Poisonous substances are poisonous chemical compounds that serve to defeat the living forces of the enemy during the war. They have a number of physical and chemical properties, due to which they can be in a liquid, aerosol or vapor state in a combat situation and are the basis of chemical mass destruction). WAs penetrate into various open spaces, shelters or structures and infect living organisms that are there, retaining their effect for a certain period of time after their use.

Chemical warfare agents penetrate the human body in several ways: through the skin, respiratory or digestive organs, and mucous membranes. At the same time, the degree and nature of the lesion depend on the ways of penetration into the body, the rate of distribution along it and removal from it, as well as on the methods of action of toxic substances and the individual characteristics of the human body.

To date, there is no specific classification of these substances. The most important are:

1. Physiological classification (according to the effect on the body). This includes unstable toxic substances, persistent and poisonous-smoky agents.

a) unstable OM - capable of contaminating the atmosphere, they form a vapor cloud that spreads along and dissipates rather quickly.

b) persistent agents - liquid substances that create a cloud that is contaminated with an aerosol. Part of the chemicals settles in the form of dew on the nearby territory.

c) smoky agents - are used in the form of various smokes and consist of

2. Tactical classification (according to behavior on the ground). This includes deadly poisonous substances that disable for a certain time period and irritate the agents.

a) lethal action - serve to eliminate living organisms.

b) incapacitating - serve to create a mental disorder in people.

c) irritants - serve to exhaust people.

Also, according to the nature of the impact on the human body, there are:

1. Nerve agents (sarin, VX, soman) - contain phosphorus, so they are highly toxic. They have the ability to accumulate and affect the human nervous system in any way they enter the body. These are colorless, odorless liquids that are highly soluble in natural solvents, but least of all in water.

2. Poisonous agents (phosphine, arsine, hydrocyanic acid) - disrupt the respiration of tissues, stopping their oxidative processes. These substances enter the body through the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract.

3. Asphyxiants (chloropicrin, diphosgene and phosgene) - affect the lung tissue and upper respiratory tract through causing suffocation and death.

4. Irritant toxic substances (CS, dibenzoxazepin, chloracetophenone) - irritates the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and eyes. Used in aerosol form, causing burns, respiratory paralysis, and death.

5. Skin blister agents (lewisite, mustard gas) - enters the body through the skin and mucous membranes, causing poisoning and ulceration at the points of contact with the skin.

6. Psychogenic substances (OB, BZ) - cause psychosis and physical disorders by interrupting the neuromuscular transmission of impulses.

7. Toxins (botulinum, staphylococcal enteroxin) - cause paralysis of the central nervous system, vomiting, poisoning of the body.

Thus, to date, almost all types of toxic substances have been studied. All of them are capable of infecting the human body, causing its poisoning. For timely protection, it is important to quickly detect the agent, determine its type and concentration. Only then can high results be achieved in the provision of medical care to victims during hostilities.

The most widely used is the classification of agents according to their tactical purpose and physiological effect on the body.

For tactical purpose OV are divided into deadly, temporarily incapacitating manpower and annoying (Scheme 1.7)

According to the physiological effect on the body There are neuroparalytic, blistering, general poisonous, suffocating, psychochemical and irritating agents (Scheme 1.7).

According to the speed of the onset of the damaging effect, there are:

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

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

Scheme 1.7. Classification of toxic substances

by tactical purpose and physiological properties

Depending on the duration of maintaining the ability to hit unprotected enemy manpower and infect the area, toxic substances are divided into two groups:

persistent agents, the damaging effect of which persists for several hours and days (VX, GD, HD);

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

Lethal poisons intended for lethal defeat or incapacitation of manpower for a long time. This group of agents consists of: Vi-X (VX), soman (GD), sarin (GB), mustard gas (HD), nitrogen mustard (HN-1), hydrocyanic acid (AC), cyanogen chloride (SC), phosgene (CG ). According to the nature of their physiological action on the body, the listed agents are divided into nerve paralytic (VX, GD, GB), blistering (HD, HN-1), general poisonous (AS, SK) and asphyxiating (CG).

Poison nerve agents are classified as organophosphates. The agents of this group have a higher toxicity compared to other agents, as well as the ability to easily enter the body through the respiratory organs, intact skin and the digestive tract.

A characteristic physiological feature of organophosphorus toxic substances is the ability to suppress the activity of various enzymes, among which the cholinesterase enzyme, which regulates the transmission of a nerve impulse, is extremely important for the life of the body.

