Blister agent

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Image:Blister-arm.jpg A blister agent (also known as a vesicant) is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation. They are named for their ability to cause large, painful water blisters on the bodies of those affected. Athough these compounds have been employed on occasion for medical purposes, their most common use is as chemical warfare agents.

Most blister agents fall into one of three groups:

Occasionally, phosgene oxime is included among the blister agents, although it is more properly termed a nettle agent.

Effects of blister agents

Exposure to a weaponized blister agents can cause a number of life-threatening symptoms, including:

All blister agents currently known are heavier than air, and are readily absorbed thourgh the eyes, lungs, and skin. Effects of the two mustard agents are typically delayed: exposure to vapors becomes evident within 4 to 6 hours, and skin exposure in 2 to 48 hours. The effects of Lewisite are immediate.

External links

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