Nerve Agents

By U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Posted 3/29/06

Overview

Nerve agents do damage by affecting the nervous system of victims. These agents are of the greatest concern because of the low amounts needed to produce significant symptoms and even death. These agents include:

Sarin
Soman
Tabun
VX

Sarin

Basic Facts

Sarin is a manufactured compound that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
Sarin can take a gas or liquid form and is highly volatile and lethal.
Sarin is absorbed through the skin or respiratory tract and causes severe respiratory damage.
Even very small amounts can kill people.
Vaporized sarin stays near the ground.
Sarin remains deadly in warm, dry temperatures but can degrade in humidity.

Sarin as a Weapon

Sarin can be released into the air and expose people through ingestion or contact with the skin or eyes.
Sarin can be released into water and expose people who touch or drink the contaminated water.
Sarin can be used to contaminate food.
Sarin is most dangerous in enclosed spaces.
Victims need only be exposed to a small amount to become ill.
Sarin was used by Aum Shinrikyo, a Japanese cult, in a 1995 Tokyo subway attack, which demonstrated to the world that it could be used as a terrorist weapon.

Sarin Illness

Symptoms include:

Difficulty breathing, tightness in chest, and respiratory arrest
Nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, and diarrhea
Confusion and seizures
Drooling, runny nose, eye irritation, and tearing
Severe muscle weakness

Sarin Diagnosis and Treatment

With large doses, death can occur within seconds to minutes after exposure.
Rapid recognition after a suspected attack is the key to successful treatment.
Atropine and pralidoxime are the preferred antidotes but must be used quickly to be effective.
Oxygen should be administered to those having difficulty breathing.

Lessening the Impact of Sarin Exposure

Move away from the site of exposure immediately, and move to higher ground for fresh air.
Remove outer layer of clothing, place it in a plastic bag, and seal as soon as possible.
Immediately wash body thoroughly with soap and water.
Flush irritated eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
If you have ingested sarin, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention immediately.

Soman

Basic Facts

Soman is also known as GD.
Soman is a clear, colorless, tasteless liquid that can smell fruity or like oil of camphor.
Soman can be heated into a vapor form.
Soman is not found naturally in the environment.
Soman as a Weapon
Soman is a human-made chemical warfare agent.
Germany developed soman as an insecticide in 1944.
Soman is suspected of being used during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Soman can be released into the air in vapor form.
Soman could be used in liquid form to poison water or food.

Soman Illness

People can get sick after inhaling soman or by absorbing it through skin or eye contact.
People can get sick by drinking poisoned water or swimming in contaminated water.
Illness can follow eating food contaminated with soman.
Symptoms will appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor form of soman.
In liquid form, soman produces symptoms within a few minutes or up to 18 hours after exposure.
Even a tiny drop of the nerve agent on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching at the site of contact.
Low or moderate doses of soman cause the following symptoms:
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, abdominal pain
Slow or fast heart rate
Abnormally low or high blood pressure
Exposure to a large dose of soman, by any route, may result in these additional health effects:
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Paralysis
Respiratory failure, possibly leading to death
Vapors can be trapped on a person's clothing and can expose others.

Soman Diagnosis and Treatment

The odor of soman may be a signal of a release.
Treatment of soman poisoning with antidotes (atropine and pralidoxime) is recommended as soon as possible (ideally within minutes).
Long-term supportive healthcare may be necessary.
Mild or moderately poisoned people who are treated both rapidly and adequately usually recover completely.
Severely exposed people or those victims who are ineffectively treated may not survive.

Lessening the Impact of Soman Exposure

Move away from the site of exposure immediately, and move to higher ground for fresh air.
Remove outer layer of clothing, place it in a plastic bag, and seal as soon as possible.
Immediately wash body thoroughly with soap and water.
Flush irritated eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
If you have ingested soman, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention immediately.

Tabun

Basic Facts

Tabun is also known as GA.
Tabun is a clear, colorless, tasteless liquid with a faint fruity odor.
Tabun can become a vapor if heated.
Tabun is not found naturally in the environment.
Tabun is toxic and affects the body rapidly.

