[Chemical warfare agent poisoning].

[Chemical warfare agent poisoning].
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2019 Oct 10;:
Authors: Wille T, Steinritz D, Worek F, Thiermann H
Abstract
Despite long-lasting international efforts to ban and disarm chemical warfare agents (CWAs), they pose an ongoing threat to the population. The reasons for this are existing remainders, inappropriately disposed of chemical munitions and availability of instructions for synthesis in open literature. Dissemination of CWAs during war, warlike conflicts and terrorist incidents has recently resulted in thousands of deaths. In this manuscript CWAs and comparable substances are presented and the signs and symptoms of poisoning with these substances are described. Aside from clear recommendations for the treatment of poisoning by the single groups of CWAs, parallels to well-known related poisonings including pathophysiological similarities are demonstrated. Moreover, aspects of detection, diagnosis and general management, such as decontamination, verification and antidote stockpiling, are described.According to the respective pathophysiological target, CWAs are classified as lung, skin, nerve and incapacitating agents. They are generally liquids at ambient room temperature and are more or less able to vaporise. In recent years, pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) came on board although they are not listed in the chemical warfare convention and therefore not listed as CWAs...

Source: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz - October 9, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Wille T, Steinritz D, Worek F, Thiermann H Tags: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz Source Type: research