Nerve agents are the most toxic of the chemical warfare agents. Nerve agents are absorbed into the body through breathing, by injection, or absorption through the skin. They affect the nervous and the respiratory systems and various body functions.[54
The most toxic chemical warfare agent. Nerve agents are absorbed into the body through breathing, by injection, or absorption through the skin. They affect the nervous and the respiratory systems and various body functions. They include the G series and V series chemical warfare agents.[117
Compared with industrial chemicals, these very toxic, lethal chemical warfare agents, which include tabun (agent GA); sarin (agent GB), soman (agent GD) and agent VX, are liquid at room temperature but evaporate fast enough to create toxic vapor clouds in confined areas. The most volatile agent, sarin, evaporates about as quickly as water. These agents are cholinesterase inhibitors that interfere with nerve impulse transmission; hence the term "nerve gases." These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Substances that interfere with the central nervous system. Exposure is primary through contact with the liquid (skin and eyes) and secondarily through inhalation of the vapor. Three distinct symptoms associated with nerve agents are: pinpoint pupils, an extreme headache, and severe tightness in the chest.