Poisonous substances of a skin-boiling effect are primarily ordinary, distilled, nitrogenous types of mustard. The lewisite belongs to the same category. In abbreviated form such substances are denoted by the acronym OM. For the first time in history they began to be used in the First World War. The name does not show the full picture of poisoning. Today it is customary to name the effect of contact with such compounds as skin-resorptive. An abusive action is a feature inherent exclusively in mustard.
Mustard gas
This toxic substance of a skin-boiling effect has been studied more and better than everyone else. This is due to the widespread use of the poisonous compound during the First World War. Mustard was also actively used during the second largest conflict of the last century. This gas was used during the fighting of the Italo-Abyssinian battles in 1936. In 1943, Japanese troops used mustard gas to fight the Chinese. It is known that in the mid-80s of the last century, this same gas was one of the means of struggle in the Iran-Iraq military operations.
Sulfur mustard
In science, this substance is known as dichlorodiethyl sulfide. He was known among the military under the name "mustard gas." Such a poisonous substance of a skin-boiling effect is either colorless or dark brown. The second coloring option is inherent in the technical product. This is an oily liquid, which is difficult to dissolve in plain water, is subject to alkaline destruction, is broken down under the influence of substances containing chlorine. Contact with such a substance provokes numerous and various in nature lesions. Equally dangerous are both the vapors of the compound and the drip form of the liquid.
In case of inhalation of vapors, the lethal portion is 1.5 mg / (min * L). The effect of the substance on the skin (concentration of about 0.002 units, a three-hour time period) provokes erythema. If the concentration rises to 0.15 units, bubbling zones will appear. The visual organs are irritated when kept within 0.005 units. A droplet liquid form provokes redness of the skin, if 0.01 mg of substance falls on a square centimeter of area. With a ten times the dose, an ulcer appears. The resorptive effect is detected if 60–70 mg per kilogram of weight gets on the skin.
Human Impact: Features
Although the poisonous substances of the skin-boiling effect in military practice have been used for a relatively long time and extensively, it has not yet been possible to fully study the characteristics of the toxic effect, the mechanisms of its manifestation. This is due to the increased complexity of the effect of the compound on humans. The fact that mustard gas belongs to the number of poisonous substances that can universally damage all organs, parts of the body, and internal systems is precisely established. The point of direct interaction becomes the area of localization of destructive inflammatory foci of great depth. In remote areas, pathological transformations are explained by the resorptive effect of the poison.
The experiments made it possible to establish the ability of OM to provoke pathological effects by whole molecules and transformation products that appear during the influence on the organic body. The reaction products having poisonous qualities are onium metabolites. According to scientists, the center of pathogenesis is the ability of the poison to alkylate purines, that is, elements of RNA, DNA. These acids are responsible for the accumulation, inheritance of genetic data. They are indispensable for metabolic processes, are responsible for programming the generation of proteins by cells.
Biology and chemistry
To understand what are the characteristics of the action of mustard gas as a poisonous substance of an external effect, one should turn to biology, which is aware of the peculiarities of DNA. This molecule is formed by pyramidine components, purines. The chain depends on protein amino acids. Every triplet is a kind of code encrypting one acid. Gene - the total volume of bases, fixing the location of acids in protein elements one after another. Human DNA includes up to 100 thousand genes; they accumulate data on so many chains. The genome is formed approximately by 3 * 109 base complexes. All this is stored by 23 chromosomes that have double DNA. Protein generation is one of the key aspects of the genome. First you need to read the information. Due to RNA polymerase, messenger RNAs are generated in nuclear cells. Such a process in biology has been called transcription.
Sulfur mustard, which refers to toxic substances of a skin-boiling effect, alkalizes nucleic molecules due to its proximity to guanine. Such OM can potentially disrupt protein synthesis at any stage of the chain, but the transcription phase is most affected. Guanine binds, a pair of it and cytosine drops out of the process, acids are depolymerized, their concentration in tissues becomes less. The ability of tissues to proliferate is reduced, hematopoietic function, immunogenesis are suppressed, since antibodies are produced more slowly. Cellular chromosomal functionality is impaired. The listed processes are similar to those occurring under the influence of ionizing radiation. For this reason, the OM effect was called radiomimetic.
Chemical subtleties
As is clear from the foregoing, sulfur mustard is a poisonous substance of a skin-boiling effect. This substance is dangerous not only in itself, but also due to metabolic products. Compounds that appear during reactions can alkylate nucleic molecules. Onium substances penetrate the cells, and this leads to the appearance of peroxides. The peroxidation of fatty oxidation begins, a process called an oxidative burst is observed inside the cell. Its consequence is a violation of the functionality of acids, proteins.
