B
Chemical and Biological Agents and Their Effects
The tables in this appendix are reprinted from a previous National Research Council report, Strategies to Protect the Health of Deployed U.S. Forces: Force Protection and Decontamination.1 They provide brief descriptions of both chemical agents (Tables B.1 through B.3) and biological agents (Tables B.4 through B.7), as follows:
TABLE B.1 Inhalation/Respiratory Agents
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose (mg-min/m3 except where otherwise noted) |
Rate of Action |
Phosgene |
Vapor |
Causes fluid buildup in the lungs that can cause drowning |
ICt50 = 1,600 |
Delayed, although immediate irritation in high concentrations At low concentrations, no effects for three hours or more |
Diphosgene |
Vapor |
Causes fluid buildup in the lungs that can cause drowning |
ICt50 = 1,600 (at rest) |
Delayed, although immediate irritation in high concentrations At low concentrations, no effects for three hours or more |
Tabun |
Vapor |
Cessation of breath |
ICt50 = 300 (at rest) ECt50 = no existing estimates ECt50 = no existing estimates (severe effects)a ECt50 = 0.9 (mild effects)a ECt50 = 2-3b |
Very rapid |
Sarin |
Vapor |
Incapacitation; cessation of breath |
ICt50 = 75 (at rest); 35 (mildly active) ECt50 = no existing estimates (threshold)a ECt50 = 35 (severe effects)a ECt50 = 2 (mild effects)a ECt50 = 3b |
Very rapid |
Soman |
Vapor |
Incapacitation; cessation of breath |
ICt50 = 75-300 (at rest) ECt50 = no existing estimates (threshold)a ECt50 = 35 (severe effects)a ECt50 = no existing estimates (mild effects)a ECt50 = 1-2b |
Very rapid |
GF |
Vapor |
Incapacitation; cessation of breath |
ECt50 = no existing estimates (threshold) ECt50 = no existing estimates (severe effects) ECt50 = no existing estimates (mild effects) |
Very rapid |
VX |
Vapor |
Incapacitation; cessation of breath |
ICt50 = 50 (at rest); 24 (mildly active) ECt50 = no existing estimates (threshold)a ECt50 = 25 (severe effects)a ECt50 = 0.09 (mild effects)a ECt50 = 1-2b |
Very rapid |
Hydrogen cyanide |
Vapor |
Interferes with the body’s utilization of oxygen; accelerates rate of breathing |
ICt50 varies with concentration ECt50 – 1,500 |
Very rapid; incapacitation can occur within 1 to 2 minutes of exposure to an incapacitating or lethal dose, and death can occur within 15 minutes of receiving a lethal dose |
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose (mg-min/m3 except where otherwise noted) |
Rate of Action |
Cyanogen chloride |
Vapor |
Choking, irritation, slows breathing |
ICt50 = 7,000 |
Very rapid |
Arsine |
Vapor |
Damages blood, liver, and kidneys |
ICt50 = 2,500 |
Effects delayed from 2 hours to 11 days |
Distilled mustard |
Vapor |
Inflammation of the nose, throat, trachea, bronchi, and lungs |
ICt50 = 150 ECt50 = no existing estimates (threshold)a ECt50 = 200 (moderate temperature, severe effects)a ECt50 ≥ 50 (mild effects)a ECt50 = 10-1,000b |
Effects delayed for 4 to 6 hours |
Nitrogen mustard |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
N/Ac |
Effects delayed for ~12 hours |
Mustard-T mixture |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
N/Ac |
Delayed action not well known |
Lewisite |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
ECt50 = 1,500 |
Rapid acting |
Mustard-lewisite mixture |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
N/Ac |
Rapid acting skin irritation, blisters in 13 hours |
Phenyldichloroarsine |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
N/Ac |
Rapid acting |
Ethyldichloroarsine |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
ICt50 = 5-10 |
Rapid acting nose/throat irritation, blisters in 12 hours |
Methyl-dichloroarsine |
Vapor |
Incapacitation |
ICt50 = 25 |
Rapid acting nose/throat irritation, blisters in several hours |
Phosgene oxime |
Vapor |
Coughing, choking, chest tightness on exposure; possible cyanosis following pulmonary edema |
ICt50 = unknown; lowest irritant concentration after a 10-second exposure is 1 mg/m3; effects of the agent become unbearable after 1 minute at 3 mg/m3 |
Rapid acting |
aNATO, 1996; NRC, 1997. bAli et al., 1997. cExposure via this route is unlikely; no information was found. SOURCES: Boyle, 1998; U.S. Army, 1995; Army et al., 1990. |
