Novichok: a fourth-generation class of nerve agents

Salisbury, U.K. April 25, 2018. Decontamination efforts where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found poisoned. [shutterstock.com]2.5 out of 5 stars Novichok: a murderous nerve agent attack in the UK. Vale JA et al. Clin Toxicol 2018 May 14 [Epub ahead of print] Reference In an article in yesterday’s New York Times, medical workers who treated Sergei and Yulia Skripal after they were found poisoned and unconscious on March 4 describe how they feared both patients would die and that many more patients might ultimately be affected. Initially it was thought that the Skripals were suffering from opioid overdose. But after learning that Mr. Skripal had been a spy for Russia, attention turned to some form of organophosphate nerve agent. British authorities have identified the agent use to poison the Skripals as “Novichok.” This term, which means ‘newbie’ or ‘newcomer’ in Russian, is not all that helpful. It refers to a number of nerve agents that were synthesized after the development of the ‘G’ agents — tabun, soman, sarin — and other agents such as VX. Virtually nothing has been published in the scientific literature about the toxicology of the Novichok agents. I was hoping that this paper would fill in some of the gaps and expand our knowledge about these “fourth generation” nerve agents. Unfortunately, It does not reveal much that is new or not known from previously available sources. The authors remind us that...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical nerve agent Novichok organophosphate Skripal Source Type: news