Posted on 10/21/2004 11:45:00 PM PDT by Jeff Head
This compound is extremely hazardous because of its lack of warning properties and delayed biological effects. It may cause burns of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Eye damage may be permanent. Effects may be delayed occurring hours after exposure. Skin permeation may occur in toxic amounts. Both the fumes and the liquid may produce severe irritation. Inhalation may cause irritation of the nose, throat and lungs. Death may occur from overexposure. Prolonged exposures may cause liver and kidney effects. DuPont controls this compound as a potential carcinogen.Also note the barrel indicating it is some sort of chlorine. Chlorine Gas was also a chemical weapon used in World War I. Crates, barrels and boxes of other stuff as well. I believe the Kurds and the Iranians were familiar with some of this stuff.
Dimethyl sulfate vapor and liquid is extremely hazardous because of its deficient warning properties (NO ODOR THRESHOLD, LOOKS LIKE WATER, AND HAS ANALGESIC EFFECTS) and delayed biological effects. DMS hydrolyzes to methyl hydrogen sulfate and eventually sulfuric acid and methanol. Skin or eye contact with low concentrations of Dimethyl Sulfate may cause analgesia (numbness). Therefore, the corrosive action of Dimethyl Sulfate may not be readily detected.
Skin contact with Dimethyl Sulfate may cause skin burns or ulceration. Inital effects include itching, reddening of the skin followed hours later by severe blistering. Evidence suggests that skin permeation can occur in amounts capable of producing the effects of systemic toxicity. Eye contact with Dimethyl Sulfate may cause eye corrosion with corneal or conjunctival ulceration. Permanent eye damage may occur. Both the vapors and the liquid can cause severe irritation; upon slight vapor exposure the whites of the eyes turn red (bloodshot).
Ingestion of Dimethyl Sulfate may cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and gastrointestinal tract.
Inhalation of Dimethyl Sulfate may cause irritation of the upper respiratory passages, angioneurotic edema of larynx with hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing; temporary lung irritation effects with productive cough, discomfort, difficulty breathing, chest pain, shortness of breath or cyanosis; or possibly modest initial symptoms, followed in hours by severe shortness of breath, requiring prompt medical attention. In severe poisonings, central nervous system effects may occur which include unconsciousness, cramps or convulsions, and paralysis. Fatality may result from gross overexposure.
ping.
For instance, here is a part of the MSDS data sheet for common beach sand:
Health Hazards Acute And ChronicACUTE/CHRONIC:PRLNGD EXPOS TO RESP CRYSTALLINE QUARTZ MAY CAUSE DELAYED(CHRONIC) LUNG INJURY(SILICOSIS). ACUTE/RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SILICOSIS MAY OCCUR IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN HEAVY EXPOS IN CERTAIN OCCUP SUCH AS SANDBLASTERS. SILICOSIS IS A FORM OF DISBLING PULM FIBROSIS WHICH CAN BE PROGRESSIVE & MAY LEAD TO DEATH.
Explanation Of Carcinogenicity
CRYSTALLINE SILICA: GROUP 2A (IARC)
Signs And Symptions Of Overexposure
UNDUE BREATHLESSNESS, WHEEZING, COUGH, AND SPUTUM PRODUCTION.
Medical Cond Aggravated By Exposure
PULM FUNC MAY BE REDUCED BY INHAL OF RESP CRYSTALLINE SILICA. ALSO LUNG SCARRING PRODUCED BY SUCH INHAL MAY LEAD TO PROG MASSIVE FIBROSIS OF LUNG WHICH MAY AGGRAV OTHER PULM CNDTNS & (SEE SUPP DATA)
Thanks for the ping. This will never make the MSM.
Thanks for the ping
There are hundreds of bunkers all over Iraq just like this. The military doesn't know what to do with them because blowing them up would destroy every window within 15 miles and chemicals in explosions, well not good. We can't leave 300 troops at every one of these sites and we can't transport it out because no military convoy is going to transport 380 tons of RDX without blowing themselves up on the way.
I think the military is just trying to keep all of this stuff quiet until we can figure out what to do with it and to ensure that terrorists from other countries are not thinking there is nasty stuff stored all over Iraq.
To be honest, both the military and the insurgents in situ have their hands full enough already to be doing something about and with the 100s of munitions bunkers in Iraq.
It is too dangerous to even be in them, let alone get rid of the stuff or use them in an IED for example.
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