In the normal state, cholinesterase provides the breakdown of acetylcholine, one of the main mediators (mediators) involved in the transmission of nervous excitation in the synapses of the nervous system. Organophosphorus poisonous substances bind cholinesterase, and it loses its ability to destroy acetylcholine. The result of this is the accumulation of acetylcholine in synapses and nerve endings, which causes muscle contraction and increased work of the salivary and lacrimal glands. External manifestations of disorders of the nervous system are: bronchospasm, skeletal muscle spasms, paralysis of the respiratory center and neuromuscular block of the respiratory center. Each of these manifestations can cause death.

Symptoms of defeat by poisonous nerve agents are: severe constriction of the pupils (miosis), bronchospasm, difficulty breathing, profuse salivation, runny nose, sweating, frequent urination, coughing, suffocation, muscle twitching, intestinal spasm, diarrhea. Severe damage is characterized by severe convulsions, profuse foamy discharge from the mouth and nose. After the 3-4th attack, death occurs with obvious signs of respiratory paralysis.

Poisonous substances of blistering action affect the skin of people, the digestive tract when they enter the stomach with food (water) and the respiratory organs when inhaling air contaminated with vapors of these toxic substances. Once on the surface of the skin, mustard gas quickly penetrates the body through the skin, after which it is distributed by the blood to all organs, concentrating mainly in the lungs, liver and slightly in the central nervous system. Mustard gas has the strongest effect on the enzyme hexokinase, which regulates carbohydrate metabolism, and interacts with protein systems of cells, disrupting their functions, up to complete protein denaturation. Thus, the action of mustard gas leads to disruption of tissue metabolism, blockade and destruction of various enzymes. If deoxyribonucleic acid is exposed to mustard gas, then this leads to damage to the chromosomal apparatus and changes in hereditary traits.

If mustard gas gets on the skin, anxiety, severe itching appear, abundant salivation is observed, depression sets in, and the temperature rises. With a severe degree of damage, weakening of cardiac activity develops and death occurs.

In case of poisoning through the digestive organs, swelling of the oral mucosa, swelling of the lips, profuse salivation, and later - swelling of the head, necrosis of the esophagus and stomach, and cardiac disorder are observed. Death occurs from intoxication after 10-15 days or more.

When inhaling mustard gas vapors, depression, coughing, and rhinitis are observed after 4-6 hours. After 3-4 days, purulent inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and pneumonia develop. Death usually occurs within 6-8 days.

Poisonous substances of general toxic action penetrate the body through the respiratory organs in the form of vapors or in a drop-liquid state - through intact skin, mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth, as well as with food and water. This type of agents is characterized by the ability to penetrate into the blood and affect various body systems without causing visible changes at the site of primary contact of agents with tissues.

Signs of damage to general poisonous agents are: bitterness and metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, convulsions. Death in the affected occurs as a result of heart failure.

If as a result of poisoning death did not follow, then the functions of the affected cells and tissues are more or less quickly restored.

Asphyxiating toxic substances act mainly on the respiratory organs, affecting the walls of the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries. Under the action of phosgene on the respiratory organs, the permeability of the capillary walls increases, which contributes to the formation of pulmonary edema. The main symptoms of the lesion are: eye irritation, lacrimation, dizziness and general weakness. The period of latent action is 4-5 hours, after which coughing, blue lips and cheeks appear, headaches, shortness of breath and suffocation occur, the temperature rises to 39 ° C. Death occurs within two days from the moment of pulmonary edema.

To OV, temporarily incapacitating, include psychochemical substances that act on the nervous system and cause mental disorders.

Irritant poisonous substances affect the sensitive nerve endings of the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

In the chemical weapons system, a separate group are located toxins- chemical substances of protein nature of plant, animal or microbial origin, which are highly toxic and capable of exerting a damaging effect on the human body and animals when used. Characteristic representatives of this group are: butulinic toxin - one of the strongest deadly poisons, which is a waste product of the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum; staphylococcal enterotoxin; substance PG and plant toxin - ricin.

To defeat various types of vegetation, toxic chemicals (recipes) phytotoxicants (from the Greek Phyton - plant and toxikon - poison) are intended.

Phtotocoicants for peaceful purposes are used in appropriate doses, mainly in agriculture, to control weeds, to remove the leaves of vegetation in order to accelerate the ripening of fruits and facilitate harvesting (for example, cotton). Phytotoxicants are subdivided into herbicides, arboricides, algaecides, defoliants and desiccants depending on the nature of their physiological action and purpose.

herbicides intended for the defeat of herbaceous vegetation, cereals and vegetable crops; arboricides- for the defeat of tree and shrub vegetation; algicides- to damage aquatic vegetation; defoliants- lead to the fall of leaves of vegetation; desiccants damage vegetation by drying it out.

