Facts about Sarin

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What sarin
is

• Sarin is a man-made
  chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent. Nerve agents are
  the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known chemical warfare agents.
  They are similar to certain kinds of insecticides called organophosphate
  insecticides in terms of how they work and what kind of harmful effects
  they cause; however, nerve agents are much more potent than insecticides.
• Sarin originally
  was developed in 1938 in Germany as an insecticide.
• Sarin is a clear,
  colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in its pure form. However,
  sarin can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and spread into the environment.
• Sarin is also known
  as GB.

Where sarin is found and how it is used

• Sarin is not found
  naturally in the environment.
• Sarin and other
  nerve agents may have been used in chemical warfare during the Iran-Iraq
  War in the 1980s.
• Sarin was used
  in two terrorist attacks in Japan in 1994 and 1995.

How people can be exposed to sarin

• If sarin is released
  into the air, people may be exposed through skin contact or eye contact.
  They may also be exposed by breathing air that contains sarin.
• If sarin is released
  into water, people may be exposed by touching or drinking water that
  contains sarin.
• If sarin comes
  in contact with food, people may be exposed by eating the contaminated
  food.
• A person’s clothing
  can release sarin for about 30 minutes after it has come in contact
  with sarin vapor. Other people can be exposed to sarin if they breathe
  this sarin gas.
• Because sarin breaks
  down slowly in the body, people who are repeatedly exposed to sarin
  may suffer more harmful health effects.

How sarin works

• The extent of poisoning
  that sarin causes depends on three factors: (1) the amount of sarin
  to which they were exposed, (2) how they were exposed, and (3) the how
  long the exposure lasted.
• Symptoms will appear
  within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor form of sarin and within
  a few minutes up to 18 hours after exposure to the liquid form.
• All the nerve agents
  cause their toxic effects by preventing the proper operation of the
  chemical that acts as the body’s “off switch” for glands and muscles.
  Without an “off switch,” the glands and muscles are constantly being
  stimulated. They may tire and no longer be able to sustain breathing
  function.
• Sarin vapor is
  heavier than air, so it would be more likely to settle in low-lying
  areas.
• Because sarin mixes
  easily with water, water can easily be contaminated.
• Sarin is the most
  volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it can easily and quickly
  evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread into the environment.
  People can be exposed to the vapor even if they do not come in contact
  with the liquid form of sarin.
• Because it evaporates
  so quickly, sarin presents an immediate, but short-lived, threat.

Immediate signs and symptoms of sarin exposure

• People may not
  know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor.
• People exposed
  to a low or moderate dose of sarin by breathing contaminated air, eating
  contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching contaminated
  surfaces may experience some or all of the following symptoms within
  seconds to hours of exposure:
  • Runny nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Small, pinpoint
    pupils
  • Eye pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Drooling and
    excessive sweating
  • Cough
  • Chest tightness
  • Rapid breathing
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased urination
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting,
    and/or abdominal pain
  • Slow or fast
    heart rate
  • Low or high
    blood pressure
• Even a small drop
  of sarin on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching where sarin
  touched the skin.
• Exposure to large
  doses of sarin by any route may result in the following harmful health
  effects:
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Convulsions
  • Paralysis
  • Respiratory
    failure possibly leading to death

What the long-term
health effects are

Mild or moderately
exposed people usually recover completely. Some studies in animals and
people suggest that severe nerve agent poisoning can cause long-term central
nervous system effects, such as changes in brain activity. However, it
is unclear what such changes may mean, if anything, regarding the function
and long-term health status of a person who has been mildly or moderately
exposed to sarin.

How people can protect themselves and what they should do if they
are exposed to sarin

• Recovery from sarin
  exposure is possible with treatment, but the antidotes available must
  be used quickly to be effective. Therefore, the best thing to do is
  avoid exposure. If exposure cannot be avoided, rapidly decontaminate
  and get medical care as quickly as possible.
• Leave the area
  where the sarin was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving to
  an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing
  the possibility of death from exposure to sarin vapors.
  • If the sarin
    release was outdoors, move away from the area where the sarin was
    released. Go to the highest ground possible, because sarin is heavier
    than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
  • If the sarin
    release was indoors, get out of the building.
• Remove any clothing
  that has liquid sarin on it, and if possible, seal the clothing in a
  plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag.
  Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will protect you and others
  from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
• If helping other
  people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated
  areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
• Rinse the eyes
  with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or if vision
  is blurry.
• As quickly as possible,
  wash any liquid sarin from the skin with large amounts of soap and water.
  Washing with soap and water will protect people from any chemicals on
  their bodies.
• If sarin has been
  swallowed, do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink. Seek medical
  attention immediately.
• Stay calm. Dial
  911 and explain what has happened.
• Wait for emergency
  personnel to arrive.

How sarin poisoning is treated

Sarin poisoning is
treated with antidotes, if necessary, and with supportive medical care.
The most important thing is for victims to be rapidly decontaminated and
to be given medical treatment as soon as possible.

How people can get more information about sarin

People can contact
one of the following:

• Regional poison
  control center (1-800-222-1222)
• Centers for Disease
  Control and Prevention Public Response Hotline (CDC)
  • English (888)
    246-2675
  • Español (888)
    246-2857
  • TTY (866) 874-2646
• Agency for Toxic
  Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1-888-422-8737)