Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 31
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Chlorine: Clinical Effects
• Intermediate water -solubility
• Low concentrations:
– irritant to eyes, nose, throat,
upper respiratory tract
• Higher concentrations:
– acute pulmonary edema,
chemical pneumonitis
• Chronic sequelae:
– RADS
Cl 2 + H 2 O ↔ HCl + HOCl
http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF1403/Borg/Borg04.jpg
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
31
The types of symptoms associated with a chlorine gas exposure are determined in part
by chlorine’s intermediate water solubility. At lower concentrations chlorine exposure
results in upper airway irritation and usually serves as a warning, preventing continued
voluntary exposure. People complain of mucous membrane irritation: watery eyes,
corneal irritation, runny nose, throat irritation, wheezing, and cough.
However, at relatively low concentration, mild symptoms may be tolerated to some
extent. If the exposed individual does not leave the source of exposure, continued low
level exposure may ultimately increase the delivered dose, since dose is the product of
both concentration and time. Continued low does exposure may result in a delayed
onset of lower respiratory symptoms and potential injury to the lower respiratory tract,
with bronchospasm-associated wheezing and inflammation.
Similar to what may occur after methyl isocyanate exposure, RADS may also develop
after chlorine exposure.
Chlorine gas dissolves in water to form hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid.
Hypochlorous acid subsequently dissociates into hydrochloric acid and oxygen free
radicals, prolonging and exacerbating the injury.
A chemical pneumonitis refers to the pneumonia (lung injury) that develops after certain
chemical exposures. Unlike a bacterial pneumonitis, the chemical pneumonitis is not
the result of an infection but is the direct result of the chemical injury to the lung tissue.
Since it is not caused by in infectious agent, antibiotic treatment is not needed.
The picture is a depiction of a World War I training poster emphasizing the steps soldiers
could take (awareness, proper use of personal protection equipment) in response to the
threat of a gas attack.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 155