title: Diphenylarsinic acid poisoning from chemical weapons in Kamisu, Japan.
abstract: We noted a new clinical syndrome with prominent cerebellar symptoms in apartment building residents in Kamisu, Japan. The well that provided drinking water contained diphenylarsinic acid, a degradation product of diphenylcyanoarsine or diphenylchloroarsine, which were developed for use as chemical weapons, inducing severe vomiting and sneezing. Characteristics of diphenylarsinic acid poisoning include brainstem-cerebellar and cerebral symptoms. Mental retardation associated with brain atrophy in magnetic resonance images was evident in some infants. We must be vigilant to prevent or minimize the effects of further diphenylarsinic acid poisoning in Japan or elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. kazishii@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaoka
authors.forename: Fujio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Ginji
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Shin'ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimojo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; C493087:diphenylarsinic acid