Tabun as a Weapon

Tabun is human-made for chemical warfare.
Tabun was originally developed by Germany in 1936 as a pesticide.
Tabun was possibly used in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War.
Tabun could be released through the air.
Tabun could be used to poison water.
Tabun could be used to contaminate food.

Tabun Illness

People can become ill after breathing in tabun, ingesting it, or through contact with skin or eyes.
People can get sick by eating food contaminated with tabun, by drinking contaminated water, or by coming into contact with contaminated water.
After exposure to tabun in vapor form, symptoms should appear within a few seconds.
Exposure to tabun in liquid form produces symptoms within a few minutes or up to 18 hours later.
Tabun can remain active on a person's clothing, leading to exposure of others.
A tiny drop of this nerve agent on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching at the site of contact.
People exposed to a low or moderate dose of tabun may experience some or all of the following symptoms within seconds to hours after 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, abdominal pain
Slow or fast heart rate
Abnormally low or high blood pressure
Exposure to a large dose of tabun may result in:
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Paralysis
Respiratory failure, possibly leading to death

Tabun Diagnosis and Treatment

The fruity odor of tabun may provide warning of a release.
Atropine and pralidoxime are antidotes that can be given for poisoning. They should be administered as soon as possible.
Other supportive care in a hospital setting should be given as needed (such as oxygen, assistance with breathing, etc.).
A complete recovery is likely for those with mild or moderate poisoning who are treated both rapidly and adequately.
Those who inhale or are contaminated with large amounts of tabun or those who are ineffectively treated can die.
Repeated exposure to tabun can result in long-term damage to the body.

Lessening the Impact of Tabun Exposure

Move away from the site of exposure immediately, and move to higher ground for fresh air.
Remove outer layer of clothing, place it in a plastic bag, and seal as soon as possible.
Immediately wash body thoroughly with soap and water.
Flush irritated eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
If you have ingested tabun, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention immediately.

Basic Facts

VX can be heated to create a vapor form, but only in small amounts.
The agent is stable in the environment.
In average weather, VX can last on objects for days.
In extremely cold weather, VX can sustain its potency for months.
VX can be a long-term hazard on surfaces.
VX is considered more toxic than other nerve agents.

VX as a Weapon

VX is a human-made chemical warfare agent.
The agent was originally developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1950s.
VX may have been used in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
VX is primarily used in liquid form to contaminate water or food.

VX Illness

People are exposed to VX by ingesting it, breathing in a VX mist, or by coming into contact with it through skin or eyes.
The vapor form of VX can produce symptoms within seconds after exposure.
In liquid form, VX produces symptoms within a few minutes or up to 18 hours after exposure.
Unless washed off immediately, VX liquid on the skin can be lethal.
Even a tiny drop of nerve agent on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching at the site of contact.
VX remains potent on a person's clothing, meaning that others can be exposed.
Within seconds or hours of moderate exposure to VX, symptoms include:
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, abdominal pain
Slow or fast heart rate
Abnormally low or high blood pressure
Exposure to a large dose of VX may cause:
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Paralysis
Respiratory failure possibly leading to death

VX Diagnosis and Treatment

A release may not be easy to detect because VX has no odor.
A release is confirmed by the symptoms of those exposed.
Atropine is the preferred antidote and must be given quickly after exposure.
People can recover completely from mild or moderate poisoning that is both rapidly and effectively treated.
Those exposed to large doses of VX or those people ineffectively treated may not survive.
Prolonged exposure (e.g., in a war setting) can result in long-term damage to the body.

Lessening the Impact of VX Exposure

Move away from the site of exposure immediately, and move to higher ground for fresh air.
Remove outer layer of clothing, place it in a plastic bag, and seal as soon as possible.
Immediately wash body thoroughly with soap and water.
Flush irritated eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
If you have ingested VX, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention immediately.
Rescue personnel should wear the highest level of protection in a release area until testing can be completed and the safety of lower levels of protection is confirmed.

More information on disasters and emergencies is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's website: http://www.hhs.gov/emergency