Mustard gas is a blister-causing liquid weapon used in World War I, banned by the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993. It can resist for days in water and soil, causing burns on skin and mucous membranes, vision damage, and respiratory tract blistering leading to death. There is no antidote, so prompt medical attention is required after suspected exposure.
Mustard gas is a chemical weapon classified as a vesicant, which means it causes blisters and lesions on the skin and in the respiratory tract. This chemical weapon was infamously used during World War I, and this no doubt contributed to the decision to ban the use of such weapons in warfare in the Geneva Protocol of 1925. Also known as sulfur or H mustard, it is among the lists of the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993, which prohibits the manufacture, use, sale or stockpiling of such weapons.
Despite its name, this weapon is not a gas, but rather a very thick and volatile liquid. The plumes that spread over the trenches in World War I were created by aerosolizing the liquid, typically encasing it in fired shells. Once aerosolized, sulphurous mustard can resist for several days in the water and soil on which it settles.
Impure mustard gas smells a little mustard or onion, and sometimes has a yellow appearance, which explains the common name. Once purified, however, it is odorless and colorless, which can potentially be very dangerous, as symptoms of exposure typically take several hours to manifest. When treatment is offered quickly, recovery is possible; after several hours of exposure, however, it can be difficult to reverse the effects of the chemical.
Exposure to mustard gas causes distinctive burns on the skin. Many gas victims in World War I were blinded or had severe vision damage as a result of their exposure, as the chemical is very harsh on mucous membranes. If inhaled, blistering of the respiratory tract can lead to death, usually after hours of suffering. It is also known to be a mutugen and carcinogen, meaning that even after recovery, exposed victims could still experience health problems.
After suspected exposure to sulfur mustard, people should immediately discard any clothing they are wearing and bathe in clean water. There is no antidote, so washing it out of the body as quickly as possible is crucial to limiting injury. After these basic first aid measures, prompt medical attention is required; in a hospital, medical professionals can help remove the chemical from a victim’s system and treat symptoms as they arise.
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