|
|
 |
| BLISTER
AGENT
CAS
# 541-25-3
RTECS #
Counter Terrorism Card 0020 |
LEWISITE
L
2-chlorovinyldichloroarsine
2-chlorovinylarsonous dichloride
(2-chloroethenyl)arsonous dichloride
Dichloro- (2-chlorovinyl) arsine
SEE NOTES
Chemical Formula C2H2AsCl3
Molecular mass: 207.32 |
 |
|
TYPES OF HAZARD/
EXPOSURE |
ACUTE HAZARDS/
SYMPTOMS |
PREVENTION |
FIRST AID/
FIRE FIGHTING |
|
FIRE |
|
|
Water,
fog, foam, CO2. Avoid methods that cause splashing
or spreading. |
|
EXPLOSION |
|
|
|
|
EXPOSURE |
Severe
irritant.
Contact with vapor or liquid can be fatal. |
Do
not breathe fumes.
Skin contact must be avoided at all times. |
Seek
medical attention Immediately. |
| INHALATION |
Immediate
burning pain.
Profuse nasal secretions and violent sneezing.
Cough and frothing mucous. Lung edema.
Systemic poison causing restlessness, weakness, subnormal
temperature and low blood pressure. |
Hold
breath until respiratory protective mask is donned.
Fire-fighting
personnel should wear full protective clothing and respiratory
protection during fire-fighting and rescue.
Positive
pressure, full face piece, NIOSH-approved self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) will be worn. |
If
breathing difficult give oxygen.
If
breathing stopped give artificial respiration. Mouth-to-mouth
only when no facial contamination. |
| SKIN |
Immediate
stinging pain. Skin redness within 30 minutes with pain
and itching for 24 hours. Blisters within 12 hr. with
pain lasting 2-3 days. Deep skin burns.
See Inhalation |
Protective
Gloves: Butyl Rubber Glove M3 and M4 Norton, Chemical
Protective Glove Set |
The
primary mode for decontamination of chemical agents is
soap and water. A 0.5% hypochlorite solution can be used.
There are differing guidelines for decontamination and
more research is needed to identify the optimal decontamination
method.
See "Personal Decontamination" and "Appendix
D" in Treatment
of Chemical Agent Casualties and Conventional Military
Chemical Injuries (from the U.S. Navy Counterproliferation Office).
See also the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties
Handbook (from the U.S.
Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
[USAMRICD]) for a general review of the issues and more
on the military decontamination powder approach. |
| EYES |
Instant
pain, irritation and swelling of eyelids. Corneal scarring
and iritis. Severe permanent damage or blindness within
1 min. |
Chemical
goggles and face shield. |
Immediately
flush eyes with water for 10-15 minutes. |
| INGESTION |
See
Inhalation |
|
Do
not induce vomiting. Give victim milk to drink. |
|
DECONTAMINATION |
SPILLAGE
DISPOSAL |
PACKAGING
& LABELLING |
|
The
effect of Lewisite can be prevented by rapid topical application
of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, known
as British anti-Lewisite (BAL) which reacts with Lewisite
to form a stable non-toxic cyclic product. |
Cover
with vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, clay, or fine sand
and neutralize as soon as possible using large amounts
of alcoholic caustic, carbonate, or Decontaminating Agent
(DS2). Caution: acetylene given off. Household bleach
can also be used if accompanied by stirring to allow contact.
Scoop up all material and place in an approved container.
After sealing, decontaminate the exterior and label. All
leaking containers will be packed with sorbent (e.g. vermiculite)
placed between the interior and exterior containers. Label
and dispose according to regulations. Conduct general
area monitoring. |
|
Proper
Shipping Name: Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s.
DOT Hazard Class: 6.1, Packing Group I, Hazard Zone
A.
DOT Label: Poison.
DOT Marking: Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s. (O-ethel
S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl)methylphosphonothiolate)
UN 2810, Inhalation Hazard.
DOT Placard: |
|
NFPA
704 Signal:
- Health - 4
- Flammability - 1
- Reactivity - 1
- Special - 0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
M
P
O
R
T
A
N
T
D
A
T
A
|
|
PHYSICAL STATE; APPEARANCE:
Industrially-produced
Lewisite is amber to dark brown liquid and has a strong
penetrating geranium odor; the pure compound is a colorless,
odorless, oily liquid.
PHYSICAL DANGERS:
CHEMICAL DANGERS:
Hydrolyses rapidly in water and in acidic medium to
form HC1 and non-volatile (solid) chlorovinylarsenious oxide.
Hydrolysis in alkaline medium (e.g., alcoholic caustic,
carbonate solution or DS2) produces acetylene and trisodium
arsenate (Na3As04) in solution containing
toxic arsenic.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (OELs):
TLV : 0.003 mg/m3 (ceiling value)
|
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE:
The substance
can be absorbed into the body by all routes.
INHALATION RISK:
Severe irritation and lung edema. Can cause systemic
poisoning leading to hemoconcentration, shock, and death.
Non-fatal hemolysis results in anemia. Metabolites
excreted by liver into bile produce focal necrosis
of liver, biliary passages, and injury to intestine.
EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE:
See Inhalation Risk. Large skin burns may cause lung
edema, diarrhea, restlessnesss, weakness, subnormal temperature
and low blood pressure.
EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE:
Can cause sensitization and chronic lung impairment.
Suspected carcinogen. |
|
|
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES |
|
melting
point: -18°C
boiling point: 190°C
vapor pressure (20°C): 0.35 mm Hg
density (20°C): 1.89 g /cm3
volatility: 2,500 mg/m3 at 20°C
specific gravity: 1.891 at 20°C |
aqueous solubility: 0.5 g/L
Insoluble dilute mineral acids.
Soluble in organic solvents, oils and alcohol.
estimated log Kow: 2-3
log Kbenzene-water: 0.15
flashpoint: Does not flash.
flammability: Not Applicable |
|
|
ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA |
Stable
in steel or glass containers below 50 °C.
Lewisite and its hydrolysis products are not significantly transformed
in sunlight.
Lewisite and its hydrolysis products are thermally stable at temperatures
less than 49°C. |
| N O T E S |
| Lewisite
is a complex mixture of several cis- and trans-isomer compounds.
In chemical agent grade Lewisite, the L-1 isomer [2-Chlorovinylarsonous
dichloride] generally predominates. The three homologues,
L-1, L-2 [Bis(2-chlorovinyl)arsinous
chloride], and L-3 [Tris(2-chlorovinyl)arsine] form from
the catalyzed reaction of arsenic trichloride and acetylene.
L-1 forms initially, but it continues to react with acetylene
to form L-2 and L-3. L-1 is the vesicant agent. L-2 and
L-3 are also toxic, but considerably less than L-1. |
|
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
|
Trade
Names and Other Synonyms:
- Arsine, (2-chlorovinyl) dichloro-
- Arsonous dichloride, (2-chloroethenyl)
- Chlorovinylarsine dichloride
- Beta-Chlorovinyldichloroarsine
- EA 1034
|
|
| IMPORTANT NOTICE: |
LEWISITE
(CTC: 0020) Neither the CDC or NIOSH nor any person acting on
behalf of the CDC or NIOSH is responsible for the use
which might be made of this information. This card contains
the collective views of these agencies and may not reflect
in all cases all the detailed requirements in response
to a terrorism event on the subject. The user should verify
compliance of the cards with the relevant STATE or TERRITORY
legislation before use. NIOSH, CDC 2000 |
|
|
Top of Page