As standard phytotoxicants in service with the US Army, there are three main formulations: "orange", "white" and blue.

These recipes were widely used by US troops during the military operations in Vietnam to destroy rice and other food crops in densely populated areas. In addition, they were used to destroy vegetation along roads, canals, power lines in order to combat the partisan movement and facilitate aerial reconnaissance, photographing the area, and destroying objects located in the forest. Phytotoxicants in South Vietnam affected about 43% of the entire sown area and 44% of the forest area. At the same time, all phytotoxicants turned out to be toxic for both humans and warm-blooded animals.

The presence of a large number of toxic substances belonging to the most diverse classes of compounds, with the most diverse physical, chemical and toxic properties, has led to the need for their classification.

As a basis for the classification of toxic substances, 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 following classifications of poisonous substances have received the widest recognition: according to toxic action, tactical, according to the behavior of poisonous substances on the ground, and chemical.

Each of these classifications has its advantages and disadvantages, since it emphasizes certain properties of poisonous substances and does not take into account or takes little account of other, often no less important properties. As a result, these classifications are not absolute and to some extent conditional; nevertheless, they help to quickly navigate the nature of the action, combat properties, means of application and means of neutralizing poisonous substances.

Classification by toxic effect groups toxic substances according to the results of their impact on the body and external signs of damage. In accordance with this, toxic substances are divided into the following groups.

Poison nerve agents(nerve poisons): tabun, sarin, soman, V-gases and other organic derivatives of phosphoric and alkylphosphonic acids. These substances cause dysfunction of the nervous system, muscle cramps and paralysis.

Poisonous substances of blistering action: mustard gas, nitrogen mustards (trichlorotriethylamine), lewisite. Characteristic of these substances is the ability to affect the skin with the formation of abscesses and ulcers; however, they are all universal cellular poisons and, accordingly, also affect the organs of vision, respiration, and all internal organs.

Poisonous substances of general poisonous action: hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, hydrogen arsenic, hydrogen phosphide, carbon monoxide, organofluorine compounds. These substances cause a general poisoning of the body, although the mechanism of their action and the signs of damage are completely different.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances: phosgene, diphosgene, triphosgene, phosgenoxime. These substances affect the Lungs, which leads to a violation or cessation of breathing.

Tear poisons(lacrimators): chloroacetophenone, bromobenzyl cyanide, chloropicrin. These substances irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract, causing profuse lacrimation and pain in the eyes and nose.

(sternites): diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanarsine, adamsite. These substances irritate the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and cause uncontrollable sneezing, chest pain, vomiting and other painful phenomena.

Psychochemical substances: lysergic acid diethylamide, mescaline, psilocin, benzyl acid derivatives, etc. These substances cause a disorder in the central nervous system of a person with the appearance of symptoms of mental illness.

Tactical classification divides poisonous substances according to their combat purpose; usually divided into the following three groups.

Deadly poisonous substances, designed to destroy manpower: sarin, V-gases, mustard gas, lewisite, hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride, phosgene. This group includes mainly poisonous substances of nerve paralytic, blistering, general poisonous and asphyxiating action.

Irritant poisonous substances designed to weaken the combat capability of troops, to exhaust them; these substances are also used for police and educational purposes. The group usually includes lacrimators and sternites.

Substances that disable living force, i.e., designed to disorganize troops. This group consists of psychochemical substances.

Classification according to the behavior of toxic substances on the ground in conditions of combat use, he divides poisonous substances into the following two groups.

Persistent Poison Substances (PTS), i.e., substances that retain their damaging effect several hours and even days after application. These poisonous substances infect the area and all objects located on it for a long time, which in turn serves as a source of Long-term air pollution.

Persistent toxic substances include substances with a boiling point above 140 ° - mustard gas, lewisite, etc.

Non-persistent poisonous substances (NOS)-gases or rapidly evaporating liquids, the damaging effect of which lasts only a few tens of minutes after application.

Typical representatives of unstable poisonous substances are phosgene, cyanogen chloride, hydrocyanic acid.

In the opinion of the military experts of the imperialist states, from a tactical point of view, persistent poisonous substances are intended to destroy manpower and to contaminate the terrain, water bodies, military equipment, etc., unstable poisonous substances are intended for the rapid destruction of manpower.

