|
|
What
nitrogen mustards are
- Nitrogen
mustards were produced in the 1920s and 1930s as potential chemical
warfare weapons. They are vesicants (or blister agents) similar to the
sulfur mustards.
- Nitrogen
mustards come in different forms that can smell fishy, musty, soapy,
or fruity. They can be in the form of an oily-textured liquid, a vapor
(the gaseous form of a liquid), or a solid. Nitrogen mustards are liquids
at normal room temperature (70ºF).
- Nitrogen
mustards can be clear, pale amber, or yellow colored when in liquid
or solid form.
- The nitrogen
mustards are also known by their military designations of HN-1, HN-2,
and HN-3.
Where
nitrogen mustards are found and how they are used
- The nitrogen
mustards were never used in warfare.
- Nitrogen
mustards are not found naturally in the environment.
- HN-1
was originally designed to remove warts but was later identified as
a potential chemical warfare agent.
- HN-2
was designed as a military agent but was later used in cancer treatment.
Other treatment agents have now replaced it.
- HN-3
was designed solely as a military agent.
How
you could be exposed to nitrogen mustards
- If nitrogen
mustards are released into the air as a vapor, you could be exposed
through skin contact, eye contact, or breathing.
- If nitrogen
mustards are released into water, you could exposed by drinking the
contaminated water or getting it on your skin.
- You could
be exposed by coming in direct contact with liquid nitrogen mustards.
- Because
it is heavier than air, nitrogen mustard vapor will settle in low-lying
areas.
How
nitrogen mustards work
- Adverse
health effects caused by nitrogen mustards depend on the amount of nitrogen
mustard to which people are exposed, the route of exposure, and the
length of time that people are exposed.
- Nitrogen
mustards are powerful irritants that damage the skin, eyes, and respiratory
(breathing) tract.
- Nitrogen
mustards can enter the cells of the body very quickly and cause damage
to the immune system and bone marrow.
Immediate
signs and symptoms of nitrogen mustard exposure
- Typically,
signs and symptoms of nitrogen mustard exposure do not occur immediately.
Depending on the severity of the exposure, symptoms may not occur for
several hours.
- Nitrogen
mustards can have the following effects on specific parts of the body:
- Skin:
redness usually develops within several hours after exposure followed
by blistering within 6 to 12 hours.
- Eyes:
irritation, pain, swelling, and tearing may occur. High concentrations
can cause burns and blindness.
- Respiratory
tract: nose and sinus pain, cough, sore throat, and shortness of
breath may occur within hours. Fluid in the lungs is uncommon.
- Digestive
tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
- Brain:
tremors, incoordination, and seizures are possible following a large
exposure.
- Showing
these signs or symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has
been exposed to a nitrogen mustard.
What
the long-term health effects may be
- Exposure
to nitrogen mustard liquid is more likely to produce second- and third-
degree burns and later scarring than is exposure to nitrogen mustard
vapor.
- Extensive
breathing in of the vapors can cause chronic respiratory disease.
- Extensive
eye exposure can cause long-lasting eye problems.
- Nitrogen
mustards may cause bone marrow suppression beginning as early as 3 to
5 days after exposure. Bone marrow suppression can cause anemia, bleeding,
and increased risk for infection. If severe, these effects could lead
to death.
- Prolonged
or repeated exposures to nitrogen mustards have caused cancer in animals.
Some evidence exists that prolonged or repeated exposures to nitrogen
mustards cause leukemia in humans.
How
you can protect yourself, and what you should do if you are exposed to
nitrogen mustards
- Because
no antidote exists for nitrogen mustard exposure, the best thing to
do is avoid it. If the nitrogen mustard release was indoors, get out
of the building. If the release was outdoors, move away from the area
of the release, stay upwind if possible, and seek higher ground. Quickly
moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in
reducing the possibility of death from exposure to nitrogen mustard.
- If you
are near a release of nitrogen mustard, emergency coordinators may tell
you to either evacuate the area or “shelter in place” inside
a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical. For more information
about evacuation during a chemical emergency, see “Facts
About Evacuation”. For more information about sheltering in
place during a chemical emergency, see “Facts
About Sheltering in Place”.
- If you
think you may have been exposed, you should remove your clothing, rapidly
wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly
as possible.
- Removing
your clothing:
- Quickly
take off clothing that has nitrogen mustard on it. Any clothing
that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead
of pulled over the head.
- If
you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid
touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly
as possible.
- Washing
yourself:
- As
quickly as possible, wash any nitrogen mustard from your skin with
large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will
help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
- If
your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes
with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove
them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the
contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts).
If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put
your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
- Disposing
of your clothes:
- After
you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag.
Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid
touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure where the contaminated
areas are, wear rubber gloves or put the clothing in the bag using
tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches
the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you
wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too.
- Seal
the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing
of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people
from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
- When
the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive,
tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or
emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle
the plastic bags yourself.
- For more
information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes after
a chemical release, see “Chemical
Agents: Facts About Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing”.
- If nitrogen
mustard has been ingested (swallowed), do not induce vomiting or give
fluids to drink.
- Seek medical
attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
How
nitrogen mustard exposure is treated
No antidote
exists for nitrogen mustard exposure. Treatment consists of removing the
nitrogen mustard from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive
medical care in a hospital setting.
Where
you can get more information about nitrogen mustards
You can
contact one of the following:
- Regional
poison control center (1-800-222-1222)
- Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
- Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1-888-422-8737)
- E-mail
inquiries: atsdric@cdc.gov
- Mail
inquiries:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-29
Atlanta, GA 30333
This
fact sheet is based on CDC’s best current information. It may be
updated as new information becomes available.
Last
reviewed on 05/06/03.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health
and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances
health decisions by providing credible information on critical health
issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local,
national, and international organizations
|