TYPES
OF
HAZARD/
EXPOSURE |
ACUTE
HAZARDS/
CLINICAL SIGNS/
SYMPTOMS |
PREVENTION/
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT |
FIRST
AID/
FIRE FIGHTING |
FIRE |
N/A |
Contain to prevent contamination to uncontrolled areas. |
Water mist, fog, foam, CO2. Avoid
methods that will cause splashing or spreading.
|
EXPLOSION |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
ROUTE OF EXPOSURE |
|
Synopsis: |
Lethal cholinesterase inhibitor in liquid
or vapor form.
There is only a slight difference between a fatal dose and
a dose that produces more mild health effects.
Clothing releases agent for about 30 minutes after contact
with vapor.
Contaminated surfaces present long-term contact hazard. |
Do not breathe fumes.
Skin contact must be avoided at all times.
|
Seek medical attention immediately.
(See Decontamination section.)
Triage procedures and medical management guidelines - see ATSDR
medical management guidelines for Nerve
Agents.
|
Inhalation: |
Symptoms may occur within minutes or hours, depending
upon dose. Death usually occurs within 15 minutes after absorption
of a fatal dose.
Same sequence of symptoms despite the route of exposure:
MILD
- Runny nose
- Tightness of the chest and breathing difficulty
- Eye pain, dimness of vision and pin pointing of pupils (miosis)
- Difficulty in breathing and cough
MODERATE
- Increased eye symptoms with blurred vision
- Drooling and excessive sweating
- Severe nasal congestion
- Increased tightness of the chest and breathing difficulty
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps
- Generalized weakness, twitching of large muscle groups
- Headache, confusion, and drowsiness
SEVERE
- Involuntary defecation and urination
- Very copious secretions
- Twitching, jerking, staggering and convulsions
- Cessation of breathing, loss of consciousness, coma and death.
|
Hold breath until respiratory protective mask
is donned.
Fire-Fighting personnel should wear full protective clothing and
respiratory protection during fire fighting and rescue.
Pressure demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (SCBA
CBRN, if available) is recommended in response to non-routine emergency
situations.
CBRN, Full Facepiece APR (when available) is recommended in non-routine,
emergency situation environments less than IDLH but above REL or
PEL levels. |
For severe signs, immediately administer, in
rapid succession, all three Nerve Agent Antidote Kit(s), Mark I
injectors (or atropine if directed by a physician).
If signs and symptoms are progressing, use injectors at 5 to
20 minute intervals. (No more than 3 injections unless directed
by medical personnel.)
Maintain record of all injections given.
Give artificial respiration if breathing has stopped. Use mouth-to-mouth
when mask-bag or oxygen delivery systems not available. Do not use
mouth-to-mouth if face is contaminated.
Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.
Seek medical attention immediately. |
Skin: |
Very rapid onset of symptoms.
Pupil size may range from normal to moderately reduced.
(See Inhalation for other symptoms.) |
Butyl rubber glove M3 and M4 Norton, Responder®
CSM protective clothing.
|
Don gloves and respiratory protection and then
remove contaminated clothing from victim and wash exposed area thoroughly
with soap and water. Contaminated clothing can expose rescue workers
through direct contact or through off-gassing vapor. (See 'Antidote
Administration' in Inhalation.)
(See Decontamination section.)
Seek medical attention immediately.
|
Eyes: |
Very rapid onset of symptoms.
Pupil size may range from normal to moderately reduced.
(See Inhalation for other symptoms.) |
Chemical goggles and face shield.
|
Immediately flush with large amounts of tepid
water for at least 15 minutes.
Seek medical attention immediately.
|
Ingestion: |
First symptoms are likely to be gastrointestinal.
Pupil size may range from normal to moderately reduced.
(See Inhalation for other symptoms.) |
Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands
before eating. |
Do not induce vomiting. Immediately administer Nerve
Agent Antidote Kit, Mark I.
