http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3722255.stm

BBC News World Edition

Last Updated: Monday, 17 May, 2004, 15:14 GMT 16:14 UK

Nerve gas bomb explodes in Iraq

.
.
.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/sarin/basics/facts.asp

What sarin is

Sarin is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve
agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known
chemical warfare agents. They are similar to certain kinds of
pesticides (insect killers) called organophosphates in terms of how
they work and what kind of harmful effects they cause. However, nerve
agents are much more potent than organophosphate pesticides.
Sarin originally was developed in 1938 in Germany as a pesticide.
Sarin is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in
its pure form. However, sarin can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and
spread into the environment.
Sarin is also known as GB.
Where sarin is found and how it is used

Sarin and other nerve agents may have been used in chemical warfare
during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Sarin was used in two terrorist attacks in Japan in 1994 and 1995.
Sarin is not found naturally in the environment.
How people can be exposed to sarin

Following release of sarin into the air, people can be exposed through
skin contact or eye contact. They can also be exposed by breathing air
that contains sarin.
Sarin mixes easily with water, so it could be used to poison water.
Following release of sarin into water, people can be exposed by
touching or drinking water that contains sarin.
Following contamination of food with sarin, people can be exposed by
eating the contaminated food.
A person's clothing can release sarin for about 30 minutes after it
has come in contact with sarin vapor, which can lead to exposure of
other people.
Because sarin breaks down slowly in the body, people who are
repeatedly exposed to sarin may suffer more harmful health effects.
Because sarin vapor is heavier than air, it will sink to low-lying
areas and create a greater exposure hazard there.

How sarin works

The extent of poisoning caused by sarin depends on the amount of sarin
to which a person was exposed, how the person was exposed, and the
length of time of the exposure.
Symptoms will appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor
form of sarin and within a few minutes up to 18 hours after exposure
to the liquid form.
All the nerve agents cause their toxic effects by preventing the
proper operation of the chemical that acts as the body's "off switch"
for glands and muscles. Without an "off switch," the glands and
muscles are constantly being stimulated. They may tire and no longer
be able to sustain breathing function.
Sarin is the most volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it
can easily and quickly evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread
into the environment. People can be exposed to the vapor even if they
do not come in contact with the liquid form of sarin.
Because it evaporates so quickly, sarin presents an immediate but
short-lived threat.
Immediate signs and symptoms of sarin exposure

People may not know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor.
People exposed to a low or moderate dose of sarin by breathing
contaminated air, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated
water, or touching contaminated surfaces may experience some or all of
the following symptoms within seconds to hours of exposure:
Runny nose
Watery eyes
Small, pinpoint pupils
Eye pain
Blurred vision
Drooling and excessive sweating
Cough
Chest tightness
Rapid breathing
Diarrhea
Increased urination
Confusion
Drowsiness
Weakness
Headache
Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
Slow or fast heart rate
Low or high blood pressure
Even a small drop of sarin on the skin can cause sweating and muscle
twitching where sarin touched the skin.
Exposure to large doses of sarin by any route may result in the
following harmful health effects:
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Paralysis
Respiratory failure possibly leading to death
Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a
person has been exposed to sarin.
What the long-term health effects are

Mild or moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Severely
exposed people are not likely to survive. Unlike some organophosphate
pesticides, nerve agents have not been associated with neurological
problems lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure.

How people can protect themselves, and what they should do if they are
exposed to sarin

Recovery from sarin exposure is possible with treatment, but the
antidotes available must be used quickly to be effective. Therefore,
the best thing to do is avoid exposure:
Leave the area where the sarin was released and get to fresh air.
Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly
effective in reducing the possibility of death from exposure to sarin
vapor.
If the sarin release was outdoors, move away from the area where the
sarin was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because sarin
is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
If the sarin release was indoors, get out of the building.
If people think they may have been exposed, they should remove their
clothing, rapidly wash their entire body with soap and water, and get
medical care as quickly as possible.
Removing and disposing of clothing:
Quickly take off clothing that has liquid sarin on it. Any clothing
that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead
of pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic
bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing
and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect people from any
chemicals that might be on their clothes.
If clothes were placed in plastic bags, inform either the local or
state health department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do
not handle the plastic bags.
If helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching
any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as
possible.
Washing the body:
As quickly as possible, wash any liquid sarin from the skin with large
amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help
protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
Rinse the eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are
burning or if vision is blurred.
If sarin has been swallowed, do not induce vomiting or give fluids to
drink.
Seek medical attention immediately. Dial 911 and explain what has
happened.
How sarin exposure is treated

Treatment consists of removing sarin from the body as soon as possible
and providing supportive medical care in a hospital setting. Antidotes
are available for sarin. They are most useful if given as soon as
possible after exposure.

