Mustard gas also known sulfur mustard, mustard agent, iperite, Lost or by the military designations H, HD, and HT; It is an oily, almost odorless liquid that can be from clear to brown. At high concentrations, it has a pungent odor that resembles radish, onion, garlic, or mustard itself, which may be due to mixing with other chemicals. Its chemical nomenclature is bis (2-chloroethyl) sulfide.
This gas is not found in the environment naturally, it was synthesized in 1860, and used for the first time in 1917 as a chemical weapon during World War I by the Germans, who wanted to bomb the Belgian city of Yprés (hence her name Yperita). It is a toxic agent of the vesicant type since it is absorbed through the skin producing irritation, blisters, sores, edema and burns in the external mucosa and respiratory tract when contact occurs.
The mechanism of action of mustard gas includes the presence of water, hence the most humid areas of the body (eyes, respiratory tract, armpits, among others) are the most affected. The action of this product is based on its ability to establish covalent bonds with other substances. Through this bond I can react with many organic molecules, mainly molecules that contain nitrogen and -SH groups in proteins and peptides, which we have many in our body.
Usually, the signs and symptoms do not appear immediately; Its latency period can last between 2 to 24 hours, even longer, everything will depend on the exposure and the sensitivity of the person. Exposure to mustard gas is not fatal, when it was used during the world wars, it killed less than 5% of the people who were exposed and received medical attention.
As serious consequences to a large exposure to this gas, there are second and third degree burns, repeated respiratory infections, etc., long-term effects such as permanent blindness, chronic obstructive bronchitis, emphysema, lung and respiratory cancer, decrease in the number of sperm, and congenital defects, since it also damages the DNA of the human being.
There is no specific antidote against this agent, because the body itself takes care of regenerating the affected tissues after time. However, a quick wash with soap and water can considerably shorten the recovery period. It is also advised that the ground, skin and clothing affected by this gas need to be treated with chloride of lime, in order to eliminate its harmful effects.
In addition to sulfur mustard gas, there are other similar compounds such as nitrogen mustards and arsines, the latter are produced by mixing mustard gas with lewisite (a product derived from arsenic), their effects are similar, only that they appear immediately and not for hours.
Previously, this gas could be used to treat psoriasis, and cancer. The use of mustard gas during the war was prohibited by the Geneva Protocol in 1925 and the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993, in addition to its production, collection and storage. In our times, mustard gas was used in the war between Iran and Iraq in 1980-1988, it was the largest attack with chemical weapons against the civilian population, specifically the Kurdish population of northern Iraq, at least 5,000 people died and 65,000 suffered serious skin and respiratory diseases.
