Osmium tetroxide: a new kind of weapon.
OsO4 is a powerful oxidizer. It affects mainly the skin and mucous membranes. Although unsuitable for a large-scale terrorist attack, mainly due to its scarcity, it could be used in small-scale attacks. The small quantity contained in a vial would cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Combining the agent with an explosive material will probably destroy most of it, chemically. Thus, releasing the chemical without using explosives may be considerably more dangerous. Medical management is mainly symptomatic. As soon as the chemical enters the body, it rapidly reacts with the tissues in contact. Medical personnel should be aware of its poisonous effects and be equally familiar with the necessary self-protection measures and the treatment protocols.
Makarovsky
Igor
I
CBRN Medical Branch, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force.
Markel
Gal
G
Hoffman
Azik
A
Schein
Ophir
O
Finkelstien
Arseny
A
Brosh-Nissimov
Tal
T
Tashma
Zeev
Z
Dushnitsky
Tsvika
T
Eisenkraft
Arik
A
D051337:Chemical Terrorism; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D009993:Osmium Tetroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D016877:Oxidants; D009993:Osmium Tetroxide