The ability of mustard gas (a poisonous substance of skin action) to affect enzyme molecules has been revealed. OM inhibits hexokinase, and this negatively affects phosphorylation. Diamine oxidase, which can exclude the action of histamine, is blocked. The effectiveness of cholinesterase is reduced. Lipase and other enzyme substances are somewhat less oppressed.
Clinical features
In the characteristics of toxic substances of skin-boiling action, special attention is always paid to the nuances of the clinic. The poison under consideration is an OM that has a very diverse effect on the body. Ophthalmic systems, skin, respiratory tract, digestive organs suffer from the influence of the substance. There is a general poisoning of the body. The use of organic substances in combat conditions often leads to eye damage. With a slightly lower frequency, injuries of the respiratory organs are recorded. Affected with lesions on the skin is the third largest group. There are several specific patterns inherent in the defeat of this OM. This allows you to identify the use of mustard gas from the use of other poisons dangerous to humans.
A key specific feature is called silent contact. It means that subjectively the person does not feel the moment of defeat. Because of this, timely diagnosis is complicated. In addition, the first time is a latent period. The duration depends on the amount of OM used, the state of aggregation, the localization of damage inherent in the subject of susceptibility. The higher the dose, the shorter the latency stage. The shorter the hidden step, the harder the lesion. A short-term latent stage is peculiar to drops, mustard fog, for a vapor it is somewhat longer.
The nuances of mustard gas
As can be learned from the characteristics of the poisonous substance of the skin-boiling effect, different parts of the human body are characterized by a different degree of susceptibility of OM. The maximum established during observation is inherent in the conjunctival ocular membrane. The skin is noticeably less sensitive to poison. For this reason, after the influence of steam for the eyes, the duration of the latent phase is minimal, it is about five hours, and for the skin it varies from twelve hours to an unpredictably longer period, but no more than a day.
Based on the foregoing, it is clear why, in the event of a defeat, it is important to urgently consult a doctor, and it is also clear why this happens infrequently. Usually people understand that they need medical attention, when the latent phase ends, symptoms appear that indicate a serious condition.
Among the signs of a poisonous substance of a skin-boiling effect is a tendency to the penetration of an infectious agent. This is due to a deterioration in the body's ability to defend itself naturally, since OM suppresses the immune system. For this reason, the duration of treatment of an out-of-date person increases unpredictably, and the prognosis as a whole is rather poor. It is especially negative if the visual, respiratory organs are affected. Reparative processes are very sluggish. This is common to all cases of defeat. Affected areas, as practice shows, heal very slowly.
Development features
If signs of a skin-boiling up poisonous substance were detected, the effect of the poison in question was established, the person went to a medical center and received adequate treatment, it is necessary to realize that the consequences of the case extend throughout life. From this moment, a person is hypersensitive to mustard gas. An exacerbation of processes occurring in the affected areas is possible under the influence of external factors that do not have any specific nature. In particular, deterioration due to light exposure, elevated temperature or dustiness of the air is possible.
Several forms of damage are known. Among all, there are the most typical. Mustard gas is a poisonous substance of a skin-boiling effect, which very often leads to a combined lesion, when the visual, respiratory systems and skin are affected at the same time. This is characteristic if the OM was in the form of a vapor. Among typical clinical pictures, an isolated lesion of the ophthalmic system or only the skin is also distinguished.
For each specific form, the level of damage is determined - mild, moderate, severe. The latter is characterized by local, systemic effects due to resorption of the poison.
Vapor poison
In this form, mustard gas (a chemical warfare agent for skin-boiling action) provokes combined damage. The eyes, respiratory system, and skin are affected. The severity depends on the concentration of the steam and the length of stay in the poisoned zone. A person, being in such a place, does not feel pain, does not observe skin or other irritations, and the sense of smell is soon dulled. Until the latent stage is completed, there are no complaints from the victim. The first signs are noticeable in the work of the eyes. Light causes fear, tears are actively released. It seems as though sand was being poured into the eyes.
To some extent, the eye is a biological indicator of poisoning. Inspection shows redness, swelling of the conjunctiva, expressed quite weakly. Gradually, the manifestations worsen, a person ceases to be combat-ready. After 6-12 hours after poisoning, symptoms of the respiratory system are observed - it scratches in the nose, bruises, mucous membranes are dry, and sore throat. A severe runny nose is felt, the patient is coughing, aphonia is noticeable. Inspection shows redness of the nasal membranes, pharynx, swelling of the arches of the sky, redness and swelling of the vocal cords. Symptoms gradually worsen.