Chemical classification divides toxic substances according to their belonging to certain classes of chemical compounds into the following groups:

- organophosphate poisons- tabun, sarin, soman, V-gases;

- arsenic-containing substances- lewisite, adamsite, diphenylchlorarsine;

- halogenated thioethers, or sulfides, - mustard gas, its analogues and homologues;

- halogenated amines- trichlorotriethylamine, its analogues and homologues;

- derivatives of carbonic acid- phosgene, diphosgene;

- nitriles- hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride;

-halogenated acids and ketones and their derivatives- esters of bromine and iodoacetic acid, chloroacetophenone, chloroacetone, their oximes, etc.;

Poisonous substances (OS) are toxic chemical compounds designed to destroy enemy manpower.

OM can affect 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 warfare agents are the main damaging element of chemical weapons. According to the nature of the physiological effects on the human body, six main types of toxic substances are distinguished:

1. Poisonous nerve agents that affect the central nervous system. The purpose of the use of agents of nerve paralytic action is the rapid and massive incapacitation of personnel with the greatest possible number of deaths. The toxic substances of this group include sarin, soman, tabun and V-gases.

2. Poisonous substances of blistering action. They cause damage mainly through the skin, and when applied in the form of aerosols and vapors, also through the respiratory system. The main toxic substances are mustard gas, lewisite.

3. Poisonous substances of general poisonous action. Once in the body, they disrupt the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the tissues. This is one of the fastest operating systems. These include hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride.

4. Suffocating agents affect mainly the lungs. The main OMs are phosgene and diphosgene.

5. Psychochemical agents are capable of incapacitating the enemy's manpower for some time. These toxic substances, acting on the central nervous system, disrupt the normal mental activity of a person or cause such mental deficiencies as temporary blindness, deafness, a sense of fear, and limitation of motor functions. Poisoning with these substances, in doses that cause mental disorders, does not lead to death. OB from this group is inuclidyl-3-benzilate (BZ) and lysergic acid diethylamide.

6. Poisonous substances of irritating action, or irritants (from the English irritant - an irritating substance). Irritants are fast-acting. At the same time, their effect, as a rule, is short-lived, since after leaving the infected zone, the signs of poisoning disappear after 1–10 minutes. A lethal effect for irritants is possible only when doses enter the body that are tens to hundreds of times higher than the minimum and optimally acting doses. Irritant agents include lachrymal substances that cause profuse lacrimation and sneezing, irritating the respiratory tract (may also affect the nervous system and cause skin lesions). Tear agents are CS, CN, or chloroacetophenone and PS, or chloropicrin. The sneezers are DM (adamsite), DA (diphenylchlorarsine) and DC (diphenylcyanarsine). There are agents that combine tear and sneezing actions. Irritating agents are in service with the police in many countries and therefore are classified as police or special non-lethal means (special means).

The concept of civil defense

Civil defense is a system of measures to prepare for the protection and protection of the population, material and cultural values ​​on the territory of the Russian Federation from the dangers arising from the conduct of hostilities or as a result of these actions, as well as in the event of natural and man-made emergencies. The organization and conduct of civil defense are one of the most important functions of the state, an integral part of defense development and ensuring the security of the state.

The main tasks solved by civil defense:

Protection of the population from the consequences of accidents, natural disasters and modern means of destruction (fires, explosions, emissions of highly toxic substances, epidemics, etc.);

Coordination of the activities of management bodies for forecasting, preventing and eliminating the consequences of environmental and natural disasters, accidents and catastrophes;

Creation and maintenance in readiness of systems of management, notification, communications, organization of observation and control over radiation, chemical and biological conditions;

Increasing the stability of economic facilities and industries and their functioning in emergency conditions;

Carrying out rescue and other urgent work;

Search for crashed spaceships, planes, helicopters and other aircraft;

Special training of leading personnel and forces, general training of the population in methods of protection and actions in emergency situations of peacetime and wartime;

Accumulation of a fund of protective structures to shelter the population;

Providing the population with personal protective equipment and organizing the manufacture of the simplest means of protection by the population itself;

Evacuation of the population from large cities and adjacent settlements, which may fall into the zone of possible severe destruction or catastrophic flooding;

Organization of notification of the population about the threat of an enemy attack from the air, about radioactive, chemical and bacteriological contamination, natural disasters;

Training of the population to protect against weapons of mass destruction, as well as to conduct rescue and urgent emergency and recovery operations.

