Sarin is a chemical agent warfare that is used mostly as a weapon for human beings. (Laub, 2014). The chemical agent weapon is categorized as a nerve agent. Being a nerve agent indicates that it is one of the most toxic human chemical war weapon that can ever be found in the history of humanity. (Laub, 2014). More often than not, this nerve agent is similar to some other type of insecticide known as an organophosphate. Both sarin and organophosphate are compared to in the sense that they both have a similarity in the way have an effect on the recipient. In as much have both have a similarity, sarin has been proven to be more dangerous than organophosphate agent. (“CDC,” 2016).
Sarin as a Chemical Weapon
Scientifically, this agent has been classified as a clear, colorless and a tasteless substance with no odor at all in its pure form. Besides, this nerve agent can easily evaporate into vapor and spreads faster into the atmosphere. It is for this reason that the chemical agent is heavily used as a weapon in that it can spread very rapidly. Also known as GB, the chemical agent has been used as a chemical war in countries around the world, most notably are Iraqi and Japan. (“CDC,” 2016). In Japan, for instance, the chemical agent was used as chemical warfare in two terrorist attacks. One of the most vivid attacks was the one in the year 1994. Later on the following year, 1995, there was also a major attack in Japan. In Iraqi, the chemical agent was used as a weapon by the then dictator, Saddam Hussein. (“World Post,” 2013). During his regime, the dictator mercilessly used sarin to fight back his enemies. The two countries have been the most notably hugest users of sarin as chemical agent weapon against the human being.
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Sarin Invention
As a matter of fact, Sarin is a man-made human toxic weapon as opposed to the idea of many as a naturally occurring substance in the environment. The first place where this element was originally developed was in Germany around the year of 1938 as a pesticide. (“World Post,” 2013).
Forms of Transmission
Since this substance is usually released into the atmosphere, then the transmission process can be through the breathing of air that contains sarin. However, people can also get it through eye and skin contact with another. Sarin is highly miscible with water, therefore; the chemical agent can be transmitted through drinking water that contains sarin or even touching it. (“World Post,” 2013). Moreover, eating of food contaminated with sarin or sharing of personal items such as clothes that have come into contact with sarin vapor can as well lead to its transmission.
Effects and Its Mechanism
The effect of sarin on the human body typically depends on the amount of sarin that one has been exposed to as well as the period at which the person has been exposed to sarin. (“CDC,” 2016). In most cases, the symptoms of sarin will be noticeable in a few seconds after an exposure to its vapor as well as a few minutes to hours if one has been exposed to sarin in liquid form. Sarin effects by preventing the operations of enzymes from working effectively. That is to mean the enzymes act as the body’s “off switch” for the muscles as well as the glands. (“CDC,” 2016). Without this “off-switch,” the glands and the muscles will always be stimulated. More often than not, those people who have been exposed to sarin feel tired and frequently in short of breath. Since Sarin is the most volatile nerve agent, it spreads very fast among individuals, and also presents an instantaneous but short-lived threat.
Signs and Symptoms
One of the fiercest characteristics of sarin is the fact that it has no odor. (Laub, 2014). This fact poses a threat to that person who gets exposed to it and may not recognize that they have been exposed to the chemical. However, once someone has been exposed to the nerve agent, there are several noticeable signs and symptoms that one develops. Running of nose and having of watery eyes is one through which the agent can be remarkable. Pains in the eye, blur regarding vision, drooling of sweat is also some of the prominent forms of sarin exposure. In other cases, excessive coughing, having some sort of tightness in the chest, sudden rapid rate of breathing, diarrhea signs, the feeling of nausea as well as vomiting, urinating quite frequently, a lot of confused state of the mind, drowsiness, general body feeling of weakness, frequent pain in the head, an alternate of either a fast heartbeat rate or a slow heart beat rate and an alternate of either high blood or low blood pressure. (“CDC,” 2016). All these are an indication that one is exposed to the nerve agent. However, the exposure to large doses of sarin in the body might result in adverse health effects to an individual. For instance, loss of consciousness, paralysis, convulsions and respiratory failure are the adverse effects of sarin on long hours’ exposure. (Laub, 2014).
Preventive Measures
The recovery from the exposure of sarin and its possible effects need to be quick in response. Getting away from the region where the nerve agent was released to a much fresh air area is very efficient in the deductibility of sarin exposure and its effects. If people think of the possibilities of the exposure of the syndrome, they should avoid removal of clothes and come into contact.
Treatment
Treatment of sarin exposure can be medically treated in the medical institutions. Antidotes are made available in hospital settings. These antidotes are however most effective as soon as they are used for exposure. (“CDC,” 2016).
References
CDC. (2016). Emergency preparedness and response. Facts about sarin. Retrieved from emergency.cdc.gov/agent/sarin/basics/facts.asp
Laub, Z. (2014). Weapon of mass destruction. Sarin. Retrieved from www.cfr.org/weapons-of-mass-destruction/sarin/p9553
World Post. (2013). What is sarin? A lethal nerve gas that kills in minutes. Retrieved from m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3853044
