In crisis situations, such as transportation catastrophes, terrorist attacks or contamination with chemical warfare agents, it is crucial to properly organize and sensibly conduct rescue operations. Among chemical warfare agents, the most toxic ones are the derivatives of organophosphorus compounds. An individual auto-injector kit 'IZAS-05' contains auto-injectors, which are devices designed fo...

As one of the most important vesicant agents, the destructive properties of mustards on the skin, eyes and respiratory system, combined with a lack of antidote, makes them effective weapons. Such weapons are inexpensive, easily obtainable and frequently stockpiled. Sulphur mustard (mustard gas) has been used as a chemical warfare agent in at least 10 conflicts. In this article, the use of musta...

We investigated the association of 15 exposures, 10 stressors, and 18 life events with illness symptoms reported by 978 veterans who believe they suffer from Gulf War-related illnesses. A mail survey was completed by veterans (60% response rate) from the Gulf War Health Registry. Variables most associated with high symptom group membership were reported chemical/biologic warfare (CBW), concerns...

Introduction Remediation of environment polluted with toxic chemical warfare agents (CWA) is a challenging task for authorities who deal with public health and environmental safety. Abnormal health symptoms appear when the human beings are exposed to these hazardous chemicals. Decontamination of surface or environment tainted with these toxic chemicals is the main job we have to do, to avoid he...

Kerr Eby was initially a member of the Ambulance Corps in the U.S. Army in World War I, then transferred to the Engineers, and went to the front lines in France. His painting depicts a group of soldiers blinded during a gas attack. Whereas the neuropsychiatric casualties of other forms of warfare may present as individuals, the casualties of nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare are most of...

On-site monitoring and detection are necessary in the crisis and consequence management of wars and terrorism involving chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as sarin. The analytical performance required for on-site detection is mainly determined by the fatal vapor concentration and volatility of the CWAs involved. The analytical performance for presently available on-site technologies and commer...

The formation of inclusion complexes of the water-soluble p-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes, where n = 4 or 6, with the Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) GD, or Soman, and commonly used dialkyl methylphosphonate simulants has been studied by experimental solution NMR methods and by Molecular Mechanics (MMFF) and semi-empirical (PM6) calculations. Complex formation in non-buffered and buffered solutions is d...

Abstract VX is one of the chemical warfare agents that attack victims' nervous systems and ultimately lead to their death. Upon exposure, circulating proteins in bloodstream can be modified with may produce diagnostic adducts. Thus, these adducts would key evidence for forensic investigation against or terrorism. In this study, we discovered a list potential blood protein biomarkers exposure. T...

A number of recent terrorist attacks make it clear that rapid response, high sensitivity and stability are essential in the development chemical sensors for detection warfare agents. Nerve agent sarin [2-(fluoro-methyl-phosphoryl) oxypropane] is an organophosphate (OP) compound recognized as one most toxic Considering sarin’s toxicity, being odorless colorless, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)...

Gene delivery using an adenoviral system has been effective in introducing therapeutic proteins in vitro and in vivo. This study tested the feasibility of using adenovirus to deliver clinically relevant amounts of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a proven bioscavenger of nerve agents. The adenovirus construct expressed full-length mouse BChE. Mice were injected with a single dose of adenovirus (1....