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The Dastardly Story of Mustard Gas

The Dastardly Story of Mustard Gas. Richard Justice. Discovery/History. There are a total of three mustard gases, but the one that is most commonly known is called “Sulfur Mustard.” Sulfur Mustard Gas was first synthesized in 1859 by Dr. Guthrie.

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The Dastardly Story of Mustard Gas

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  1. The Dastardly Story of Mustard Gas Richard Justice

  2. Discovery/History • There are a total of three mustard gases, but the one that is most commonly known is called “Sulfur Mustard.” • Sulfur Mustard Gas was first synthesized in 1859 by Dr. Guthrie. • Was first used by the Germans in World War I in 1917 in Ypres, Belgium. (Stewart)

  3. History continued • It was designed to take the soldiers out of the fight but not kill them, ie: high causality rates but “low” death rates. • In WWI the death rate from mustard gas is said to be 2.5% • It was also used in 1936 in the Italian-Ethiopian conflict and most recently used in the 1980’s in the wars with Iraq and Iran (Sullivan).

  4. Physical Properties • Formula: C4H8Cl2S • Melting/Freezing Point at 1 atm: 13-14˚C • Boiling Point at 1 atm: 215-217˚C • Molecular Weight: 159.08g • Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, very soluble in lipid/fat solvents • Appearance: colorless when pure, usually yellow or brown when not pure • Odor: garlic-like (Pechura)

  5. Synthesis • Dr. Meyer first synthesized pure sulfur-mustard gas by having 2-chloroethanol to react with potassium sulfide to produce thiodiglycol. • 2ClCH₂CH₂OH + K₂S → S(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ + 2KCl • The next step is to have thiodiglycol react with phosphorus trichloride to produce mustard gas. • 3S(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ + 2PCl₃ → 3S(CH₂CH₂Cl)₂ + 2P(OH)₃ • HCl, COCl₂, and SOCl₂ can be used instead of 2PCl₃ (Pechura)

  6. Why use it? • Very potent • Hard to detect • Cheap, easy synthesis • Readily deployed in explosives • Difficult to protect from • Garment penetration • Lingers on clothes and equipment (Stewart)

  7. Mechanism of Toxicity • Binds to DNA and forms cross linking that inhibits mitosis, glycolysis, releases tissue proteases, and eventually results in cellular death. • Binding is done through an alkylation reactions that are fast and irreversible. (Stewart)

  8. Health Effects • Like any other chemical both the amount and time of exposure are what determines how much damage and where the damage to the body is. • Overall Mustard Gas is a mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic. • The most common body parts that are effected by the gas are the lungs, eyes, skin. There are a few other parts included as well but the lungs, eyes, and skin are the most effected by it. (Stewart)

  9. Skin • Most of the damage is done on the regions where skin layers are less thick and more moist, such as the face, scrotum, anal regions, groin and axilla • Toxicity increases with temperature. • Mild cases lead to effects similar to sunburn and more severe cases can lead to blisters, black skin, fluid loss, hypovolemia and renial failure. (Stewart)

  10. Eyes • Most likely to be damaged • Can lead to light intolerance, eye spasms, and even corneal damage in the worst cases, which could lead to blindness. (Stewart)

  11. Lungs • Most common means organ that damage can lead to death • After hours of exposure the victims start to experience tracheobronchitis which will lead to sore throat, coughing, sinus pain, etc. • Symptoms worsen in 12 hours and responds poorly to any relief. • After several days inflammation of airway occurs within a few days, and in severe cases respiratory failure occurs within 24-48 hours. • Even some mild exposure can lead to lung cancer for some patients (when they get older) (Stewart)

  12. Silent but Lethal • 1%-3% mortality rate from exposure • Kills by respiratory failure, bone marrow damage, infection, or burns. • Spread through contact is high (Stewart) • Treatment: • Burns: similar to thermal burns, use silver sulfadiazine creams • Eyes: atropinre eye drops, topical steroids, dark eye glasses to cover eyes • Inhalation: cool steam and cough drops for mild, oxygen supplemented breathing support and intubation (most extreme) should used for more severe cases • Cure: NONE (Stewart)

  13. Protection • The best way to prevent poisoning is to wear a gas mask that can filter out the mustard gas and wear a protective suit that is specifically designed for chemical warfare (like the one in the picture). (Stewart) • The most important detail about the suit is that it MUST NOT have any leaks or be too thin with the protection, otherwise you will get poisoned.

  14. References • Stewart, Charles. Weapons of Mass Casualties and Terrorism Response. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers Inc., 2006. Google Books.http://books.google.com/books?id=7ZnXZfwWwgcC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=levinstein+inventor+mustard&hl=en#v=onepage&q=levinstein%20inventor%20mustard&f=false. Nov 11, 2012. Pages 46-49. • Pechura, Constance M. and Rall, David P. Veterans at Risk: The Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite. Washington D.C.: National Academic Press, 1993. The National Academic Press.http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2058&page=71 Nov 11, 2012. Pages 24, 71-72. • Sullivan, Kathleen. “Vial found in Presidio may be mustard gas/ Army experts expected to identify substance.” San Francisco Chronicle. October 22, 2002. Hearst Newspapers.http://www.sfgate.com/green/article/Vial-found-in-Presidio-may-be-mustard-gas-Army-2760483.php. Nov 11, 2012.

  15. Image References • Angelfire. War in Iraq. NBC protection suits. Apr 8, 2003. http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/war.in.iraq/pages/22.htm. Nov 14, 2012. • Dr. Dayat. Causes of Lung Cancer.Lung with Cancer damage.2010. http://lung-cancer-treatments.blogspot.com/2011/06/causes-of-lung-cancer-asbestos-cancer.html. Nov 14, 2012. • Dr. Sidell, Frederick R. Vesicants.Ann Med Milit Belg. 1989; 3s:12.http://www.sc-ems.com/ems/NuclearBiologicalChemical/MedicalAspectsofNBC/chapters/chapter_7.htm. Nov 14, 2012. • Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Sri Lanka Launches Gas Attacks on Tamil Civilians, and Tamils Prepare for More. A Civilian Victim of Chemical Weapons in the no fire zone. May 3, 2009. http://www.sangam.org/2009/05/Gas_Attacks.php?uid=3480. Nov 14, 2012.

  16. Image References Continued • Royality Free Images. Sulfer Mustard Gas Molecule Image.2012. http://www.inmagine.com/spl018/spl018511-photo. Nov 14, 2012. • Norton, Amy. Sulfer Mustard is one of the oldest chemical weapons.Mar 27, 2011. http://www.onislam.net/english/health-and-science/news/451565-working-with-mustard-gas-linked-to-lung-cancer.html. Nov 14, 2012.

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