Poisoning substances, their classification

Poisoning substances are poisonous chemical compounds that serve to defeat the enemy's living forces during the war. They have a number of physical and chemical properties, due to which they can be in a liquid, aerosol or vapor state and are the basis of chemical weapons (a type of weapons of mass destruction). OBs penetrate into various open spaces, shelters or structures and affect the living organisms that are there, preserving their effect for a certain period of time after their use.

Combat toxic substances penetrate the human body in several ways: through the skin, respiratory or digestive organs, mucous membranes. In this case, the degree and nature of the lesion depends on the ways of penetration into the body, the speed of distribution and elimination from it, as well as the methods of action of toxic substances and individual characteristics of the human body.

To date, there is no definite classification of these substances. The most important are:

1. Physiological classification (by action on the body). This includes unstable poisonous substances, persistent and toxic-smoky OM.

A) unstable OB - are able to infect the atmosphere, they form a cloud of vapor that spreads in the direction of the wind and dissipates fairly quickly.

B) persistent OB - liquid substances that create a cloud that is infected with an aerosol. Some chemicals settle in the form of dew on the nearby territory.

C) smoky OM - used in the form of various fumes and consist of solids.

2. Tactical classification (on behavior on the ground). This includes poisonous substances of lethal effect, disabling for a certain period of time and irritating OB.

A) lethal action - serve to eliminate living organisms.

B) disabling - serve to create a mental disorder in people.

C) irritating substances - serve to exhaust people.

Also, according to the nature of the impact on the human body, there are:

1. Nervous-paralytic poisonous substances (sarin, VX, soman) - contain phosphorus, therefore they are highly toxic. They have the ability to accumulate and affect the human nervous system in any way to enter the body. These are colorless liquids that are odorless, which dissolve well in natural solvents, but least in water.

2. Poisonous OB (phosphine, arsine, hydrocyanic acid) - violate the respiration of tissues, stopping their oxidative processes. These substances enter the body through respiratory and gastrointestinal tract.

3. Asphyxiant substances (chloropicrin, diphosgene and phosgene) - affect pulmonary tissue and upper respiratory tract through respiratory organs, causing pulmonary edema, choking and death.

4. Irritant toxic substances (CS, dibenzoxazepine, chloracetophenone) - promotes irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and eyes. Used in the form of aerosols, causing burns, respiratory paralysis, cardiac arrest and death.

5. Skin-blasting agents (lewisite, mustard) - enters the body through the skin and mucous membrane, causing poisoning and the formation of ulcers in places of contact with the skin.

6. Psychogenic substances (OB, BZ) - cause psychosis and physical disorders by interrupting neuromuscular transmission of impulses.

7. Toxins (botulinum, staphylococcal enteroxin) - cause paralysis of the central nervous system, vomiting, poisoning of the body.

Thus, to date, virtually all types of toxic agents have been studied. They are all capable of damaging the human body, causing it to be poisoned. For timely protection, it is important to quickly detect OB, establish its type and concentration. Only then can high results be achieved in the provision of medical assistance to victims during the hostilities.