Arsenical Explained

Arsenicals are chemical compounds that contain arsenic.^{[1] [2]} In a military context, the term arsenical refer to toxic arsenic compounds that are used as chemical warfare agents. This include blister agents, blood agents and vomiting agents.^{[3] [4]} Historically, they were used extensively as insecticides, especially lead arsenate.

Examples

Blister agents

• Ethyldichloroarsine
• Lewisite
• Methyldichloroarsine
• Phenyldichloroarsine

Blood agents

• Arsine

Vomiting agents

• Adamsite
• Diphenylchlorarsine
• Diphenylcyanoarsine
• Phenyldichloroarsine

Notes and References

1. Gaion A, Sartori D, Scuderi A, Fattorini D . 2014 . Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds in Hediste diversicolor (Muller 1776) after exposure to spiked sediments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research . 21 . 9 . 5952–5959. 10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z. 24458939 . 2014ESPR...21.5952G . 12568097 .
2. Web site: Arsenicals - MeSH - NCBI .
3. Book: Handbook of chemical and biological warfare agents . 24 August 2007 . CRC Press . 9780849314346 . 2nd.
4. Book: Compendium of chemical warfare agents . 15 November 2006 . Springer . 9780387346267.