Description
Nitrogen mustards are very potential chemical substances of yesteryears and produced during the 1920s and 1930s as chemical warfare weapons. They are vesicants (or blister agents) similar to the sulphur mustards. They smell fishy, musty, soapy, or fruity and are either in the form of an oily textured liquid or a vapour (the gaseous form of a liquid) or a solid. It is in liquid form at normal room temperature (70 F) with a clear, pale amber, or yellow colour. HN-1, HN-2, and HN-3 are the military designations of nitrogen mustard (for more data, refer to Muatars gas). Nitrogen mustards (HN-1, HN-2, HN-3) are colourless to yellow, oily liquids that evaporate very slowly. HN-1 has a faint fishy or musty odour. HN-2 has a soapy odour at low concentrations and a fruity odour at higher concentrations. HN-3 may smell like butter almond. Use of nitrogen mustards is very much restricted other than for chemical warfare. In fact, presently, its use has no records. HN-1 has been used to remove warts in the past, and HN-2 has been used sparingly in chemotherapy.
Chemical Properties
Nitrogen mustard is a pale yellow, oily,
mobile liquid. HN-1 is a mustard blister agent (vesicant)
that has a faint musty or fishy odor. Nitrogen mustards are
colorless when pure but are typically a yellow to brown
oily substance. Odors are variably described as; sweet,
agreeable, slightly garlic-or mustard-like. It evaporates
slowly.
Uses
Nitrogen mustards are among the blister agents/vesicants used
in chemical warfare. HN-1 was originally designed to remove
warts and later identified as a potential chemical warfare agent.
HN-2 was designed as a military agent, but later used in cancer
chemotherapy. HN-3 was developed as a military chemical
warfare agent. Nitrogen mustards have also found therapeutic
applications in cancer treatment, and there are several pharmaceutical
derivatives that were developed as cancer therapeutic
agents.
Uses
Although nitrogen mustards could be
used in chemical warfare, there are presently no
records of such use. HN-1 has been used to
remove warts in the past,
General Description
Dark liquid with a faint, fishy amine odor. Used as a delayed-action, military casualty agent.
Air & Water Reactions
When dissolved in water, bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine is a strong base.
Reactivity Profile
When dissolved in water, bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine is a strong base; reacts violently with strong oxidants and acids ; attacks copper and copper compounds. [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 123]; reacts with hypochlorites to give N-chloroamines, some of which, are explosives when isolated [Bretherick 1979 p. 108].
Health Hazard
bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine is a nitrogen mustard. It is highly irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Nitrogen mustards have preferential toxicity for rapidly dividing cells. Workers exposed briefly to estimated concentrations of 10-100 ppm by inhalation became severely ill. The median lethal dosage is 1,500 mg-minute/m3.
Fire Hazard
When heated to decomposition, bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine emits very toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and chlorides. Polymerizes slowly. (Hazard not specified.)
Safety Profile
Deadly poison by inhalation, skincontact, ingestion, intravenous, subcutaneous, andintraperitoneal routes. When heated to decomposition itemits very toxic fumes of Cl-and NOx.
Potential Exposure
Sulfur mustards were formerly used as
a gas warfare agent. Nitrogen mustards have not previously
been used in warfare. HN-1 can be used as a delayedaction military casualty agent. Exposure to nitrogen
mustard damages the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract and
suppresses the immune system. Although the nitrogen mustards cause cellular changes within minutes of contact, the
onset of pain and other symptoms is delayed. Exposure to
large amounts can be fatal
First aid
There is no antidote for nitrogen mustard toxicity. Decontamination of all potentially exposed areas withinminutes after exposure is the only effective means ofdecreasing tissue damage.[NIOSH] Because health effects dueto nitrogen mustard may not occur until several hours afterexposure, patients/victims should be observed in a hospitalsetting for at least 24 h. Gastric lavage is contraindicatedfollowing ingestion of this agent due to the risk of perforation of the esophagus or upper airway. Stop exposure andtreat symptomatically. Move victim to fresh air; call emergency medical care. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. In case ofcontact with material, immediately flush skin or eyes withrunning water for at least 15 min. Speed in removing material from skin is of extreme importance. Remove and isolatecontaminated clothing and shoes at the site. Keep victimquiet and maintain normal body temperature. Effects maybe delayed; keep victim under observation.
Environmental Fate
HN
-1 and HN
-2 are considered to havemoderate environmental
persistence compared to that of HN
-3. Under alkaline conditions,
nitrogen mustards are mainly hydrolyzed in water
and soil. Because of nitrogen mustards’ low vapor pressure,
<1 mm Hg at 20–25 ℃, their concentration in the air is
not present at toxic levels. The estimated volatility values for
nitrogen mustards from water or moist soil indicate no-to-little
vapor concentration of mustard gas in the atmosphere. An estimated
biological concentration factor of 7 suggests the potential
for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Because of the
high toxicity of nitrogen mustards, strict safeguards are
employed to control their release into the environment. Thus,
occupational exposure of the general public to nitrogen mustard
compounds via dermal and inhalation routes is unlikely.
storage
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Store ina secure poison location. Prior to working with this chemicalyou should be trained on its proper handling and storage.Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilatedarea. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drumsor other storage containers to process containers
Shipping
UN2810 Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard
Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical
Name Required. Military driver shall be given full and
complete information regarding shipment and conditions in
case of emergency. AR 50-6 deals specifically with the
shipment of chemical agents. Shipments of agent will be
escorted in accordance with AR 740-32.
Incompatibilities
Avoid contamination with oxidizing
agents, e.g., nitrates, oxidizing acids; chlorine bleaches;swimming pool chlorine; hypochlorites which form compounds that may result in ignition or explosions. Toxic
intermediate products are produced during hydrolysis of
HN-1. Unstable in the presence of light and heat and
forms dimers at temperatures above 122F/50℃. HN-1:
When dissolved in water this chemical forms a strong base;
keep away from acids and oxidizers. Corrosive to ferrous
alloys beginning at 149F/65℃. Solution attacks copper,
copper alloys, and copper compounds. Contact with metals
may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Polymerizes slowly;
munitions would be effective and dangerous for several
years
Waste Disposal
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 nation 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 nation 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
(Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons;
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and
Their Destruction)
