Mustard gas, or gas, as some know it, is one of the most toxic gases on earth. It has been manufactured and used in many wars to exterminate enemies. One of the most famous wars in which mustard gas is used is World War II. It is poisonous and deadly gas if exposed to skin by skin or inhalation, and in cases of non-death it causes permanent effects and damage to the body may not be treated. The chemical name for mustard gas is ethylene dichloride, a relatively stable compound that does not dissolve readily in water and when oxidized it turns into a less toxic compound called sulfoxide.
The effect of mustard gas changes to the surrounding environment in terms of high or low temperatures, humidity in the atmosphere, and the occurrence of the infection mainly when exposed to gas is in the liquid state, or is in the form of vapor through inhalation. The rate of infection is a limit to the quantity of gas a person is exposed to in a liquid or gaseous mixture. In a liquid state, four to five grams of gas can cause severe burns to the skin and the death of the infected person due to poisoning in the blood. In smaller quantities, Lead to second and third degree burns and may cause lifelong disability. In the case of gaseous, the amount of between one hundred and two hundred grams per cubic meter of air can cause paralysis, disability and skin burns, but if exceeded the amount of five hundred and five hundred grams, they are fatal.
The symptoms of exposure to mustard gas are visible after several hours of exposure to gas, and start in a sense of tingling, followed by congestion of the skin with a strong sense of pain, and inflammation of the conjunctivitis with severe pain and sensitivity to light, and shortness of breath with cough and increase In secretions of the nose and frequent sneezing. Then the symptoms increase in clarity over time in severity and often die from the first day of exposure to gas.
There is no vaccine for mustard gas, and the prevention of exposure to gas is by wearing protective clothing and breathing filters, and stay away from areas where the gas is spread.