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WMDs, Nerve Agents, and Organophosphates (about those Iraqi "pesticides"...)
Gulflink.com / Kentucky Regional Poison Center
Posted on 04/07/2003 11:54:20 AM PDT by Sabertooth
Nerve agent (excerpt)
Nerve agents are organophosphate compounds. Nerve agents are normally divided into G-agents (fluorine- or cyanide-containing organophosphates) and V-agents (sulfur-containing organophosphates). The principal nerve agents are tabun (GA), sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), and VX
Nerve agents are all viscous liquids, not gases per se. However, the vapor pressures of the G-series nerve agents are sufficiently high for the vapors to be rapidly lethal. GB is so volatile that small droplets released from a shell exploding in the air may never reach the ground. This total volatilization means that GB is largely a vapor hazard. G-agents are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is required for the function of many nerves and muscles. People poisoned by G-agents may display the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, drooling, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, cramps, twitching, jerking, staggering, headache, confusion, drowsiness, coma, and convulsions. The number and severity of the symptoms depend on the quantity and route of entry of the nerve agent into the body.
When a nerve agent is inhaled, a prominent symptom is the pinpointing of the pupils (miosis) and a dimness of vision. Nerve agents are cumulative poisons. Repeated exposure to low concentrations, if not too far apart, will produce symptoms.
Gulflink
Organophosphate Pesticides - Introduction (excerpt)
The organophosphates have replaced DDT as the leading pesticides because of their rapid breakdown into environmentally safe products. However, they have far more immediate toxicity than DDT and other related products.
There are more than 40 organophosphate pesticides on the market today and all can have acute and sub-acute toxicity. They are used in agriculture, homes, gardens, and in veterinary practice. They are all inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cause similar symptoms. In 1999, more than 13,000 cases of organophosphate poisoning were reported to US poison centers, with more than 3000 cases seen in the emergency department (ED) and 83 fatalities.
Carbamate insecticides have a similar action of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. However it is a temporary bond, usually lasting less than 12 hours. Additionally, the carbamates have less penetration across the blood-brain barrier than the organophosphates.
Kentucky Regional Poison Center
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: nerveagents; organophosphates; warlist
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Something to keep in mind when we hear reports that the suspected chemical weapons now being found in Iraq are actually only pesticides.

To: CheneyChick; vikingchick; Victoria Delsoul; WIMom; one_particular_harbour; kmiller1k; mhking; ...
((((((growl)))))

To: Victoria Delsoul; PatrickHenry; Quila; Rudder; donh; VadeRetro; RadioAstronomer; Travis McGee; ...
A ping for the science list, as sometimes science has relevance to the news.

To: Sabertooth
Until last year, I used to think that baby food was made out of Sarin.
4
posted on
04/07/2003 11:58:25 AM PDT
by
Cyber Liberty
(© 2003, Ravin' Lunatic since 4/98)
To: Sabertooth
Excellent post, Sabertooth.
5
posted on
04/07/2003 11:59:46 AM PDT
by
eastsider
To: Sabertooth
When I practiced in the South, I would see 1-2 cases of organophosphate poisoning per year due to carelessness among crop dusters. It usually involved spilling undiluted parathion on their clothes while filling tanks. It's pretty easy to treat with atropine injection but it takes a boatload of atropine.
6
posted on
04/07/2003 12:00:30 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
(Standing tough under Stars and Stripes)
To: Sabertooth
It is a little known fact that Iraqis always keep their supplies of pesticides at military compounds.
That's sarcasm directed at those trying desperately to come up with anything.
If they found a lot of chemicals at a farm, then it would be reasonable to assume pesticides first, chemical weapons second.
At a military base the opposite is true.
The substances have been tested in mobile labs, after the initial less sensitive tests were done:
More precise tests by an Army Fox mobile nuclear, biological and chemical detection laboratory indicated the existence of sarin and triggered the evacuation of the captured military compound by dozens of soldiers.
From Knight Ridder report.
We have our usual suspect here pushing the pesticide angle. Makes sense for a farm, not a military compound.
7
posted on
04/07/2003 12:00:51 PM PDT
by
tallhappy
To: Sabertooth
Thanks!
To: Sabertooth
FOX just now breaking news that they have found chemical weapons in/near Karbala. Chemical warfare agents (nerve agents, mustard). DRUMS of the stuff.
We'll see if this pans out as legit . . .
we now return to our regularly scheduled programming . . .
9
posted on
04/07/2003 12:03:25 PM PDT
by
MeekOneGOP
(Bu-bye Saddam! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
To: MeeknMing
FOX just now breaking news that they have found chemical weapons in/near Karbala. Chemical warfare agents (nerve agents, mustard). DRUMS of the stuff. We'll see if this pans out as legit . . . If it does, the Blix defenders will come down with a serious case of the hamana-hamana-hamanas...
10
posted on
04/07/2003 12:05:06 PM PDT
by
L.N. Smithee
("HBO and Playboy, Showtime and MTV/I might like 'em more after my lobotomy" -- Weird Al Yankovic)
To: L.N. Smithee
Is it now safe to say that all of the news of earlier today that we had theWMD smoking gun are all suspect. Rush was talking about weaponized agents on missles ready to fire. Is that all a big steamy pile too? Sorry TV challenged.
To: CholeraJoe
Have you ever treated someone for acute poisoning from glyphosate from accidental exposure? Not drinking the stuff from a suicide or homicide attempt.
To: Sabertooth
As the old saying goes..."Ignorance is Blix".
To: bigfootbob
I have not. Glyphosate is practically non-toxic orally but some salts can cause eye irritation. I use it on my weeds all the time.
14
posted on
04/07/2003 12:19:42 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
(Standing tough under Stars and Stripes)
To: Sabertooth
Do they even have any crops to dust in Iraq?
Just looks like dust to dust, to me, if you know what I mean.
15
posted on
04/07/2003 12:20:16 PM PDT
by
unspun
(One Way.)
To: Cyber Liberty
Naaah, that's the chicken and noodle MRE's.
Or was it the supposed beef fried pork MRE?
Heck.. I don't remember anymore, but I'm fine after eating them!
*Clutch chest, keel over. Thud.*
16
posted on
04/07/2003 12:21:03 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Nox aeternus en pax.)
To: Sabertooth
Very good post! Most deserving of a bump!
To: Darksheare
My son has JROTC camp this summer. I need to start feeding him those MREs left over from Y2K to get him prepared....
*Thud*
18
posted on
04/07/2003 12:23:12 PM PDT
by
Cyber Liberty
(© 2003, Ravin' Lunatic since 4/98)
To: CholeraJoe
"I use it on my weeds all the time."Me too. I have some overly enthusiastic friends that consider Round-Up deadly. Our State is considering following California's lead and ban the use from school yards. It makes for some interesting debates.
To: bigfootbob
It IS deadly if your metabolism is based on chlorophyll not hemoglobin which is what I'm equipped with.
20
posted on
04/07/2003 12:26:11 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
(Standing tough under Stars and Stripes)
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