Blood Agent Chemicals

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Blood Agents are in a group of chemicals known as “cyanogen agents”. Not all cyanogens agents are blood agents. The three main blood agents are AC (hydrogen cyanide), CK (cyanogens chloride), and SA (Arsine). These agents work by preventing oxygen interaction during cellular respiration. Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanogen Chloride are fast acting and require immediate action to prevent death. Arsine has delayed symptoms and can be more lethal due to unknown exposure.
Hydrogen Cyanide (AC) is known by other names. Some of these names are Cyclone (Russian), Prussic Acid, and Forestite (French). It has the smell of bitter almonds. It is classified as an inhalation hazard (Potential Military Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds. (2005)).
Physical State: (20oC) Colorless liquid or gas
Boiling Point: 25.7oC
Freezing Point: -13.3oC
AC becomes unstable at temperatures above 65.5oC/150oF. It is very flammable and will form explosive chain polymers if not stored correctly (Cashman, J. R. (2008)).
Its most effective dissemination is by aerial spray. Dissemination by explosion or artillery shell will cause most of the agent to burn off in the explosion. AC will corrode iron, cast iron, chromium steel, and lead. The effects of AC are immediate, initial symptom will be deep breathing while at rest. Hydrogen Cyanide was first used as a chemical warfare agent during World War I (Potential Military Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds. (2005)).
Severe symptoms include rapid breathing, followed by respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, death will soon follow. This happens in less than a minute after exposure. The immediate action for a Soldiers exposed to blood agents is to mask the Soldiers and get them to medical attention. Once the Soldier is evacuated to a medical aid, the medics should immediately place the patient on a full oxygen treatment, if the casualty is still breathing on their own. There are other treatments for AC poisoning, but these treatments require the use of drugs not normally stocked in a medic’s aid bag. The casualty would need evacuation to a battalion aid station or hospital for proper medical treatment.
Cyanogen Chloride (CK) was in use as an industrial chemical shortly before the outbreak of World War I.
Physical State: (20oC) Colorless liquid or gas
Boiling Point: 12.8oC
Freezing Point: -6.9oC
Cyanogen Chloride will penetrate filter elements of protective masks rapidly. It is the quickest of the blood agents to penetrate the filter element. (Cashman, J.

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