TABLE B.2 Dermal Absorption Agents
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose (mg-min/m3except where otherwise noted) |
Rate of Action |
Tabun (GA) |
Liquid; vapor |
N/Aa |
ED50 = no existing estimates |
Very rapid |
Sarin (GB) |
Liquid |
N/Aa |
ED50 = no existing estimates |
Very rapid; may be lethal within 15 minutes after absorption |
Soman (GD) |
Liquid |
N/Aa |
ED50 = no existing estimates |
Very rapid; may be lethal within 15 minutes after absorption |
GF |
Liquid |
N/Aa |
ED50 = no existing estimates |
Very rapid |
VX |
Liquid |
N/Aa |
ED50 = 5 mg/70-kg manb ED50 = 1 mgc |
Very rapid; may be lethal within 15 minutes after absorption |
Distilled mustard |
Liquid |
Inflammation of the nose, throat, trachea, bronchi, and lungs |
ID50 = 2,000 by skin; 200 by eye ED50 = no existing estimatesb ED50 = 10 Tgc |
Effects delayed for 4 to 6 hours |
Nitrogen mustard |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 200 by eye; 9,000 by skin |
Effects delayed for ~12 hours |
Mustard-T mixture |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = very low |
Delayed action not well known |
Lewisite |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = less than 300 by eye; more than 1,500 by skin ED50 = 15 Tg |
Rapid acting |
Mustard-lewisite mixture |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 200 by eye; 1,500-2,000 by skin |
Rapid acting skin irritation; blisters in 13 hours |
Phenyldichloroarsine |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 16 as vomiting agent; 1,800 as blister |
Rapid acting |
Ethyldichloroarsine |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
N/Aa |
Rapid acting nose/throat irritation; blisters in 12 hours |
Methyldichloroarsine |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
N/Aa |
Rapid acting nose/throat irritation; blisters in several hours |
aUnlikely exposure via this route; no information found. bAli et al., 1997. cNRC, 1997. SOURCES: Boyle, 1998; NATO, 1996; U.S. Army, 1995; U.S. Army et al., 1990. |
TABLE B.3 Dermal Necrotic Agents
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose |
Rate of Action |
Distilled mustard |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 2,000 by skin; 200 by eye ED50 = no existing estimatesa ED50 = 10 μgb |
Effects delayed for 4 to 6 hours |
Nitrogen mustard |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 200 by eye; 9,000 by skin |
Effects delayed for ~12 hours |
Mustard-T mixture |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = very low |
Delayed action not well known |
Mustard-lewisite mixture |
Liquid |
Incapacitation |
ID50 = 200 by eye; 1,500-2,000 by skin |
Rapid acting skin irritation; blisters in 13 hours |
aNATO, 1996; NRC, 1997. bAli et al., 1997. SOURCES: Boyle, 1998; U.S. Army, 1995; U.S. Army et al., 1990. |
TABLE B.4 Inhalation/Respiratory Agents
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose |
Onset Time (days) |
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) |
Aerosol |
75% morbidity; 80% mortality |
8,000-50,000 spores |
1-5 |
Plague (Yersinia pestis) |
Aerosol |
|
100-500 organisms |
2-3 |
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) |
Aerosol |
80% morbidity; 35% mortality |
10-50 organisms |
2-3 |
Q fever (Coxiella burneti) |
Aerosol |
70% morbidity; <1% mortality |
1-10 organisms |
14-21 |
Smallpox |
Aerosol |
30-35% mortality |
10-100 organisms |
12 |
Venezuelan equine encephalitis |
Aerosol |
90% morbidity; <5% mortality |
10-100 organisms |
1-5 |
Dysentery (Shigella dysenteriae) |
Aerosol |
25% mortality |
10-100 organisms |
1-7 |
Cholera (Vibrio comma) |
Aerosol |
15-90% mortality |
1,000,000 organisms |
1-5 |
Brucellolis (Brucella suis) |
Aerosol |
2% fatality |
10-100 organisms |
5-21 |
SOURCES: Ali et al., 1997; Boyle, 1998; U.S. Air Force, 1997; U.S. Army et al., 1990. |
TABLE B.5 Ingestion Agents
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose |
Onset Time (days) |
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) |
Ingestion |
75% morbidity; 80% mortality |
1,000 spores |
1-7 |
Cholera (Vibrio comma) |
Ingestion |
15-90% mortality |
>107organisms |
1-5 |
Dysentery (Shigella dysenteriae) |
Ingestion |