After 12 or more hours, the clinic is supplemented by skin lesions due to the influence of the poisonous substance of the skin-boiling effect. Specific erythema appears. The most sensitive skin areas are those where the thickness of the horn cover is minimal, there are many glands, as well as places of tight fit, textile friction. The characteristic localization is already a rather striking feature that allows you to correctly diagnose poisoning. Erythema is not very pronounced, does not respond to pain, but the skin itches, sensations intensify if the site is heated. Itching is especially disturbing at night.
System effect
If you ask a connoisseur what poisonous substances have a skin-boiling effect, he probably will be the first to recall mustard gas. It is known that this substance can have a systemic toxic effect. This is due to resorption. The victim complains that his head hurts, the condition is generally depressed. Poisoned vomits, vomits, temperature rises to subfebrile level.
Nuances and Strength
If the damage is mild, the symptoms progress relatively slowly; eye lesions, dermatitis, rhinopharyngolaryngitis are intense by the second day. On average, by the 11th day (with a possible deviation for the day up and down) the symptoms are exhausted. Particularly characteristic changes in the condition of the skin. On the third day, the edges of erythema are stagnant redness, expanding into the center. By the fifth day, pigmentation is observed from the edge to the center, then the skin areas peel off.
In case of moderate severity, the symptoms appear earlier, develop faster. By the beginning of the second day, the manifestations of poisoning of the respiratory system are most pronounced, while complex intoxication is noticeable at the same time. The cough is strong enough, it hurts behind the sternum, sputum with pus is released, the fever reaches 38 degrees, the patient breathes hard, wheezes dryly. This condition was called tracheobronchitis against the background of administration of mustard gas. It takes a long time, pseudomembranous. The mucous membrane of the respiratory systems is infiltrated by white blood cells, fibrin, dead, and therefore rejected. The processes lead to complications. Most commonly, pulmonary inflammation or atelectasis is observed. Necrosis can provoke suppuration in the lungs. Less risk of acute strangulation due to bronchial obstruction by exfoliated tissue.
Even if there are no complications, tracheobronchitis lasts about a month. The consequences of poisoning will be COPD. At the same time, a person suffers from skin and ocular manifestations of exposure to OM - conjunctivitis, dermatitis. They usually exhaust themselves safely by the tenth day.
Hard case
As part of life safety courses and military training, tickets with a question like “What are poisonous substances of a skin-boiling effect and describe the picture of damage” are often found. Severe lesions due to OM are possible. In this embodiment, the latent stage is short. At first, a person feels as if sand was pouring into his eyes, tears are actively flowing in him, his eyes hurt, the conjunctiva swells violently and suddenly. The person is afraid of the light, blepharospasm happens. By the second day, puffiness, redness of the eye tissues are visible, the cornea becomes cloudy diffusely. This indicates keratoconjunctivitis. By the end of the first day, the respiratory system is noticeable. A severe cough is tormenting, the sounds of the voice are weakening, a runny nose is bothering. Skin lesions are visible.
In humans and animals, a poisonous substance damage of a skin-boiling effect in severe form leads to an early secondary infection. Ocular, ear discharge - with inclusions of pus, serous. By the beginning of the third day, the condition becomes worse, shortness of breath is expressed, cyanosis on the skin, cough is strong, accompanied by discharge of serous sputum, which has pus inclusions. The rhythm and frequency of the heartbeat are disturbed. Consciousness is confused, a person is slowed down. Listening to the respiratory system shows a short percussion sound. The patient breathes hard, wheezing is numerous. The heat reaches 39 degrees. A blood test shows leukocytosis, aneosinophilia, lymphopenia.
Condition development
By the third day, a persistent toxic substance of a skin-boiling effect provokes a characteristic type of pneumonia. The severity of the condition depends on its course. Damage descends slowly. During the first day, inflammatory foci cover the upper zones, on the second day - the middle bronchi, and by the third day - the deep zones of the respiratory system.
In parallel, specific resorptive effects are observed. The victim is inhibited, his consciousness is confused, man is characterized by adynamia, pulse lability. 7–10 . , .
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Several times during the existence of our civilization at the international level, restrictions on the use of OM were determined. In 1898, the Hague adopted an article in the framework of the conference, which imposed a ban on the use of ammunition intended for poisoning people.
In 1925, a new treaty was concluded in Geneva, designed to determine military rules, including those related to the possibility of resorting to chemical weapons. The new arrangement resulted in the inability to use toxic gases and provoking strangulation. Then banned the use of bacteria that can poison a person. In 1993 they adopted a final ban, which is still being implemented, and this fact is universally controlled. In reality, it entered into force only in 1997.