Sarin is a deadly nerve agent developed as a pesticide by the Germans in the 1930s. It attacks the nervous system and can kill with just a pinhead amount. It’s banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, but terrorist organizations may produce it. Symptoms include constricted pupils, shortness of breath, and ultimately death. Exposure can be treated with an antidote if identified promptly.
Sarin is a chemical weapon classified as a nerve agent, which means that it works by attacking nervous system function. It is extremely dangerous; an amount that would fit on a pinhead is enough to kill a healthy, full-grown adult. Like other chemical weapons, sarin is banned under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, meaning signatories should not manufacture, stockpile, research, sell, or use this agent. However, it is possible that terrorist organizations produce it, as illustrated in 1994 during the Aum Shinrikyo attack on the Tokyo subway.
This chemical was developed in the 1930s by the Germans, who originally planned to use it as a pesticide. German researchers knew sarin as GB, classifying it as a G-series of chemical weapons, and the United Nations prefers to use that term. The chemical formula of sarin is C4H10FO2P, making it a member of the phosphinates. It interferes with the production and transmission of the cholinesterase enzyme, which normally allows muscles to relax after they have been contracted.
Sarin is a colorless, odorless liquid that evaporates at room temperature, making it ideal for aerosol dispersal. However, it also breaks down very quickly, having a short life of just a few weeks; most of the facilities that manufacture and work with it, therefore, keep the constituent chemicals around, rather than stockpiles of sarin itself. To destroy the chemical, a strong alkali is used to break it down.
Exposure to sarin causes the pupils to constrict, as they are unable to relax, along with a runny nose, shortness of breath, and nausea. These symptoms can appear within moments of exposure, followed by a complete loss of muscle control and, ultimately, death. People who are exposed can be treated with an antidote if they are promptly identified. Victims of the Tokyo gas attack often described a sense of growing darkness when discussing their exposure, as well as a general lack of coordination and an inability to think clearly.
Because sarin is so dangerous, ordinary civilians are unlikely to be exposed to it. However, exposure isn’t impossible, especially for people who live in areas that could be considered potential terrorist targets. Exposure recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control include moving to an area with fresh air promptly, disrobing to remove contaminated clothing and bagging that clothing, and washing quickly with soap and water to remove the chemical from the skin. Prompt hospitalization is required for any hope of recovery.
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