Seek medical attention immediately. |
|
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
LIMITS (OELs): |
OSHA PEL: N/A
NIOSH REL: N/A
ACGIH TLV: N/A
TLV : 0.00001 mg/m3 (U.S. military)
NIOSH IDLH: N/A
1 mg/m3=0.09145ppm
(See Acute Exposure Guideline Levels below.) |
SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL
METHODS |
NIOSH: N/A
OSHA: N/A |
| |
DECONTAMINATION |
Patient/Victim:
Don gloves and respiratory protection and then remove contaminated
clothing from victim and wash exposed area thoroughly with soap
and water. Contaminated clothes and personal belongings should be
placed in a sealed double bag. Decontaminate within 1 or 2 minutes
following exposure by washing exposed area thoroughly with soap
and water.
If the hazard is from vapor alone, evacuation of the patient
upwind from the exposure source may be sufficient.
(1) Patients exposed to nerve agent by vapor only should be decontaminated
by removing all clothing in a clean air environment and shampooing
or rinsing the hair to prevent vapor-off gassing.
(2) Patients exposed to liquid nerve agent should be decontaminated
by –
a. Washing in warm or hot water at least three times. Use liquid
soap (dispose of container after use and replace), large amounts
of water, and mild to moderate friction with a single-use sponge
or washcloth in the first and second washes. Scrubbing of exposed
skin with a brush is discouraged, because skin damage may occur
and may increase absorption. The third wash should be to rinse
with large amounts of warm or hot water. Shampoo can be used
to wash the hair. The rapid physical removal of a chemical agent
is essential. If warm or hot water is not available, but cold
water is, use cold water. Do not delay decontamination to obtain
warm water.
b. Rinsing the eyes, mucous membranes, or open wounds with sterile
saline or water.
(3) The healthcare provider should –
a. Check the patient after the three washes to verify adequate
decontamination before allowing entry to the medical treatment
facility. If the washes were inadequate, repeat the entire process.
b. Be prepared to administer antidote and or to stabilize conventional
injuries during the decontamination process.
c. Protect the airway while conducting decontamination and assure
appropriate placement of the respirator over the uncontaminated
face. The initial assessment of the casualty can best be performed
in an agent-free environment where the health care provider
is able to "look, listen, and feel" unencumbered by protective
clothing. However, careful decontamination can be a time consuming
process. The health care provider may have to enter the contaminated
area to treat the casualty during the process. Medical personnel
should wear the proper PPE and evaluate the exposed workers.
(For further information see ATSDR medical management guidelines
for Nerve Agents,
SBCCOM Guidelines
for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a Terrorist Chemical
Agent Incident (January 2000), and SBCCOM Guidelines
for Cold Weather Mass Decontamination During a Terrorist Chemical
Agent Incident (January 2002)).
Equipment: N/A
Environment: Large scale procedure (greater
than 50g) -- use both calcium hypochlorite (HTH) and NaOH. (See
Spillage Disposal.)
The small-scale decontamination procedure uses sufficient alcoholic
HTH to oxidize.
If alcoholic HTH mixture is not available, then use following
in the order of preference: Decontaminating Agent (DS2), Supertropical
Bleach Slurry (STB), and Sodium Hypochlorite.
|
SPILLAGE DISPOSAL |
Cover with vermiculite, diatomaceous earth,
clay or fine sand. An alcoholic HTH mixture is prepared by adding
100 milliliters of denatured ethanol to a 900-milliliter slurry of
10% HTH in water just prior to use since the HTH can react with the
ethanol. Mix 14g of alcoholic HTH solution for each 1g of VX and agitate
as added for a minimum of 1 hr. The mixture will give off heat and
gas which should be routed through a decontaminate filled scrubber
before release through filtration systems. After the 1hr minimum agitation,
10% sodium hydroxide is added to produce a pH of 12.5 which is maintained
for not less than 24 hr. Hold the material at a pH 10 - 12 for 90
days.
Scoop decontaminated material and place in approved container. After
sealing, decontaminate the exterior and label. All leaking containers
will be over packed with sorbent (e.g. vermiculite) placed between
the interior and exterior containers. Label and dispose according
to regulations. Conduct general area monitoring. |
PACKAGING
& LABELLING
|
UN#: 2810
(Guide 153) |
| Proper Shipping Name: Toxic liquids,
organic, n.o.s. |
| Hazard Class: 6.1, Packing Group I,
Hazard Zone A. |
| Label: Poison. |
| Marking: Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s.
