What is Mustard Gas?
Mustard gas is a chemical weapon which is classified as a vesicant, meaning that it causes blisters and lesions on the skin and in the respiratory tract. This chemical weapon was infamously used during the First World War, and this usage undoubtedly contributed to the decision to ban the use of such weapons in war in the Geneva Protocol of 1925. Mustard gas, also known as sulfur mustard or H, is among the list of chemical weapons in the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993, which bans the production, use, sale, or stockpiling of such weapons.
Despite the fact that this chemical weapon is called mustard gas, it's not a gas, but rather a very thick, volatile liquid. The plumes of mustard gas which wafted over the trenches of the First World War were created by aerosolizing the liquid, typically by encasing it in fired projectiles. Once aerosolized, sulfur mustard can endure for several days in the water and soil it settles on.
Impure mustard gas smells a bit like mustard or onions, and sometimes has a yellow appearance, which explains the common name. When purified, however, it is odorless and colorless, which can potentially be very dangerous, as symptoms of mustard gas exposure typically take several hours to set in. When treatment is offered promptly after exposure, recovery is possible; after several hours of exposure, however, it can be difficult to reverse the effects of the mustard gas.
Exposure to mustard gas causes distinctive burns on the skin. Many victims of the gas in the Furst World War were blinded or had severe vision damage as a result of their exposure, since mustard gas is very hard on the mucus membranes. When inhaled, the resulting blister formation in the respiratory tract can lead to death, typically after hours of suffering. Mustard gas is also known to be a mutugen and carcinogen, meaning that even after recovery, exposed victims could still experience health problems.
After suspected exposure to sulfur mustard, people should immediately discard the clothing they are wearing and bathe in water and soap. Chlorine helps to neutralize the effects of mustard gas, so splashing with a mild chlorine solution can also help. After these basic first aid measures, prompt medical attention is necessary; at a hospital, doctors can help express the mustard gas from the victim's system, and treat the symptoms as they arise.
Written by S.E. Smith
