WHAT ARE THEY?
Sulfur mustards are vesicants and alkylating agents,
more commonly known as blister
agents. They are colorless when pure but are generally
a yellow to brown color and
have a slight garlic or mustard odor. Sulfur mustard
in vapor and liquid forms can
be absorbed through the eyes, skin and mucous
membranes.
HEALTH EFFECTS:
Sulfur mustards cause skin, eye and respiratory
tract injury. They may also cause
bone marrow suppression and neurological and gastrointestinal
toxicity. Although
cellular changes occur within minutes of contact,
pain and other clinical effects
are delayed for one to 24 hours.
ANTIDOTE:
There is no antidote for sulfur mustard toxicity.
Decontamination of all potentially
exposed areas within minutes after exposure is
the only effective means of decreasing
tissue damage.
SOURCE: CDC
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