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.
Nitrogen mustard is a pale yellow, oily,
mobile liquid with a faint odor of herring. 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.
NIOSH reports HN-2 as having “a fruity odor at high
concentrations, and a soapy or fishy odor at low concentrations.
HN-2 has been
used sparingly in chemotherapy.
A class of compounds with fishy
odor and lachrymatory properties. They are named
from their similarity in structure to mustard
gas (dichlorodiethyl sulfide). The sulfur of the
mustard gas is replaced by an amino nitrogen.Typical nitrogen mustards are halogenated alkylamines, such as methyl bis(2-chloroethyl)amine:
(ClCH2CH2)2NCH3. Other examples are triethylene melamine, triethylene thiophosphoramide, and
triethylene phosphoramide.
The nitrogen mustards are tertiary amines in which the
halogen atom and the amine portion have reactivities similar
to those of alkyl halides and alkyl amines. They are oily
liquids that have limited water solubility but form readily
soluble hydrochlorides. They are prepared by the action of
thionyl chloride on the appropriate alkanolamine. Many
of the actions of the nitrogen mustards resemble those of
ethyleneimine derivatives because they are transformed in
aqueous solutions into the highly reactive ethylenimonium intermediates: these ions can readily react with a variety of
organic compounds in vitro, especially with amino, sulfhydro,
and carboxyl groups of proteins and phosphate groups in
nucleic acid, and therefore can alkylate biologically important
macromolecules.
Mobile liquid; faint odor of herring. Used as a drug for the treatment of cancer. Formerly used as a gas warfare agent.
Chlormethine is a chlorinated amine. Amines are chemical bases. They neutralize acids to form salts plus water. These acid-base reactions are exothermic. The amount of heat that is evolved per mole of amine in a neutralization is largely independent of the strength of the amine as a base. Amines may be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated by amines in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.
Strong irritant to tissues, lachrymatory.
Probable carcinogen.
Toxic doses as low as 400 mg/kg have been reported in humans. Blood clots may occur at site of intravenous injection and tissue damage if outside vein. Powerful vesicant (causes blisters) when it contacts skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. Delayed toxicity -- missed menstrual periods, alopecia (hair loss), hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in ears), jaundice, impaired spermatogenesis and germinal aplasia, swelling, and hypersensitivity. May damage fetus in pregnant women.
Undiluted liquid decomposes on standing.
Confirmed human carcinogenproducing skin tumors by skin contact. Experimentalcarcinogenic, tumorigenic, and neoplastigenic data. Adeadly poison by inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, andmost other routes. Experimental teratogenic andreproductive eff
Drug used in treatment of cancer.
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. Sulfur mustards were formerly used as a gas
warfare agent. Nitrogen mustards have not previously been
used in warfare
There is no antidote for nitrogen mustard toxicity. Decontamination of all potentially exposed areas within minutes after exposure is the only effective means of decreasing tissue damage.[NIOSH] Because health effects due to nitrogen mustard may not occur until several hours after exposure, patients/victims should be observed in a hospital setting for at least 24 h. Gastric lavage is contraindicated following ingestion of this agent due to the risk of perforation of the esophagus or upper airway. If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Speed in removing material from skin is of extreme importance. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Keep victim quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Effects may be delayed; keep victim under observation.
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Store in a secure poison location. Prior to working with this chemical you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. A regulated, marked area should be established where this chemical is handled, used, or stored. Store in 1674 Mechlorethamine (Agent HN-2, WMD) tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers.
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
HN-2 is not stable except as dry crystals.
Polymerization of HN-2 results in components that present
an explosion hazard in open air. Avoid contact or
contamination with oxidizers e.g., nitrates, oxidizing acids;
chlorine bleaches pool chlorine); which may result in ignition. Unstable in the presence of light and heat and forms
dimers at temperatures above 50C. Corrosive to ferrous
alloys beginning @ 65C. Polymerizes slowly, so munitions would be effective for several years. Heated to
decomposition emits hydrogen chloride and nitrogen oxide.
Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen
gas. Note: Chlorinating agents destroy nitrogen mustards. Dry chlorinated lime and chloramines with a high
content of active chlorine vigorously chlorinate nitrogen
mustards to the carbon chain, giving low toxicity products.
In the presence of water this interaction proceeds less
actively. They are rapidly oxidized by peracids in aqueous
solution at weakly alkaline pH. In acid solution the
oxidation is much slower.
An amine and a chemical base: will neutralize acids to
form salts plus water with an exothermic reaction. May be
incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid
halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated by
amines in combination with strong reducing agents such as
hydrides, nitrides, alkali metals, and sulfides
It is inappropriate and possibly dangerous to the environment to dispose of expired or
waste drugs and pharmaceuticals by flushing them down
the toilet or discarding them to the trash. Household quantities of expired or waste pharmaceuticals may be mixed
with wet cat litter or coffee grounds, double-bagged in
plastic, discard in trash. Larger quantities shall carefully
take into consideration applicable DEA, EPA, and FDA
regulations. If possible return the pharmaceutical to the
manufacturer for proper disposal being careful to properly
label and securely package the material. Alternatively, the
waste pharmaceutical shall be labeled, securely packaged,
and transported by a state licensed medical waste contractor
to dispose by burial in a licensed hazardous or toxic waste
landfill or incinerator
