Chloropicrin

CHLOROPICRIN (akinet), trichloronitromethane, nitrochloroform, C-CCl₃-NO₂, a colorless (technical grade-yellowish), oily, mobile liquid with a strong characteristic suffocating odor resembling pineapple. Sp. gr. 1.69; boiling point +112°; vapor pressure at 20°-18.9 mm Hg. Volatility of C. at 0°-57.5 mg per liter, at 20°-184 mg, at 30°-295 mg, at 50°-748 mg. Vapors of C. are 5.7 times heavier than air. C. is not decomposed by water, almost insoluble in water (1 liter dissolves 1.63 g), readily soluble in organic solvents. C. is a stable substance, chemically little active, non-flammable; under ordinary conditions non-explosive. Pure, dry, neutral C. does not damage iron, steel, lead, tin, brass; copper becomes dull; items from tinned plate and nickel-plated do not change their usual appearance. Under practical conditions of mass application C. may cause pronounced rusting of iron and steel items; the quality of steel is of great importance; certain grades of steel do not cause rusting; high humidity and temperature promote rusting (Okunevsky). The best destroyer of C. is sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃), which destroys the molecule of C., converting all its chlorine into sodium chloride (NaCl). On prolonged standing and in light C., according to Randier, partially decomposes into COCl₂ (phosgene), NOCl (nitrosyl chloride), HCl, HNO (nitroxime-nitrogenous residue, which on further oxidation can pass into HNO₂, and then into HNO₃). C. belongs to chemical warfare agents-CWA (see Chemical warfare agents), possessing lachrymatory, suffocating, and resorptive-toxic effects; it belongs to Group III of chlorine and bromine derivatives, which are not acted upon by water (Chugaev). In 1915 C. was proposed in Russia for military purposes (Aksenov); during the imperialist war it was widely used by all participants for military purposes; often used in mixtures with chlorine or phosgene. C. on contact with delicate skin causes slowly healing burns. In vapor state C. in a dose of 0.2 mg per liter is fatal for humans and animals; 0.1 mg per liter causes severe suffocation, irritation of the respiratory tract, damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, nausea and vomiting; 0.06 mg per liter is not tolerated by humans for more than one minute (F. Flury); 0.019 mg per liter causes lacrimation, irritation of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, coughing; concentration of 1-2:1,000,000 is tolerated by the eyes without blinking; at 2-25:1,000,000 a person involuntarily closes his eyes in 3-30 seconds; at 25:1,000,000 the eyes close immediately (A. A. Likhachev). C. belongs to substances, the basis of the mechanism of toxic action of which is not fully elucidated; it is assumed that C. in contact with living tissues acts as a strong oxidizing agent, which gives grounds for its use to destroy insects (Lipschitz). C. does not change the practical value of linen (impregnated) and especially silk and woolen fabrics. 100 g of felt absorbs 1,740 mg in 5 hours; silk-1,790 mg (Korobochkina); army gray overcoat cloth strongly adsorbs C. and is freed from it by ordinary ventilation through the air-mixing screw

C. has considerable penetrability, is well adsorbed by porous objects: fabrics, furnishings, grain products, building materials. 1 m² of linoleum for floors absorbs 294.1 g of C.; linoleum (wallpaper)-198.5 g; oilcloth-134.32 g; white oilcloth-147.6 g; pine-16.9 g; spruce-13.8 g; polished oak-1.09 g; mahogany-0.3 g. Of fabrics, cotton absorbs the smallest amount of C., more

Figure 1. Chloropicrin and hot-air disinfection chamber of Nabokov and Solovyev. The chamber works as a hot-air chamber with hot moving air, allows switching the furnace to idle to prevent overheating of things; has devices for ventilation and blowing out chloropicrin by a current of hot air after processing things with chloropicrin. 30-36 hours. Temperature, humidity and air movement strongly influence the speed of removal of C. Hot moving air at 80-100° removes C. from clothing after 1 h. 30 m. (Okunevsky and Boldyrev). Residential premises finished with wood can absorb large amounts of C. and slowly release it during ventilation (3-5-9 days). Rubber items greedily adsorb C., increasing in weight by 90-100%, and increase in volume, swell, soften. C. has considerable antiseptic power, kills unstable vegetative forms of microbes (20 cm³ per 1 m³ with exposure of 20 hours). The presence of protein reduces the bactericidal power by 3 times, increase in temperature enhances it by 2 times. Spore-bearing microbes are killed only at a dose of 600 g per 1 liter³ at 50° in 20 hours. C. has excellent disinsection and deratization action and is widely used in sanitary, agricultural and museum practice for fighting parasites, agricultural, museum pests and rodents (see Disinsection, Deratization). In sanitary practice C. is used to kill bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches, lice. C. can be widely used for treating isolated premises (barracks, hostels, hotels, museums, residential houses, dining rooms, factory-kitchens, warehouses, granaries, etc. buildings). C. is widely used for chamber treatment of furnishings, bedding, clothing, fur and leather goods, containers provided that individual items are freely hung. When treating isolated individual premises, the dose of C. varies between 10-50 (on average-30) cm³ per 1 m³ depending on the tightness of the premises. The disinsection effect is greatly influenced by the temperature of the premises (not below 15°). Treatment time-24 hours. Premises particularly infested with insects (bedbugs, cockroaches) should be kept under gas for 2-3 days, since cockroaches are resistant to C. Chloropicrin is also widely used for treating ships.

