1. Physiological effects
2. Military use
What are the 6 categories used to classify chemical 3. Physical state
agents? 4. Persistency
5. Route of entry
6. Onset of effects
1. Casualty causing
How are chemical agents categorized based on military
2. Incapacitating
use?
3. Chemical Compounds
Solid/liquid agents are usually less volatile and more per-
How does the physical state of a chemical agent correlate
sistent, while non-persistent agents are released as more
to its persistency?
volatile gases/aerosols that disseminate quickly
1. Mild: myosis/vision impairment, headache, involuntary
muscle twitching, chest tightness, secretion of mucous
from nose/saliva from mouth
What are the symptoms of mild, moderate and severe
2. Moderate: diflculty breathing, nausea
nerve agent exposure?
3. Severe: involuntary defecation/urination, convulsions,
paralysis of respiratory muscles, mental impairment and
eventually death
Runny nose, sore throat, hoarseness, can progress to
What are the symptoms of blister agent exposure in the
paralysis of vocal chords, diflculty breathing, susceptibility
respiratory tract?
to respiratory infections (pneumonia)
How do blood agents enter the body? inhalation
How do choking agents affect the body? irritate and burn the entire respiratory system
Pretreatment: PB pills
What are the available treatment methods for nerve agent
Antidotes: atropine sulfate, 2-PAM Cl, Diazepam (CANA
exposure?
autoinjector)
1. ID symptoms and determine casualty unable to self-aid
2. Don mask and ensure casualty mask is sealed
, 3. Locate casualty's injectors and inject with all 6
What are the steps for buddy aid following nerve agent 4. Hook used injectors on shirt front
exposure? 5. Locate corpsman to administer CANA (if required)
6. Notify medical and transport to CCA as soon as practical
1. Immediately stop breathing and don mask
What immediate actions should be taken in the event of a 2. Clear mask before breathing
blood agent exposure? 3. Mask personnel unable to mask themselves
4. Report to CCA if symptoms are noted
Identify four types of casualty-causing agents Nerve, blister, blood and choking
Chemical compounds are more toxic/less toxic than
less toxic
chemical agents
Odorless, amber-colored liquid similar to motor oil; Low
evaporation rate; Likely to be absorbed as aerosol or liq-
VX
uid; Causes death within 15 minutes of fatal dose ab-
sorbed; Body detoxification rate is very low
1. Pathogen: microscopic organisms that cause infection
by entering the body, reproducing, and overcoming the
body's defenses
Describe the 2 categories of biological agents
2. Toxin: harmful by-products of living organisms that can
be lethal when inhaled/ingested, or incapacitating on skin
contact, by interfering with cell or tissue functions
Most effective when delivered as an aerosol, but can be
What are the possible delivery methods of BW agents?
delivered via injection or food/water contamination
What are the environmental factors that affect toxin and
UV light, humidity, wind speed, pollutants, temp
pathogen aerosols?
What are the routes that BW agents can enter the body? Inhalation, ingestion and percutaneously
1. Viability: ability to live in storage, then to reproduce itself
after dissemination
2. Communicability: transferability host to host
, Describe 3 characteristics that determine the suitability of 3. Incubation period: period of time required to establish
pathogens for use as BW agents itself in host and produce disease symptoms
What are the most common methods of transmission for Aerosol, direct contact, contamination of food/water, vec-
pathogens? tor
1. Bacteria: anthrax, tularemia, plague
2. Rickettsiae: typhus, Rocky Mtn Spotted fever, Q fever
What are the 6 types of pathogens and diseases associ- 3. Viruses: smallpox, Ebola VHF
ated with each? 4. Protozoa: amebic dysentery, malaria
5. Prions: Mad Cow Disease (BSE)
6. Fungi: corn smut, wheat rust, potato blight
Which 2 pathogen types are most likely to be potential BW
Bacteria and viruses
agents?
What 2 pathogens have vaccination requirements man- smallpox virus (variola) and anthrax bacteria (CENTCOM,
dated by DOD? Korea)
1. Stability in storage w/o loss of toxicity
2. High Toxicity (low concentration)
What characteristics make some toxins ideal for use as BW 3. Persistency
agents? 4. Economic (cheap to mass produce)
5. Ability to be released as an aerosol
6. Not detectable by CW/BW agent sensors
1. Mycotoxin: fungi
2. Bacterial toxin: exo/endotoxins
What are the categories of toxins based on organisms that
3. Algal toxin: fresh and saltwater
produce them?
4. Animal: venom, tetrodotoxin, palytoxin
5. Plant toxin: paralyze/kill
1. Neurotoxin: attacks CNS (Botulinum)
What are the categories of toxins based on physiological 2. Cytotoxin: cellular destruction (Ricin)
effects caused in human? 3. Enterotoxin: attacks GI tract (SEB)
4. Dermatoxin: attacks skin/mucous membranes