25% mortality |
10-100 organisms |
1-7 |
Q Fever (Coxiella burneti) |
Ingestion |
70% morbidity; <1% mortality |
1-10 organisms |
14-21 |
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) |
Ingestion |
80% morbidity; 35% mortality rate |
N/Aa |
2-3 |
aInformation, if known, was not readily available during the course of the study. SOURCES: Ali et al., 1997; Boyle, 1998; U.S. Air Force, 1997; U.S. Army et al., 1990. |
TABLE B.6 Agents Absorbed via Mucous Membranes or the Skin
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose |
Onset Time |
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) |
Direct contact with contaminated material |
25% mortality |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) |
Inoculation of skin or mucous membranes with blood or tissue fluids of infected animals |
80% morbidity; 35% mortality rate |
10-50 organisms |
N/Aa |
Brucellosis (Brucella suis) |
Through abraded and possibly intact skin |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
Ebola/Marburg |
Through abrasion or via conjunctiva; possibly direct contact with blood or other tissues |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever |
Direct contact with animal or human tissues and blood |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
aInformation, if known, was not readily available during the course of the study. SOURCES: Ali et al., 1997; Boyle, 1998; Johnson, 1990; LeDuc, 1989; Johnson, 1990; Mikolich and Boyce, 1990; U.S. Air Force, 1 997; U.S. Army, 1990. |
TABLE B.7 Arthropod Vectors
Agent |
Mode of Delivery |
Effect |
Effective Dose |
Onset Time (days) |
Plague (Yersinia pestis) |
Fleas |
25-100% mortality |
1-103 organisms |
2-7 |
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) |
Bites of infected deerflies, mosquitoes, or ticks |
80% morbidity; 35% mortality |
1-103 organisms |
1-10 |
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsi) |
Ticks |
7-20% fatal |
N/Aa |
3-10 |
Yellow fever |
Ticks |
<5% mortality |
N/Aa |
3-6 |
Rift Valley fever |
Mosquitoes |
<1% mortality |
N/Aa |
3-12 |
Venezuelan equine encephalitis |
Variety of mosquitoes |
90% morbidity; <5% mortality |
1-103 organisms |
4-20 |
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever |
Ticks |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
N/Aa |
aInformation, if known, was not readily available during the course of the study. SOURCES: Ali et al., 1997; Boyle, 1998; LeDuc, 1989; U.S. Air Force, 1997; U.S. Army et al., 1990. |
REFERENCES
Ali, J., L. Rodrigues, and M. Moodie. 1997. U.S. Chemical-Biological Defense Guidebook. Alexandria, Va.: Jane’s Information Group.
Boyle, R.E. 1998. U.S. Chemical Warfare: A Historical Perspective. LG-1597. Albuquerque, N.Mex.: Sandia National Laboratories.
Johnson, K.M. 1990. “Marburg and Ebola Viruses.” In Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 1303-1306.
LeDuc, J.W. 1989. “Epidemiology of Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses.” Reviews of Infectious Diseases 11(Supp.4): S730-S725.
Mikolich, D.J., and J.M. Boyce. 1990. “Brucella Species.” In Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 1735-1742.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). 1996. NATO Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defense Operations. Part III. Chemical. AMed P-6(B). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
NRC (National Research Council). 1997. Review of Acute Human-Toxicity Estimate for Selected Chemical-Warfare Agents . Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
U.S. Air Force. 1997. USAF Operations in a Chemical and Biological (CB) Warfare Environment, CB Hazards. Air Force Handbook 32-4014, Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Air Force.
U.S. Army. 1995. Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.: Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Chemical Casualty Care Office.
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force. 1990. Potential Military Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds. Army Field Manual 3-9, Navy Publication P-467, and Air Force Manual 355-7. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army/Department of the Navy/Department of the Air Force.