During ventilation of premises and for the first 5 days after its completion, washing of floors should be prohibited for the faster removal of C. (Okunevsky). Acceleration of removal of C. can be achieved by the use of vacuum cleaners or portable ship fans (Basalaev). Work with C. must be carried out under responsible supervision by physicians or specialists by qualified personnel. Permission to admit people to the premises should be given only by a responsible physician or specialist. All work with C. is carried out with protection of personnel from the harmful effects of C. (reliable gas masks, special suit). When vapors of C. develop, mandatory performance of work in a protective suit should be required. Work must be done in groups to prevent accidents. In case of poisoning, appropriate assistance is rendered (see Poisoning, table, №36).-Gas chambers

Figure 2. Disinsection chloropicrin chamber, built in 1932-33 by Svirstroy (Leningrad). The chamber is heated by a stove and a plate. The plate serves for evaporating chloropicrin, poured into a tray placed on it. The chamber is equipped with an air and vapor mixer, supply-exhaust ventilation and devices for heating the air flowing into the chamber. The chamber has two canopies: one-for sorting things, the other-for final ventilation. For pouring C. into the tray, a removable funnel is provided; after introducing C. the funnel is removed, and the tube is hermetically sealed with a plug.

are of either simple or complex construction. Among the simplest chambers, the chambers of Nabokov and Solovyev (Fig. 1), Svirstroy (Fig. 2), and the Central Institute of Epidemiology (TsIEP) should be recommended. All these chambers are equipped with devices for heating the room to 40-60° and for ventilation after completion of work with hot moving air. The processing of clothing with Chloropicrin in chambers is carried out within the time limits corresponding to the requirements of simultaneity (1 hour). In chamber processing of furniture items and bedding, the time limits are extended to 2-6-12 hours depending on the structure of the objects, their bulkiness, and the degree of chamber loading. Recently, Chloropicrin has been used to combat mosquito larvae, and satisfactory results have been obtained (Politov). y. Okunevekiya. From a toxicological point of view, Chloropicrin is classified as a chemical agent of suffocating action with immediate manifestation of signs of poisoning. Along with this, Chloropicrin also has lachrymatory and resorptive effects. Under certain conditions, Chloropicrin affects the skin from erythema to blistering and ulceration (Glebovich). Cumulative. In terms of toxicity, Chloropicrin occupies an intermediate position between phosgene and chlorine. According to literary data, its Ct = 2,000. At a concentration of 0.019 mg/l, it causes lacrimation, hyperemia of the conjunctiva, injection of scleral vessels, burning, and smarting. Higher concentrations cause more severe conjunctivitis and even keratitis. Liquid Chloropicrin causes deeper damage to the cornea - ulceration, sometimes perforating. Concentrations of 0.1 mg/l and above have suffocating and general poisonous effects. - The respiratory tract is affected by Chloropicrin throughout its entire length, but the small bronchi are most severely damaged. Even with subcutaneous and intravenous administration, the small bronchi are most severely affected. In the process of Chloropicrin poisoning, two stages are distinguished: 1st stage - excitation, and 2nd stage - narcosis and paralysis. In this respect, Chloropicrin has something in common with chloroform. When affected by Chloropicrin, signs of damage appear immediately upon contact of the chemical agent with the body. Smarting and burning under the eyelids, lacrimation, blepharospasm, cough, respiratory disorders, suffocation, and other phenomena characteristic of suffocating chemical agents appear. In general, with further development of the damage, a picture similar to that caused by chlorine and phosgene is revealed (from rhinitis and tracheitis to pulmonary edema). The same phenomena are found in the blood as in chlorophosgene poisoning. In addition, Chloropicrin acts on the blood, causing methemoglobin formation. Inhalation exposure to Chloropicrin is always accompanied by phenomena of general "intoxication." Often the renal system is also involved in the process (glomerulonephritis). Prevention. A gas mask reliably protects the respiratory organs and vision from the action of Chloropicrin vapors. The first aid measures are the same as for phosgene poisoning (see Phosgene). Since Chloropicrin affects the eyes, it is necessary to quickly remove the chemical agent from the conjunctival sac by washing with physiological or soda (2%) solution, followed by the introduction of 1-2 drops of a 2-4% solution of novocain under the eyelid (the latter in cases of severe pain and smarting). Subsequently, for developing conjunctivitis, an alkaline eye ointment is placed under the eyelid: Natrii biborici 1.0; Natrii bicarbonici 2.0; Adipis lanae anhydri, Aq. destillatae aa 10.0; Vaselini ad 100.0; M. f. ung. - eye ointment. S. Apply under the eyelid 3-4 times a day after washing.