Sarin

This page is a basic fact sheet about Sarin (also known as GB, isopropyl methylphosphanofluoridate).

A Random Quote:
In April 1993 some 400,000 residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin fell ill with cryptosporidiosis, and the city's AIDS population faced a mortal threat in their drinking water, as their immune systems couldn't control the microbe. The problem was blamed on a combination of chlorine-resistant Cryptosporidium and a decrease in filtration efficiency due to a drop in water levels that left the liquid unusually high in particulate levels. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency laboratory studies later showed that the Milwaukee strain could actually live on Clorox.
The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett

Characteristics
Toxicology
Symptoms
Cautions
First-aid and therapy
Neutralization and decontamination
Additional Information

Characteristics		Basic characteristics: boiling point: 181C volatility at 20C: 15,000 mg/m3 colorless, odorless liquid miscible with water hydrolyzes rapidly in strong alkaline solution of pH 12 or higher inhibits acetylcholinesterase, thus disrupting nerve impulse transmission evaporates rapidly and, therefore, relatively non-persistent

Toxicology		Properties include: casualty dosage (unmasked): 35 mg-min/m3 (milligrams per minute per cubic meter) lethal dosage: 100 mg-min/m3 chiefly and most rapidly absorbed through respiratory tract; not appreciably absorbed through skin or eyes onset of toxicity can occur within several minutes to a few hours depending upon concentration of Sarin; recovery takes at least 2 weeks

Symptoms		Symptoms include: at low concentration miosis (narrowing of pupil of the eye) headache increased salivation increased nasal secretion bronchoconstriction at high concentration cough greater difficulty in breathing increased perspiration gastro-intestinal effects (nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhea) effects on skeletal musculature death by suffocation due to effects on respiratory musculature and respiratory centre in central nervous system

Cautions		Important precautions include: any Sarin not immediately vaporized can form a contact hazard on the ground which can subsequently reinforce the respiratory hazard increased lethality, especially through skin, at higher environmental temperatures protection required: gas mask and protective clothing clothing should be decontaminated and skin washed thoroughly if Sarin exposure is suspected

First-aid and therapy		Immediate administration of appropriate therapy is essential. Techniques include: artificial respiration and oxygen atropine-oxime therapy (especially 2 mg atropine +150 mg obidoxime chloride in an autoinjector) supplemental administration of muscular relaxation medicines may be helpful prophylactic treatment with pralidoxime (2-PAM) is recommended if exposure is anticipated (e.g. in decontamination procedures)

Neutralization and decontamination		Addition of alkaline solution accelerates decomposition. Also effective is a rise in temperature and addition of a catalyst (e.g. hypochlorite from bleaching powder). An area exposed to Sarin will decontaminate itself within a few days.

Additional Information

Presentation slides from USAFSAM Department of Public Health regarding sarin.