--
* See the REAL 'Religion of Peace', Islam, on this site - EXCELLENT
* http://www.mathematik.net/homepage/islam/islam.htm
* Translated: http://tinyurl.com/2ooqh

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3722255.stm

BBC News World Edition

Last Updated: Monday, 17 May, 2004, 15:14 GMT 16:14 UK

Nerve gas bomb explodes in Iraq

.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3722255.stm

BBC News World Edition

Last Updated: Monday, 17 May, 2004, 15:14 GMT 16:14 UK

Nerve gas bomb explodes in Iraq

.
.
.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/sarin/basics/facts.asp

What sarin is

Sarin is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve
agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known
chemical warfare agents. They are similar to certain kinds of
pesticides (insect killers) called organophosphates in terms of how
they work and what kind of harmful effects they cause. However, nerve
agents are much more potent than organophosphate pesticides.
Sarin originally was developed in 1938 in Germany as a pesticide.
Sarin is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in
its pure form. However, sarin can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and
spread into the environment.
Sarin is also known as GB.
Where sarin is found and how it is used

Sarin and other nerve agents may have been used in chemical warfare
during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Sarin was used in two terrorist attacks in Japan in 1994 and 1995.
Sarin is not found naturally in the environment.
How people can be exposed to sarin

Following release of sarin into the air, people can be exposed through
skin contact or eye contact. They can also be exposed by breathing air
that contains sarin.
Sarin mixes easily with water, so it could be used to poison water.
Following release of sarin into water, people can be exposed by
touching or drinking water that contains sarin.
Following contamination of food with sarin, people can be exposed by
eating the contaminated food.
A person's clothing can release sarin for about 30 minutes after it
has come in contact with sarin vapor, which can lead to exposure of
other people.
Because sarin breaks down slowly in the body, people who are
repeatedly exposed to sarin may suffer more harmful health effects.
Because sarin vapor is heavier than air, it will sink to low-lying
areas and create a greater exposure hazard there.

How sarin works

The extent of poisoning caused by sarin depends on the amount of sarin
to which a person was exposed, how the person was exposed, and the
length of time of the exposure.
Symptoms will appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor
form of sarin and within a few minutes up to 18 hours after exposure
to the liquid form.
All the nerve agents cause their toxic effects by preventing the
proper operation of the chemical that acts as the body's "off switch"
for glands and muscles. Without an "off switch," the glands and
muscles are constantly being stimulated. They may tire and no longer
be able to sustain breathing function.
Sarin is the most volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it
can easily and quickly evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread
into the environment. People can be exposed to the vapor even if they
do not come in contact with the liquid form of sarin.
Because it evaporates so quickly, sarin presents an immediate but
short-lived threat.
Immediate signs and symptoms of sarin exposure

People may not know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor.
People exposed to a low or moderate dose of sarin by breathing
contaminated air, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated
water, or touching contaminated surfaces may experience some or all of
the following symptoms within seconds to hours of exposure:
Runny nose
Watery eyes
Small, pinpoint pupils
Eye pain
Blurred vision
Drooling and excessive sweating
Cough
Chest tightness
Rapid breathing
Diarrhea
Increased urination
Confusion
Drowsiness
Weakness
Headache
Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
Slow or fast heart rate
Low or high blood pressure
Even a small drop of sarin on the skin can cause sweating and muscle
twitching where sarin touched the skin.
Exposure to large doses of sarin by any route may result in the
following harmful health effects:
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Paralysis
Respiratory failure possibly leading to death
Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a
person has been exposed to sarin.
What the long-term health effects are

Mild or moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Severely
exposed people are not likely to survive. Unlike some organophosphate
pesticides, nerve agents have not been associated with neurological
problems lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure.

How people can protect themselves, and what they should do if they are
exposed to sarin

Recovery from sarin exposure is possible with treatment, but the
antidotes available must be used quickly to be effective. Therefore,
the best thing to do is avoid exposure:
Leave the area where the sarin was released and get to fresh air.
Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly
effective in reducing the possibility of death from exposure to sarin
vapor.
If the sarin release was outdoors, move away from the area where the
sarin was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because sarin
is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
If the sarin release was indoors, get out of the building.
If people think they may have been exposed, they should remove their
clothing, rapidly wash their entire body with soap and water, and get
medical care as quickly as possible.
Removing and disposing of clothing:
Quickly take off clothing that has liquid sarin on it. Any clothing
that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead
of pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic
bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing
and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect people from any
chemicals that might be on their clothes.
If clothes were placed in plastic bags, inform either the local or
state health department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do
not handle the plastic bags.
If helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching
any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as
possible.
Washing the body:
As quickly as possible, wash any liquid sarin from the skin with large
amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help
protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
Rinse the eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are
burning or if vision is blurred.
If sarin has been swallowed, do not induce vomiting or give fluids to
drink.
Seek medical attention immediately. Dial 911 and explain what has
happened.
How sarin exposure is treated

Treatment consists of removing sarin from the body as soon as possible
and providing supportive medical care in a hospital setting. Antidotes
are available for sarin. They are most useful if given as soon as
possible after exposure.



--
* See the REAL 'Religion of Peace', Islam, on this site - EXCELLENT
* http://www.mathematik.net/homepage/islam/islam.htm
* Translated: http://tinyurl.com/2ooqh