ABSTRACT
Guides for Emergency Response: Chemical Agent or Weapon: Nerve Agent Tabun (GA) Introduction: In yesterday’s world, there were literally thousands of poisonous substances but less than sixty-fi ve to seventy have actually been made and stored as chemical weapons during the entire twentieth century. In the world of today as we wait for the beginning of the year 2008, the United States considers fi ve nerve agents that make a credible argument in terms of what we as citizens may have to defend ourselves against being used by attacking countries or groups (as well as blister/blood/pulmonary chemical agents, biological agents and incapacitating agents). To be considered suitable for use as a nerve agent today, the agent must be highly toxic but in a “suitable” fashion so it as not too diffi cult to handle. It must be capable of being stored for long periods in containers without degradation and without corroding the container, relatively resistant to atmospheric water and oxygen so it does not lose eff ect when dispersed, and able to withstand the heat developed when dispersed. Th ose that graduated to the new grade are listed below:
Tabun (O-ethyl dimethyamidophosphorylcyanide), called GA in the United States, is the easiest to manufacture and is therefore likely to be used by backward countries while more industrialized countries view it as out-of-date and of limited use.
