| CHOKING AGENTS AND THEIR EFFECTS |
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| Agent + (Code) |
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| Form at 68oF |
Colorless gas | Greenish yellow gas | Yellow to dark brown or black liquid | Colorless to light green oily liquid |
| Odor |
Green corn or new mown hay | Pungent | Green corn or new mown hay | Intense and penetrating |
| Persistence at 70-90oF |
30 minutes | 18 - 36 hours | 30 minutes - 3 hours | N/A |
| Persistence at 40-60oF |
1 hour | 2 - 3 days | 1 - 4 hours | N/A |
| Onset of Symptoms |
Rapid | Rapid, but may be delayed | Rapid | Very rapid |
| Symptoms of Skin Exposure |
Burns to the skin and eyes. Acute skin contact lesions similar to those of frostbite and burns; it is a severe skin irritant. Chronic skin contact may result in dermatitis. Acute eye contact may result in conjunctivitis, lacrimination, lesions similar to those of frostbite, and burns; chronic eye contact may result in conjunctivitis. | Corrosive to skins and eyes causing pain, blurred vision and severe deep burns. | Mid-level exposure causes eye tearing and irritation of skin. Direct eye exposure to DP liquid can cause corneal abrasions, ulcers, or perforation. Direct skin exposure to DP liquid can burn. | Chemical burns, irritated or bluish skin. Eyes will have pain, redness, and tearing. Prolonged eye exposure can cause blindness. Entrance through damaged skin causes similar symptoms as those seen in overexposure through inhalation. |
| Symptoms of Inhaled Exposure |
Causes severe respiratory damage. Acute inhalation may cause respiratory and circulatory failure with chills, dizziness, thirst, cough, viscous sputum, dyspnea, feeling of suffocation, tracheal rhonchi, burning in throat, vomiting, pain in chest and cyanosis. Rapid progression to pulmonary edema and pneumonia, and death. Pulmonary edema can suddenly occur up to 48 hours after exposure. Phosgene is a severe mucous membrane irritant. Chronic inhalation may cause irreversible pulmonary changes resulting in emphysema and fibrosis. | Corrosive, burning sensation, cough, headache, labored breathing, nausea, shortness of breath, sore throat. Symptoms may be delayed as for lung edema which often don't manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. | Exposure to low concentrations causes chest discomfort or shortness
of breath. High concentrations quickly cause pulmonary edema with
cough, shortness of breath, and frothy sputum. It can cause respiratory
failure, hypotension, and death. |
Irritation of nose and throat and eyes tearing. Vapor exposure leads to coughing, labored breathing, sore throat, dizziness, bluish skin, vomiting and sometimes chemical pneumonia and pulmonary edema. |
| LD50 Skin Dose mg/man |
4500 or 200 through eyes | N/A | N/A | 250 |
| LCt50 Inhaled Dose mg-min/m3 |
3,200 | N/A | 3,200 | Death can occur within 10 minutes at concentrations as low as 300 ppm. |
| Fatality |
Death from respiratory and circulatory failure may occur. | N/A | N/A | Ingesting large quantities of chloropicrin liquid can be fatal. |
| First Aid |
Inhalation: move victim to fresh air; keep individual calm and avoid any unnecessary exertion or movement; maintain airway and blood pressure; give oxygen if breathing is difficult - artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Eye Contact: flush eyes immediately with running water or normal saline for at least 15 minutes; hold eyelids apart during irrigation; do not delay rinsing to avoid permanent eye injury. Skin Contact: unlikely that emergency treatment will be required; gently wrap affected part in blankets if warm water is not available or practical to use; allow circulation to return naturally; if adverse effects occur. Ingestion: treat symptomatically and supportively; if vomiting occurs, keep head lower than hips to prevent aspiration. In all instances except skin contact, unless needed, seek medical attention immediately. | Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration if indicated. Refer for medical attention. Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention. First rinse eyes with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then take to a doctor. | Move patient to fresh air and give oxygen if necessary. Remove clothing and decon skin with soap and water. Enforce strict bedrest if possible. Antibiotics aren't necessary unless treating a secondary infection. Flush eyes with copious amounts of normal saline solution and check for corneal abrasions or ulcers. Seek immediate medical care. To relieve strong bronchospasms, an adult is usually given Albuterol 0.5% (Proventil, Ventolin) in the amount of 0.5 cm3 (2.5 mg) mixed with 2.5 cm3 normal saline solution and used as a nebulizer. | Skin Contact: Remove clothes immediately and flush skin with water for at least 15 minutes. Inhalation: move victim to fresh air; give oxygen if breathing is difficult - artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Eye Contact: flush eyes immediately with running water for at least 15 minutes; hold eyelids apart during irrigation; patient must "roll" eye. Ingestion: do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water. Drink large quantities of milk or water or give egg whites. |
LD50 is the dose at which 50% of the exposed population will die.
A different measure, LCt50, is used for inhalation, the product of the concentration (C) and the length of exposure (t). Effective dosages for vapor are estimated for exposure durations
of 2-10 minutes.
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