The main measures taken to protect the population and objects of the country's economy:

Timely notification of the population about the threat of an enemy attack, the use of weapons of mass destruction, dangerous technological accidents, natural disasters, informing about the procedure in an emergency;

Shelter of the population in protective structures;

Use of personal protective equipment;

Evacuation, dispersal, as well as resettlement of the population to safe areas;

Protection of food, facilities on water supply systems and water intakes, farm animals, fodder, etc. from contamination with radioactive and potent poisonous substances and biological agents;

Education of the population in ways of protection in emergency situations.

The main principles of public protection include:

Protection of the population throughout the country;

Differentiated protection of the population, taking into account economic, natural and other characteristics, characteristics of the territory and the degree of real danger of an emergency;

Advance planning and implementation of protective measures;

Necessary sufficiency and maximum possible use of forces and means in determining the scope and content of measures to protect the population.

The civil defense system consists of:

Bodies of state power and administration at all levels, whose competence includes functions related to the safety and protection of the population, prevention of emergency situations and response to them (Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, departments and departments for emergency situations of cities and regions, etc.);

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

1. Purpose and combat properties of chemical weapons

Chemical weapons are called toxic substances and 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 are called toxic chemical compounds intended for mass destruction of manpower, contamination of the terrain, 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.

Agents used to contaminate the surface layer of air are converted into a vaporous and finely dispersed aerosol state (smoke, fog). 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, OM is used in the form of coarse aerosols and drops. 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 capability 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

According to the tactical purpose, agents are divided into four groups: lethal agents; temporarily incapacitating manpower; annoying and educational.

According to the speed of the onset of the damaging effect, they distinguish: 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.

Lethal agents for the destruction or incapacitation of 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).

CLASSIFICATION OF OV ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT ON THE HUMAN BODY

OB groups

nerve agents

Skin blister

General poisonous

suffocating

Psychochemical

Annoying

Hydrocyanic acid

cyanogen chloride

Chloracetophenone

3. The main types of poisonous substances. The main properties of toxic substances, the nature of infection and methods of detection

Poisonous nerve agents

Sarin (GB-GAS), Soman (GD-GAS), Vi-X (VX-GAS), 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 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, there is observed: constriction of the pupils (miosis), salivation, difficulty breathing, vomiting, impaired coordination of movements, loss of consciousness, attacks of severe convulsions, paralysis and death. Non-lethal 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 is a colorless and almost odorless liquid, very similar in 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 it poses a danger of injury through the respiratory system.

Vi-X (VX-GAS) is 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 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 aerosol

VX through the skin, 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.

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. AP-1 indicator film is used to detect VX aerosols.

Poisonous substances of blistering action

The main agent of blistering action is mustard gas. Used technical (H-GAS) and distillation (purified) mustard gas (HD-GAS).

Mustard gas (distilled) is 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.

The presence of mustard gas vapor is determined using an indicator tube (one yellow ring) with chemical reconnaissance devices VPKhR and PPKhR.

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. General poisonous agents include hydrocyanic acid (AC-GAS) and cyanogen chloride (CK-GAS).

Hydrocyanic acid is a colorless, rapidly evaporating liquid with a bitter almond odor. 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 is a colorless, more volatile liquid than hydrocyanic acid, 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.

Hydrocyanic acid (cyanogen chloride) is detected using an indicator tube with three green rings by VPKhR and PPKhR devices.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances

The main representative of this group of OM is phosgene (CG-GAS).

Phosgene is a colorless gas, heavier than air, with an odor reminiscent 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.

Phosgene is detected by an indicator tube with three green rings in the VPKhR and PPKhR devices.

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 BZ-Riot code (BZ-Riot).

Bi-Zet (BZ-Riot) is a 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, speech retardation, 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.

Detection of BZ in the atmosphere is carried out by military chemical reconnaissance devices VPKhR and PPKhR using indicator tubes with one brown ring.

Irritant poisonous substances

Irritating agents include adamsite (DM), chloroacetophenone (CN-Riot), CS (CS-Riot), and CV-Ar (CR-Riot). 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-Riot) is a white or light yellow crystalline substance, sparingly soluble in water, highly soluble in acetone and benzene, at low concentrations it irritates the eyes (10 times stronger than chloroacetophenone) and the upper respiratory tract, at high concentrations it causes burns of exposed skin and paralysis of the respiratory system. 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-Riot) - irritating agent, 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 a 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, the substances XR (X-Ar - botulinum toxin) and PG (PJ - staphylococcal enterotoxin), related to new highly toxic agents, are on the staff supply.

Substance XR - 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.

Substance PG - staphylococcal enterotoxin - is applied 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.