10-Chlor-5,10-dihydrophenarsazin

For information on chemical warfare vomiting agents see the ERG Criminal or Terrorist Use of CBR Agents. (ERG, 2024)

- Adamsite (DM) is non-combustible.

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

For information on chemical warfare vomiting agents see the ERG Criminal or Terrorist Use of CBR Agents. (ERG, 2024)

General First Aid:

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard) - Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. Some are TIH materials themselves, e.g., chlorine, and some release TIH gases when spilled in water, e.g., chlorosilanes. [ERG 2016].

Principles and methods for destruction of chemical weapons: ... "Destruction of chemical weapons" means a process by which chemicals are converted in an essentially irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of chemical weapons, and which in an irreversible manner renders munitions and other devices unusable as such. ... Each State Party shall determine how it shall destroy chemical weapons, except that the following processes may not be used: dumping in any body of water, land burial or open-pit burning. It shall destroy chemical weapons only at specifically designated and appropriately designed and equipped facilities. ... Each State Party shall ensure that its chemical weapons destruction facilities are constructed and operated in a manner to ensure the destruction of the chemical weapons; and that the destruction process can be verified under the provisions of this Convention.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Emergency Procedures: Inhalation: remove victim to fresh air; wear a mask/respirator in spite of coughing, sneezing, salivation, and nausea; lift the mask from the face briefly, if necessary, to permit vomiting or to drain saliva from the facepiece; seek medical attention immediately. Eye Contact: don a respiratory protective mask; seek medical attention immediately. Skin Contact: rinse the nose and throat with saline water or bicarbonate of soda solution; wash exposed skin and scalp with soap and water and allow to dry on the skin; dust the skin with borated talcum. Ingestion: seek medical attention immediately; carry on duties as vigorously as possible; this will help to lessen and shorten the symptoms; combat duties usually can be performed in spite of the effects of sternutators.

For initial isolation and protective action distances for chemical warfare vomiting agents see the Chemical Warfare Agents table in the ERG Criminal or Terrorist Use of CBR Agents. (ERG, 2024)

Immediate precautionary measure

0.016 [mg/m3]

2.6 [mg/m3]

6.4 [mg/m3]

For information on chemical warfare vomiting agents see the ERG Criminal or Terrorist Use of CBR Agents. (ERG, 2024)

Protective Equipment. Protective Gloves: Wear Chemical Protective Glove Set. Eye Protection: Wear chemical goggles; wear a mask/respirator in open areas. Other: Wear additional protective clothing, such as gloves and lab coat with an M9, M17, or M40 mask readily available in closed or confined spaces.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Arsenic poisoning can be treated by chelation therapy, using chelating agents such as dimercaprol, EDTA or DMSA. Charcoal tablets may also be used for less severe cases. In addition, maintaining a diet high in sulfur helps eliminate arsenic from the body. (L20)

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5,750(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that adamsite is expected to be immobile in soil(SRC). Volatilization from moist soil is not expected to be an important environmental fate process based on an estimated Henry's Law constant 3.3X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) derived using a fragment constant estimation method(3). Adamsite is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 2X10-13 mm Hg at 20 °C(4). Adamsite was reported to hydrolyze slowly under alkaline conditions to bis(diphenylaminoarsine)oxide(5), indicating hydrolysis in moist alkaline soils may be an important environmental fate process. Biodegradation data were not available(SRC, 2008).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5,750(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that adamsite is expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant 3.3X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) derived using a fragment constant estimation method(4). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 263(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 4.05(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is high(SRC). Adamsite was reported to hydrolyze slowly under alkaline conditions to bis(diphenylaminoarsine)oxide(8); however, the quantitative rate of this reaction was not reported. Biodegradation data were not available(SRC, 2008).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), adamsite, which has a vapor pressure of 2X10-13 mm Hg at 20 °C(2), is expected to exist solely in the particulate-phase in the ambient atmosphere. Particulate-phase adamsite may be removed from air by wet and dry deposition(SRC). Adamsite does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(3).

Adamsite (DM) can affect the body through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or eye contact. Ingestion is an uncommon route of exposure.

Oral (L2) ; inhalation (L2); dermal (L2)

Arsenic and its metabolites disrupt ATP production through several mechanisms. At the level of the citric acid cycle, arsenic inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase and by competing with phosphate it uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, thus inhibiting energy-linked reduction of NAD+, mitochondrial respiration, and ATP synthesis. Hydrogen peroxide production is also increased, which might form reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Arsenic's carginogenicity is influenced by the arsenical binding of tubulin, which results in aneuploidy, polyploidy and mitotic arrests. The binding of other arsenic protein targets may also cause altered DNA repair enzyme activity, altered DNA methylation patterns and cell proliferation. (T1, A17)

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ The four arsenic-containing chemical warfare agents (CWA) Adamsite (technical, 10-chloro-9-10-dihydrophenarsazine), Clark 1 (Diphenyl arsine chloride), Clark 2 (Diphenyl arsine cyanide), and Lewisite (2-chloro-ethenyl dichloro arsine) ...also tested in vivo in a dietary exposure study, using juvenile three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) as test organism, with measurement of EROD-activity and studies of liver morphology. The results from the in vivo study indicated small effects, suggesting that a 10-week period of dietary exposure at tested dose levels (1 and 100 ng/mL) affects juvenile three-spined stickleback only to a minor extent.

