Editing Nerve agent (section)

{{short description|Class of organophosphates; classified as weapons of mass destruction}}
{{about|chemical weapons|an American hardcore punk band|The Nerve Agents}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Nerve gas|Neural gas}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Chemical agents sidebar |nerve}}

'''Nerve agents''', sometimes also called '''nerve gases''', are a class of [[organic chemistry|organic chemicals]] that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of [[acetylcholinesterase]] (AChE), an [[enzyme]] that catalyzes the breakdown of [[acetylcholine]], a [[neurotransmitter]]. Nerve agents are irreversible [[acetylcholinesterase inhibitor]]s used as [[poison]].

Poisoning by a nerve agent leads to constriction of [[pupil]]s, profuse [[salivation]], [[convulsion]]s, and involuntary [[urination]] and [[defecation]], with the first symptoms appearing in seconds after exposure. Death by [[asphyxiation]] or [[cardiac arrest]] may follow in minutes due to the loss of the body's control over [[Respiration (physiology)|respiratory]] and other muscles. Some nerve agents are readily vaporized or [[aerosol]]ized, and the primary portal of entry into the body is the [[respiratory system]]. Nervous agents can also be absorbed through the skin, requiring that those likely to be subjected to such agents wear a full body suit in addition to a [[respirator]].

Nerve agents are generally colorless and tasteless liquids. Nerve agents evaporate at varying rates depending on the substance. None are gases in normal environments. The popular term "nerve gas" is inaccurate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kaszeta |first1=Dan |title=Toxic: A History of Nerve Agents, from Nazi Germany to Putin's Russia |date=2020 |publisher=C. Hurst |isbn=978-1-78738-306-7 |page=263 }}</ref>
  
Agents [[Sarin]] and [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] are odorless; [[Tabun (nerve agent)|Tabun]] has a slightly fruity odor and [[Soman]] has a slight [[camphor]] odor.<ref name="ATSDR">{{cite web | url = https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mmg/mmg.asp?id=523&tid=93 | title = Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs): Nerve Agents (GA, GB, GD, VX) | work = Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) | publisher = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180125190018/https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mmg/mmg.asp?id=523&tid=93 | archive-date = 2018-01-25 | url-status= live | access-date = 2018-03-08 }}</ref>