, and also infect the terrain, weapons, military equipment and open water bodies. The impregnated uniform reliably protects against VX aerosols. The toxicity of VX in terms of action through the respiratory organs is 10 times higher than that of sarin, and in a liquid drop state through bare skin - hundreds of times. For fatal injury through naked skin and when ingested with water and food, 2 mg of RH is sufficient. Inhalation symptoms are similar to those caused by sarin. When exposed to VX aerosol through the skin, the symptoms of poisoning may not appear immediately, but after a while - up to several hours. In this case, muscle twitching appears at the site of exposure to the OB, then convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. In addition, there may be difficulty in breathing, salivation, depression of the central nervous system.

Poisonous substances of blistering action
The main agent of blistering action is mustard gas. Used technical (H) and distillation (purified) mustard gas (HD).
Mustard gas(distilled) - a colorless or light yellow liquid with a slight odor, heavier than water. At a temperature of about 14 ° C it freezes. Technical mustard has a dark brown color and a strong smell, reminiscent of the smell of garlic or mustard. Mustard gas evaporates slowly in air. It is poorly soluble in water; dissolves well in alcohol, gasoline, kerosene, acetone and other organic solvents, as well as in various oils and fats. Easily absorbed into wood, leather, textiles and paint.
Mustard gas decomposes slowly in water, retaining its damaging properties for a long time; when heated, decomposition proceeds faster. Aqueous solutions of calcium hypochlorites destroy mustard gas. Mustard has a multilateral action. It affects the skin and eyes, respiratory tract and lungs. When it enters the gastrointestinal tract with food and water at a dose of 0.2 g, it causes fatal poisoning. Mustard gas has a latency period and a cumulative effect.

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. Among the agents of general toxic action are hydrocyanic acid(AC) And cyanogen chloride(CK).
Hydrocyanic acid- a colorless, rapidly evaporating liquid with a smell of bitter almonds. In open areas it quickly disappears (in 10-15 minutes); does not affect metals and fabrics. It can be used in chemical aerial bombs of large caliber. In combat conditions, the body is affected only by inhalation of contaminated air, affecting the circulatory and central nervous systems. When inhaling hydrocyanic acid vapors, a metallic taste appears in the mouth, throat irritation, dizziness, weakness, and a feeling of fear. In severe poisoning, the symptoms intensify and, in addition, painful shortness of breath appears, the pulse slows down, the pupils dilate, loss of consciousness occurs, severe convulsions appear, involuntary separation of urine and feces occurs. At this stage, the convulsive tension of the muscles is replaced by their complete relaxation, breathing becomes superficial; this stage ends with respiratory arrest, cardiac paralysis and death.
cyanogen chloride- colorless, more volatile than hydrocyanic acid, liquid with a sharp unpleasant odor. According to its toxic properties, cyanogen chloride is similar to hydrocyanic acid, but unlike it, it also irritates the upper respiratory tract and eyes.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances
The main representative of this group of OM is phosgene(CG).
Phosgene- a colorless gas, heavier than air, with an odor reminiscent of the smell of rotten hay or rotten fruit. Poorly soluble in water, good in organic solvents. It does not affect metals in the absence of moisture, in the presence of moisture it causes rust.
Phosgene is a typical unstable agent used to contaminate the air. The cloud of contaminated air formed during the explosion of ammunition can retain a damaging effect for no more than 15-20 minutes; in the forest, ravines and other places sheltered from the wind, stagnation of contaminated air is possible and the damaging effect persists for up to 2-3 hours.
Phosgene acts on the respiratory organs, causing acute pulmonary edema. This leads to a sharp violation of the supply of oxygen from the air to the body and eventually leads to death.
The first signs of damage (weak eye irritation, lacrimation, dizziness, general weakness) disappear with the exit from the infected atmosphere - a period of latent action begins (4-5 hours), during which damage to the lung tissue develops. Then the condition of the affected person worsens sharply: there is a cough, blue lips and cheeks, headache, shortness of breath and suffocation. There is an increase in body temperature up to 39°C. Death occurs in the first two days from pulmonary edema. At high concentrations of phosgene (>40 g/m3), death occurs almost instantly.

