Mustard agents

Mustard agents
Mustard agent was produced for the first time in 1822 but its harmful effects were not discovered until 1860.Mustard agents are usually classified as “blistering agents”. They also cause severe damage to the eyes, respiratory system and internal organs. The effect of mustard agent is delayed and the first symptoms do not occur until 2-24 hours after exposure. A typical result of warfare with mustard agent is that the medical system is overloaded with numerous victims who require long and demanding care.
Mustard agent attacks the skin, eyes, lungs and gastro-intestinal tract. Internal organs may also be injured, mainly blood-generating organs, as a result of mustard agent being taken up through the skin or lungs and transported into the body. Mustard agent gives no immediate symptoms upon contact and consequently a delay of between two and twenty-four hours may occur before pain is felt and the victim becomes aware of what has happened. By then cell damage has already been caused.Mustard Agents as chemical weapons were first used towards the end of World War I. It was most commonly used chemical weapon, used to cause severe eye and lung damage.	Mustard Agent-blistering of skin from exposure to mustard
	United States, Russia, Germany and Iraq are all said to have produced mustard agents during the 20th century. Iraq used it against Iran and the Kurdish civilians in the Iran-Iraq war. They are easy to make. They have rotten mustard or onion odour.
Chemical Weapons