(O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl)methylphosphonothioate) UN 2810,
Inhalation Hazard. |
| Placard: N/A |
NFPA 704 Signal:
Health - 4
Flammability - 1
Reactivity - 1
Special - 0 |
| |
IMPORTANT
DATA |
PHYSICAL STATE; APPEARANCE:
Colorless to straw-colored liquid and odorless, similar in appearance
to motor oil.
PHYSICAL DANGERS:
N/A
CHEMICAL DANGERS:
Relatively stable at room temperature. Unstabilized VX of 95%
purity decomposes at a rate of 5% a month at 159.8°F. (71°C)
At pH 12, the toxic by-product has a half-life of about 14 days
and in 90 days there is about a 64-fold reduction.
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by all routes.
INHALATION RISK:
Usually liquid in normal state. It has low volatility and is
about 2000 times less volatile than Sarin (GB); however, it is about
10 times more toxic.
EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE:
VX, an organophosphorous compound, is a lethal acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor similar in action to Sarin (GB). There is only a slight
difference between a fatal dose and a dose that produces little
health effects. Death usually occurs within 15 minutes after absorption
of a fatal dose. The aging half-life for VX is about 48 hours and
is the slowest aging nerve agent.
EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE:
Limited data suggest delayed neuropathy (postural sway, psychomotor
performance). Constricted or pin-point pupils (miosis) has been
noted up to 62 days. |
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES |
Melting Point: -58°F(-50°C) |
| Boiling Point: 568.4°F (298°C) |
| Vapor Pressure (25°C): 0.00063
mm Hg |
| Density (25°C): 1.0083 g /ml |
| Volatility: 8.9-10.5 mg/m3
at 25°C |
| Vapor density (air=1): 9.2 |
| Aqueous solubility: miscible below
9.4°C; 30 g/L at 25°C |
| Soluble in organic solvents. |
| Estimated log Kow: 2.06 |
| log Kbenzene-water: unknown |
| Flashpoint: 159°F (70.6°C) |
| Flammability: unknown |
ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA |
Sunlight and/or heat causes reversible
photoisomerization.
VX is hydrolyzed only slowly, and the hydrolysis products include
EA2192, which is nearly as toxic as VX and is hydrolyzed over 1,000
times more slowly. Oxidation using common bleach (Na(OCl) and superchlorinated
bleach (Ca(OCl)2) will decontaminate.
VX is on the Superfund Extremely Dangerous Substances List. |
ACUTE EXPOSURE
GUIDELINES (AEGLs)
Interim |
| |
10 min |
30 min |
1hr |
4 hr |
8 hr |
| AEGL 1 (discomfort, non-disabling) -
ppm |
0.000052 |
0.000030 |
0.000016 |
0.0000091 |
0.0000065 |
| AEGL 2 (irreversible or other serious,
long-lasting effects or impaired ability to escape) - ppm |
0.00065 |
0.00038 |
0.00027 |
0.00014 |
0.000095 |
AEGL 3 (life-threatening effects or death)
-ppm
|
0.0027 |
0.0014 |
0.00091 |
0.00048 |
0.00035 |
|
NOTES |
| |
| |
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION |
Trade Names and Other Synonyms
- Phosphonothioic acid, methyl-,
- O-ethyl S-(2-bis(1-methylethylamino)ethyl) 0-ethyl ester
- S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate
- S-2-Diisopropylaminoethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate
- S-2((2-Diisopropylamino)ethyl) O-ethyl methylphosphonothiolate
- O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate
- O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylthiolphosphonoate
- S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) o-ethyl methyl phosphonothiolate
- Ethyl-S-dimethylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate
- TX60
|
| |
GLOSSARY
OF ACRONYMS |
APR - Air-purifying
Respirator
CBRN - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear
IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
REL - Recommended Exposure Limit
PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit
SCBA - Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus |
| |
IMPORTANT
NOTICE: |
VX (ERC50782-69-9)
The user should verify compliance of the cards with the relevant STATE
or TERRITORY legislation before use. NIOSH, CDC 2003 |