Mell Why was mustard gas effective?
Mustard gas, introduced by the Germans in 1917, blistered the skin, eyes, and lungs, and killed thousands. Military strategists defended the use of poison gas by saying it reduced the enemy’s ability to respond and thus saved lives in offensives.
What does mustard gas do to humans?
* Mustard Gas can cause severe skin burns and blisters. * Breathing Mustard Gas can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
Is mustard gas used in medicine?
Sulfur mustard was introduced in World War I as a chemical warfare agent. Historically it was available for use in the treatment of a skin condition called psoriasis. Today it has no medical use.
What is the medical treatment after exposure to mustard gas?
ANTIDOTE: There is no antidote for sulfur mustard toxicity. Decontamination of all potentially exposed areas within minutes after exposure is the only effective means of decreasing tissue damage. EYE: Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
What should you do if you inhale mustard gas?
Seek care immediately or call 911 if: You think you have been exposed to mustard gas. Do not wait for signs and symptoms to appear.
What are the side effects of mustard gas?
The victim will often experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, fever and vomiting. Mustard gas also decreases the formation of red and white blood cells, leading to weakness, bleeding and an increased risk of fatal infection.
How did mustard gas affect people after World War 1?
Many scientists have studied the effects of mustard gas on victims after the first World War; one of which determines one of the greatest ailments these victims face is the psychosocial disorders developed. Unfortunately, there is no antidote for mustard gas exposure, only symptom treatments.
What kind of chemical warfare agent is mustard gas?
Infobox references. Sulfur mustard, commonly known as mustard gas, is the prototypical substance of the sulfur-based family of cytotoxic and vesicant chemical warfare agents known as the sulfur mustards, which can form large blisters on exposed skin and in the lungs.
How long does it take to heal from exposure to mustard gas?
Severe skin burning may prove fatal due to the infection. The mustard liquid is more likely to produce second-and-third degree burns and scarring when compared to exposure through vaporized mustard gas. Further, the victim will develop a cough 12 to 24 hours after a mild exposure, and within two to four hours of severe exposure.