Nerve agent VX Eva Magulová Crisis management and protection of inhabitants 2007

Physical properties C 11 H 26 NO 2 PS Molecular weight Boiling point 298°C Freezing point -51°C Flashpoint 159°C

Physical properties  Vapor density (Air = 1) 9.2 Liquid density g· cm −3 Clear oily liquid, odorless and tasteless high viscosity and low volatility high persistence in the environment

Toxic properties Extremely toxic substance LD 50 (skin) = 0,142 mg·kg -1 LCt 50 (inhal.) = 30 mg-min·m -3 (15 l·min -1 ) Weapon of mass destruction Antidotes are atropine, pralidoxime (2-PAM), and diazepam Autoinjector

Effects Nerve agent - blocks the function of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase Sustained contractions of all the muscles in the body Diaphragm in contraction – death by asphyxiation

Protection Inhalation – respiratory protection mask Eye – flush eyes + mask Skin – mask + remove contaminated clothing Ingestion – immediately injection of antidote DO NOT ATTEMPT MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUCITATION without proper shields

History Synthesized in the early 1950s by British scientistc Dr. Ranajit Ghosh Used by Iraq against Iran in 1988 Outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993 The only countries known to possess VX are the United States and Russia

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