Psychochemical poisons
OV temporarily incapacitating manpower appeared relatively recently. These include psychochemical substances that act on the nervous system and cause mental disorders. Currently, psychochemical OB is a substance that has the code Bi-Zet (BZ).
BZ- white crystalline substance, odorless. Combat state - aerosol (smoke). It is transferred to a combat state by the method of thermal sublimation. BZ is equipped with aviation chemical bombs, cassettes, checkers. Unprotected people are affected through the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract. The period of latent action is 0.5-3 hours, depending on the dose. With the defeat of BZ, the functions of the vestibular apparatus are disturbed, vomiting begins. Subsequently, for approximately 8 hours, there is a numbness, inhibition of speech, after which a period of hallucinations and arousal begins. BZ aerosols, spreading downwind, settle on the terrain, uniforms, weapons and military equipment, causing their persistent infection.

Irritant poisonous substances
The irritating agents include adamsite(DM), chloroacetophenone(CN) CS(CS) and C-Ar(CR). Annoying agents are mainly used for police purposes. These chemicals cause eye and respiratory irritation. Highly toxic irritating agents, such as CS and CR, can be used in a combat situation to exhaust enemy manpower.
CS (CS) - a white or light yellow crystalline substance, sparingly soluble in water, highly soluble in acetone and benzene, at low concentrations irritates the eyes (10 times stronger than chloroacetophenone) and upper respiratory tract, at high concentrations causes burns to exposed skin and respiratory paralysis . At concentrations of 5·10-3 g/m3, personnel fail instantly. Damage symptoms: burning and pain in the eyes and chest, lacrimation, runny nose, cough. When leaving the contaminated atmosphere, the symptoms gradually disappear within 1-3 hours. CS can be used in the form of an aerosol (smoke) using aircraft bombs and clusters, artillery shells, mines, aerosol generators, hand grenades and cartridges. Combat use is carried out in the form of recipes. Depending on the recipe, it is stored on the ground from 14 to 30 days.
C-Ar (CR) - RH irritant, much more toxic than CS. It is a solid, slightly soluble in water. It has a strong irritating effect on human skin.
The means of application, signs of damage and protection are the same as for CS.

toxins
Toxins are chemical substances of protein nature of microbial, plant or animal origin, capable of causing disease 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 aircraft, artillery or rockets, easily penetrates into the human body through the mucous surfaces of the respiratory tract, digestive tract and eyes. It has a latent 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), take it to a medical center and provide qualified medical care.

3. Signs of the use of poisonous substances by the enemy and methods of protection against them

3.1. Signs of the use of poisonous substances by the enemy
For the most part, chemical weapons are planned to be used at night and in adverse weather conditions. In this case, it is possible to combine the use of HE with nuclear strikes, high-explosive fragmentation, incendiary and smoke ammunition and the combination of different types of HE, as well as the use of previously unknown HE, ammunition and methods of attack.
The main features of the application chemical rockets are: the rupture of the warhead in the air and the simultaneous (almost instantaneous) rupture of a large number of bombs when they hit the ground or above it.
At break chemical bomb, due to equipping it with a small amount of explosive charge, a deaf explosion is obtained, shallow craters form in the ground.
About application aviation chemical cassettes it can be judged if in the air at a certain height a large number of elements are poured out of a dropped container, which are scattered over a large area and at the same time the sound of the explosion is not heard.
A characteristic feature of the use of OV from pouring aviation devices is the formation of an aerosol streak from a low-flying aircraft and the appearance of small drops of liquid on the terrain and objects located on it.

