Blister agents are named for their ability to cause large, painful water blisters on the bodies of those affected.

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. Image File history File links Blister-arm. ... Image File history File links Blister-arm. ... A blister caused by 2nd degree burns A blister or bulla is a defense mechanism of the human body. ... Early detection of chemical agents Sociopolitical climate of chemical warfare While the study of chemicals and their military uses was widespread in China, the use of toxic materials has historically been viewed with mixed emotions and some disdain in the West (especially when the enemy were doing it). ...

Most blister agents fall into one of three groups:

• Sulfur mustards – A family of sulfur-based agents, including the so-called "mustard gas".
• Nitrogen mustards – A family of agents similar to the sulfur mustards, but based on nitrogen instead of sulfur.
• Lewisite – An early blister agent that saw extensive use during World War I. It was effectively rendered obsolete with the development of British anti-Lewisite in the 1940s.

Occasionally, phosgene oxime is included among the blister agents, although it is more properly termed a nettle agent. Airborne exposure limit 0. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... The nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic chemotherapy agents similar to mustard gas. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 14. ... Chemical structure of Lewisite Lewisite is a chemical compound from a chemical family called arsines. ... Combatants Allies: • Serbia, • Russia, • France, • Romania, • Belgium, • British Empire and Dominions, • United States, • Italy, • ...and others Central Powers: • Germany, • Austria-Hungary, • Ottoman Empire, • Bulgaria Casualties Military dead: 5 million Civilian dead: 3 million Total: 8 million Full list Military dead: 3 million Civilian dead: 3 million Total: 6 million Full... British Anti Lewisite, often referred to by its acronym BAL, is a compound developed by the British biochemists of Oxford University during World War II . ... // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Phosgene oxime, also known as CX, is a chemical weapon, specifically a nettle agent. ... A nettle agent or urticant is a variety chemical warfare agent that produces corrosive skin and tissue injury upon contact, resulting in erythema, urticaria, intense itching and a hive-like rash. ...

Effects of blister agents

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

• Severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation
• Skin erythema with large fluid blisters that heal slowly and may become infected
• Tearing, conjunctivitis, corneal damage
• Mild respiratory distress to marked airway damage

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. Erythema is an abnormal redness of the skin caused by capillary congestion. ... A blister caused by 2nd degree burns A blister or bulla is a defense mechanism of the human body. ... Tears are a liquid produced by the bodys process of lacrimation to clean and lubricate the eyes. ... The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, providing most of an eyes optical power [1]. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light and, as a result, helps the eye to focus. ... There are two forms of respiratory distress syndrome: ARDS, which is acute (or adult) respiratory distress syndrome or infant respiratory distress syndrome which is a complication of premature birth. ...

External links

• Medterms.com
• Family Practice Notebook
• Center for Disease Control
• Medical Aspects of Biological and Chemical Warfare, Chapter 7: Vesicants

This article forms part of the series Chemical warfare
Blood agents:	Cyanogen chloride (CK) – Hydrogen cyanide (AC)
Blister agents:	Lewisite (L) – Sulfur mustard gas (HD, H, HT, HL, HQ) – Nitrogen mustard gas (HN1, HN2, HN3)
Nerve agents:	G-Agents: Tabun (GA) – Sarin (GB) – Soman (GD) – Cyclosarin (GF) | V-Agents: VE – VG – VM – VX
Pulmonary agents:	Chlorine – Chloropicrin (PS) – Phosgene (CG) – Diphosgene (DP)
Incapacitating agents:	Agent 15 (BZ) – KOLOKOL-1
Riot control agents:	Pepper spray (OC) – CS gas – CN gas – CR gas	.