Carbon Dioxide
&
War Gases
Presented by : Kumkum
References:
• The essential of forensic medicine and toxicology Dr K.S.
narayan reddy 33rd Edition.
• Modern medical toxicology VV pillay 4th edition.
Contents
Carbon Dioxide
Physical Appearance
Uses
Action
Signs and Symptoms
Treatment
Postmortem Appearances
War Gases
Types
Chemical control agents
Biological Warfare
Physical Appearance
Colourless
Faintly Sweet odour
Non-flammable , heavier than air.
Solid form (dry ice)
Atmospheric air contain 0.033% CO2
Places which may contain CO2
Manholes, wells, silos and occasionally cellars.
Uses
Fire extinguisher.
Carbonation of soft drinks.
Shielding gas.
Action
Non toxic .
Simple asphyxiation.
Signs and symptoms
Varies with concentration .
• >5% - laboured breathing and mental confusion.
• >10% - ataxia and unconsciousness.
• >40% -dyspnoea and muscular weakness.
• >50%- dyspnoea, fullness in head ,ringing in ears, loss of muscle
power, unconsciousness , coma and death.
• >60 -80% - Unconsciousness, convulsion, death.
Treatment
Artificial respiration
Oxygen 100%
Cardiac stimulants
Poisoning is usually accidental in a confined space
POSTMORTEM APPEARANCES:
Externally:
Cyanosis, eyes - congested, pupils dilated
Face pale, flaccid with petechial haemorrhages.
Blisters , neck veins engorged.
Internally:
Organs- congested.
Lungs- oedematous.
War gases (RS3 SE)
Any chemical which is used to produce destruction or
damage mostly in times of war.
Qualities of ideal war gas:
• Manufactured cheaply in enormous quantities.
• Highly toxic in low concentration.
• Should not corrode the containers used for storages.
Types :
a) Vesicant or blistering gases.
b) Asphyxiants or lung irritants.
c) Lachrymators or tear gases.
d) Sternutators or nasal irritants.
e) Paralysants.
f) Nerve gases.
1.V
[Link] or lung irritants
Chlorine and phosphine gases .
Produce chest tightness and pulmonary edema.
Action is mainly on the pulmonary alveoli.
Watering of eyes, coughing ,dyspnoea , tightness of chest,
cyanosis and collapse .
Treatment
Eye wash with boric acid
Oxygen and adrenaline
Antitussive
Antibiotics
[Link] and tear gases
Solid : Chloracetophenone
Liquid: Ethyliodoacetate
and Bromobenzyl cyanide
Intense irritation of eyes, spasm of eyelid, temporary
blindness, irritation of air passages.
Treatment
Fresh air
Eyes washed with warm normal saline or boric acid solution
Weak sodium bicarbonate solution is applied to the affected parts of
skin.
IV amimophylline or salbutamol inhalation
[Link] or nasal irritants
Compounds of arsenic.
Diphenyl cholrarsine, diphenylamine chlorasine,
diphenylcyanarsine.
Specific action upon the vomiting centre in the brain.
Intense pain , headache, irritation in nose and sinuses.
Sneezing , Nausea ,salivation.
[Link]
Hydrocyanic acid ,sulphuretted hydrogen and CO.
[Link] gases
Esters of phosphoric acid and are identical in their
biological activity to organophosphates
Major agents GA (tabun), GB (sarin), GD (Soman) ,VE ,VM
and VX.
Colourless, odourless, volatile liquid
Absorbed from lungs, GI canal, skin or conjunctiva.
Inhibit acetylcholine esterase.
Most toxic among the known chemical agents.
loss of consciousness, convulsions. Muscles become
flaccid and breathing stops.
Treatment: similar to organophosphates .
Chemical crowd control agents
(1)Orthochlorobenzylidene malanonitrile(CS, tear gas)- law
enforcement agencies and the military.
(2) 2-chloroacetophenone (CN) (Mace) - self protection.
(3)Oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray, OC)
Causes:
Eyes- Burning, stining or pain, conjunctivitis.
Nose and mouth - increased secretions
Skin- Burning, stinging or pain , erythema.
Airways- Burning, irritation,tightness in chest.
Biological warfare ( RS3 SA)
Microorganisms or their products of metabolism that infect and
grow in the target host producing a clinical disease that kills or
incapacitates humans or animals.
Natural, wild type strains , genetically produced.
Includes biological toxins and substances that interfares with normal
behaviour - hormones, neuropeptides , cytokines
Commonly used : B. anthracis, small pox virus , botulinum toxin, ricin.
Agents are odourless, tasteless , invisible to naked eyes when
aerolised.
Dissemination: aerosol spray, explosives or food or water
contamination.
Thank you