- Irritation and burning, tear production (lacrimation), spasmodic blinking (blepharospasm), swelling of the blood vessels that supply the membranes lining the eye (conjunctival injection), necrosis of the corneal epithelium.

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- Short-term effects: Upper respiratory tract irritation in nose and sinuses, burning in throat, chest tightness and pain, uncontrollable and violent coughing and sneezing, greatly increased nasal secretions and oral secretions.

- Dermal exposures to low concentrations of adamsite (DM) are likely to produce short-lived skin redness (erythema) and irritation. Exposure to higher concentrations of adamsite (DM) can result in more severe, longer-lasting redness, itching, and swelling possibly followed by blister (vesicle) formation. More severe skin irritation may require symptomatic treatment.

Exposure to lower levels of arsenic can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of adamsite can be estimated to be 5750(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that adamsite is expected to be immobile in soil(SRC).

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ The speed of effect, toxicity, and persistence of chloracetophenone, diphenylaminochloroarsine, and pelargonic-morpholide were investigated in humans. Subjects were placed in exposure chambers and exposed to 10% chloracetophenone in acetone, 10% diphenylaminochloroarsine in acetone, or pelargonic-morpholide for as long as tolerated, not exceeding the maximum safe doses of 350, 100, and 500 mg/min/cu m, respectively. Subjects were examined before, immediately after, and 2 to 4 days after exposure. Median particle sizes were 0.6 to 1.1 microns. The concentration necessary to produce irritation in 50% of the subjects (ECt50) in 1 minute was 213 mg/min/cu m chloracetophenone and 39 mg/min/cu m pelargonic-morpholide. The 2 minute ECt50 values were 119 mg/min/cu m chloracetophenone, 38 mg/min/cu m diphenylaminochloroarsine, and 29 mg/min/cu m pelargonic-morpholide. The 3 minute ECt50 values were 93 mg/min/cu m chloracetophenone, 19 mg/min/cu m diphenylaminochloroarsine, and 21 mg/min/cu m pelargonic-morpholide. Chloracetophenone caused rhinorrhea and nasal irritation, burning of the throat and eyes, lacrimation, and blurred vision. After exposure, mild to moderate transient conjunctivitis was seen. All symptoms usually disappeared in 10 minutes. Diphenylaminochloroarsine caused burning of the nose, throat, and chest. After exposure, salivation, coughing, and sneezing persisted up to 2 hours. One severe case required treatment with an anesthetic troche. Pelargonic-morpholide caused burning of the nose, throat, and eyes, with rhinorrhea and lacrimation. An uncontrollable cough developed, occasionally followed by nausea. All symptoms were alleviated with fresh air, although some subjects developed a headache. The authors conclude that the compounds produced no permanent adverse effects. Pelargonic-morpholide is the most irritating. Recovery is fastest from pelargonic-morpholide exposure and slowest from diphenylaminochloroarsine exposure.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Vomiting agents typically are disseminated as aerosols. The primary route of absorption is through the respiratory system. Exposure also can occur by ingestion, dermal absorption, or eye impact. The effects of the vomiting agents by any route of exposure are slower in onset and longer in duration than typical riot control agents ... On initial exposure, vomiting agents are irritants. This irritation is delayed for several minutes after contact. As a result of this delay, less early warning properties are present for those exposed. By the time symptoms of irritation occur and personnel consider donning their protective equipment, significant contamination already may have occurred. Systemic signs and symptoms subsequently follow the initial irritation and consist of headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and mental status changes. Symptoms typically persist for several hours after exposure. Death has been reported with excessive exposure.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Ademsite (DM) is a vomiting compound. It is normally a solid, but upon heating, DM first vaporizes and then condenses to form aerosols. It is toxic through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Adamsite is dispersed as an aerosol, irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract but not necessarily to the skin. Under field conditions, vomiting agents can cause great discomfort to the victims; when released indoors, they can cause serious illness or death. Symptoms include irritation of eyes and mucous membranes, coughing, sneezing, severe headache, acute pain and tightness in the chest, nausea, and vomiting. DM has been noted to cause necrosis of corneal epithelium in humans. The human body will detoxify the effects of mild exposures within 30 minutes of evacuation. Severe exposures may take several hours to detoxify and minor sensory disturbances may persist for up to one day.

Adamsite's production may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams; its use as a chemical warfare or riot control agent as well as its use in the formulation of wood treating solutions against marine borers and similar pests(1), will result in its direct release to the environment(SRC).