Blood agents are toxic chemicals that are absorbed into the bloodstream and prevent oxygen exchange between blood and cells, causing death within minutes. Common blood agents include hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride. Exposure occurs through inhalation of aerosolized agents and symptoms range from mild at low concentrations to seizures and rapid death at high concentrations. Treatment involves antidotes and oxygen therapy, while decontamination focuses on removing contaminated clothing and rinsing exposed skin. Choking agents like chlorine and phosgene cause pulmonary edema by irritating the respiratory tract and inducing swelling. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing and asphyxiation. Diagnosis is difficult and treatment is supportive through oxygen therapy, steroids and ventilation

1. Blood agents and choking agents

2. Blood agents / Cyanogen agents
A blood agent is a toxic chemical agent that affects the body by being
absorbed into the blood.
They are fast-acting, potentially lethal poisons, either cyanide- or arsenic-
based.
Hydrogen cyanide or cyanogen chloride are more common.
Hydrogen cyanide Cyanogen chloride

3. Exposure
Blood agents are typically dispersed as aerosols to the targeted area and
take effect through breathing.
Due to their volatility, they are more poisonous in limited areas than in
open areas.
They badly effect the blood circulation.

4. Working
Blood agents work through inhalation and prevent the interchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the body's cells.
Block the enzymes responsible for aerobic metabolism thereby denying
oxygen to the red blood cells.
More harmful to the heart and brain as they use a lot of oxygen, cause
death in a matter of minutes or seconds.

5. Conti…..

6. Symptoms
The symptoms of blood agent poisoning depend on absorption and
duration.
Small quantities of cyanide has no influence.
Higher concentrations cause dizziness, irritate the eyes and the respiratory
tract, weakness and nausea.
long-time exposure can cause headache, muscle paralysis, convulsions,
coma
Very strong exposure causes severe toxic effects within seconds, and rapid
death.

7. Treatment
Due to their high volatility, cyanide agents normally need no
decontamination.
In enclosed areas, fire extinguishers spraying sodium carbonate and with
antidotes (sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate).
Best defense is wearing gas mask (N95).

8. Choking agents:
Choking agents are substances that cause physical injury to the
lungs. Exposure is through inhalation. In extreme cases, membranes
swell and lungs become filled with liquid (pulmonary edema).
 Choking agents are a class of chemical compounds that disrupt
normal breathing. They encompass a wide array of gases, including
chlorine, ammonia, phosgene, organohalides, and nitrogen oxides .

9. Working:
Choking agents function in liquid, gaseous, or aerosolized forms. In
their gaseous form, they operate primarily by irritating the respiratory
tract-including the mucous membranes, nasal passage, throat,
airways, and lungs-and inducing swelling in these areas.
Chlorine is a dense, greenish gas at room temperature, and is
relatively insoluble in water. Upon inhalation, water inside the body
oxidizes chlorine gas to produce hypochlorous acid (HClO). HClO
penetrates cells and reacts with proteins to degrade cellular structures.
Chloropicrin, meanwhile, is a colorless, highly volatile liquid
featuring a sharp odor.

10. Conti…..

11. Conti…..
A powerful oxidant, it reacts readily with aluminum, magnesium, and
their associated alloys to produce a toxic, corrosive gas. Phosgene
gas, like chloropicrin, is also colorless. Liquid phosgene reacts
violently with water and ammonia-decomposing rapidly in both to
produce hydrochloric acid and urea, respectively. It also evaporates
quickly from the skin, allowing for effective decontamination with
water.

12. Symptoms:
Thoracic/Respiratory Dermatological Cardiovascular Ophthalmological
Short-
term
effects
Chest tightness, coughing,
wheezing,
Dermatitis,
discoloration,
Slow heartrate,
low
Blurred vision,burning
asphyxiation blisters, blood sensation,
burning pressure excessive tear
sensation, formation
chemical burns
Long- Cyanosis
term
effects
Respiratoryfailure,chronic
bronchitis,
Irregularpulse, Blindness,
Glaucoma
emphysema congestive
heart failure

13. Diagnosis:
Immediate diagnosis of lung poisoning is difficult, given the relative
non specificity of the symptoms associated with choking agent
exposure. Furthermore, there is no clinical test for detecting chlorine,
chloropicrin, or phosgene in the respiratory system. Diagnosticians
must rely instead on patient histories to determine potential routes of
exposure. Differential diagnosis of choking agent poisoning depends
on the presence of mucosal irritation and deep lung effects in addition
to the aforementioned symptoms.

14. Treatment:
There is no antidote against any of the choking agents. The North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) has undertaken research to devise new therapies for
agents of chemical terrorism, but these endeavors have realized only limited
success.
Therefore, medical treatment for those exposed to chlorine, phosgene, or
chloropicrin is largely supportive and decontaminative in nature. Specific
strategies include secretion management, oxygen therapy, and administration of
high-dose steroids to reduce respiratory swelling. Intubation and mechanical
ventilation maybe required. Caregivers should exercise caution in using sedatives
on patients whose airways and breathing are not controlled.

15. Decontamination:
Decontamination is a critical step in mitigating the effects of choking
agents. Those who come into physical contact with chlorine,
phosgene, or chloropicrin should immediately remove their clothing,
making sure to cut contaminated garments off rather than pull them
over their faces. Garments should then be sealed in plastic bags for
inspection and removal by health authorities. Exposed individuals
should also rinse their skin with soap and water, remove their jewelry,
and dispose of their contact lenses before seeking medical attention.