3.2. Ways to protect against poisonous substances
In the area of ​​​​explosive ammunition with sarin and in the immediate vicinity of it, such concentrations of OM can be created that one breath is enough to get hit. Therefore, if an ammunition explodes nearby, you must immediately hold your breath, close your eyes, put on a gas mask and exhale sharply. Sarin is used to contaminate the air (vapours, mist), but some of it remains on the ground in the form of droplets when munitions explode (especially in craters from explosive munitions). Therefore, it is possible to be without gas masks in areas where ammunition with sarin was used, only after a few hours in summer, and after 1-2 days in winter. When units operate on vehicles in an atmosphere contaminated with sarin, personnel must use gas masks, and when operating on contaminated terrain on foot, in addition, protective stockings are put on. When the enemy uses sarin on objects located in the forest, in the lowlands, especially at night and in the absence of wind, large concentrations of its vapors can form, therefore, when staying in such an area for a long time, it is necessary to use not only a gas mask for protection, but also a protective kit in the form of overalls . In addition to personal protective equipment, collective protective equipment is used to protect personnel from being hit by sarin and other POVs: hermetic mobile objects (tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, etc.), shelters, as well as dugouts under the parapet, blocked slots and communication passages that protect against drops and aerosols. Mobile objects and shelters are equipped with filter-ventilation kits that ensure the stay of personnel in them without personal protective equipment. Sarin vapors can be adsorbed by uniforms and, after leaving the contaminated air, evaporate again, contaminating clean air. This is especially dangerous when entering enclosed spaces and shelters.
Means of protection against somana the same as for Sarin.
When personnel are infected with drop-liquid agents of the type VX and their aerosols, it is necessary to immediately decontaminate exposed areas of the body with the help of PPI and replace contaminated uniforms. Weapons and military equipment contaminated with VX droplets pose a danger for 1-3 days in summer and 30-50 days in winter. After the degassing of weapons and military equipment, the danger of injury through the respiratory organs is excluded, but damage is possible upon contact with unprotected areas of the body due to the agents absorbed into the paint, wood, rubber, and then coming to the surface. Degassing of weapons and military equipment contaminated with VX is carried out with degassing solution No. 1, degassing formulation RD or aqueous suspensions of calcium hypochlorites.
For protection against mustard gas a gas mask and skin protection equipment are used: a combined-arms protective kit (OZK) and a combined-arms complex protective suit (OKZK). To protect against mustard gas vapors, a gas mask and OKZK are used, and from drop-liquid mustard gas - a gas mask and OZK (with a raincoat, worn in sleeves or in the form of overalls). If drops of mustard gas get on the skin or uniforms, the infected areas are treated with PPI. The eyes are washed with a 2% solution of baking soda or clean water. The mouth and nasopharynx are also rinsed with a 2% solution of baking soda (clean water). For the degassing of weapons and military equipment contaminated with mustard gas, degassing solution No. 1, degassing formulation RD, aqueous suspensions and slurries of calcium hypochlorites are used; solvents and aqueous solutions of detergents can be used; degassing is carried out using degassing machines and various degassing kits. Terrain, trenches, trenches and other structures are degassed with aqueous suspensions and slurries of calcium hypochlorites. Linen, uniforms and equipment are degassed by boiling, as well as hot air or a vapor-air-ammonia mixture in special degassing machines.
Products, fodder, fats and oils contaminated with liquid mustard gas are unsuitable for consumption and must be destroyed. Water contaminated with mustard gas is neutralized in special installations.
A remedy for hydrocyanic acid is a combined arms gas mask. Hydrocyanic acid does not infect the terrain, weapons and military equipment. In case of infection of premises and closed objects, they must be ventilated. Food products contaminated with hydrocyanic acid can be consumed after airing.
Means of protection against cyanogen chloride the same as for hydrocyanic acid.
Defence from phosgene- combined arms gas mask. In case of phosgene damage, it is necessary to put on a gas mask on the affected person, remove it from the atmosphere of the RH, create peace and prevent the body from cooling; artificial respiration is prohibited. It is necessary to quickly deliver the injured to the point of medical care.
Degassing of phosgene in the field is not required; in case of infection of premises and closed objects, they must be ventilated. Phosgene practically does not infect water. Products exposed to phosgene vapors are suitable for consumption after ventilation (until the odor disappears) or after heat treatment.
Defence from BZ- gas mask. Degassing of weapons and military equipment contaminated with BZ can be carried out by treatment with aqueous suspensions of HA, as well as by washing with water, solvents and detergent solutions. Uniforms are to be shaken and washed.
Defence from CS (CS) - gas mask and shelters with filtering equipment.
When used by an enemy C-Ar, it must be remembered that the eyes should not be rubbed; you need to get out of the contaminated atmosphere, face the wind, rinse your eyes and rinse your mouth with water or a 2% solution of baking soda.
protection from toxins are a gas mask or respirator, weapons, military equipment and shelters equipped with filter-ventilation installations.

Abstracts

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military ecology

Military Medical Training

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fire training

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 weight units (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 poisonous 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) devices; 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 (the 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 persistent 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 its shades 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 also 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 common 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) establish 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; 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.

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 concentrationFROM – 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 conventional 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).