Which of the following chemicals is a nerve agent?

Which of the following chemicals is a nerve agent?

• A. Soman
• B. Mustard gas
• C. Chlorine
• D. Botulinum toxin

Answer: (A)

Nerve agents are organophosphorus chemicals that irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing a rapid buildup of acetylcholine at muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. This flood of acetylcholine leads to a swift cholinergic crisis with symptoms like sweating, excessive secretions, bronchoconstriction, miosis, bradycardia, muscle fasciculations, and can progress to respiratory failure if not treated promptly. Soman is a classic example of a nerve agent because it fits this mechanism as an organophosphate that blocks acetylcholinesterase, producing the rapid and widespread cholinergic effects EMTs must recognize and counteract with decontamination, atropine, and pralidoxime. The other substances do not fit this category: mustard gas is a vesicant that causes blistering of skin and mucous membranes; chlorine is a pulmonary irritant and choking agent; botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that inhibits acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, not an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and is not classified as a nerve agent in chemical warfare terms.

Nerve agents are organophosphorus chemicals that irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing a rapid buildup of acetylcholine at muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. This flood of acetylcholine leads to a swift cholinergic crisis with symptoms like sweating, excessive secretions, bronchoconstriction, miosis, bradycardia, muscle fasciculations, and can progress to respiratory failure if not treated promptly.

Soman is a classic example of a nerve agent because it fits this mechanism as an organophosphate that blocks acetylcholinesterase, producing the rapid and widespread cholinergic effects EMTs must recognize and counteract with decontamination, atropine, and pralidoxime.

The other substances do not fit this category: mustard gas is a vesicant that causes blistering of skin and mucous membranes; chlorine is a pulmonary irritant and choking agent; botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that inhibits acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, not an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and is not classified as a nerve agent in chemical warfare terms.