Blood warfare agent
Blood warfare agents are chemical warfare agents which, through their effect, impair cell respiration or cell metabolism . All blood warfare agents are highly toxic and lethal even in the smallest doses.
Known blood warfare agents
history
The Entente Powers put cyanide in 1916 as the first blood agent militarily. A short time later, cyanogen chloride followed. During the First World War , the French army shot around 4,000 tons of hydrogen cyanide. However, hydrogen cyanide was only used as a mixture with other warfare agents (e.g. arsine , arsenic chloride or tin (IV) chloride).
Effect in the body
Many blood warfare agents contain cyanide . This is deposited on the iron (III) ion of the heme a 3 cofactor in the cytochrome c oxidase of the respiratory chain in the mitochondria of the cell . As a result, the enzyme can no longer bind oxygen and cell breathing comes to a standstill, so-called "internal suffocation" occurs. The iron (III) cyanide complex that forms is very stable. The cyanide can only be displaced with a large excess of oxygen.
In the event of poisoning, blood pressure rises sharply at first and then falls again just as quickly. At the same time, the pulse drops. Since the body's sensors report a lack of air, the breathing rate increases. All of this leads to unconsciousness and ultimately death. Light doses lead to headache, body aches, anxiety and dizziness.