| Hazards of Chemical Weapons Release during War: New Perspectives Sharon Reutter Toxicology Team, U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA Abstract
The two major threat classes of chemical weapons are mustard gas and the nerve agents, and this has not changed in over 50 years. Both types are commonly called gases, but they are actually liquids that are not remarkably volatile. These agents were designed specifically to harm people by any route of exposure and to be effective at low doses. Mustard gas was used in World War I, and the nerve agents were developed shortly before, during, and after World War II. Our perception of the potency of chemical weapons has changed, as well as our concern over potential effects of prolonged exposures to low doses and potential target populations that include women and children. Many of the toxicologic studies and human toxicity estimates for both mustard and nerve agents were designed for the purpose of quickly developing maximal casualties in the least sensitive male soldier. The "toxicity" of the chemical weapons has not changed, but our perception of "toxicity" has. Key words: chemical weapons, health effects, mustard gas, nerve gas, potency, toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 107:985-990 (1999) . [Online 5 November 1999] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p985-990reutter/ abstract.html Address correspondence to S. Reutter, Toxicology Team, U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Building E3150, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5424 USA. Telephone: (410) 436-2686. Fax: (410) 436-7129. E-mail: sharon.reutter@sbccom.apgea.army.mil The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorizing documents. Received 21 April 1999 ; accepted 1 July 1999.
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