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Phosgene use in World War 1 and early evaluations of pathophysiology

Phosgene use in World War 1 and early evaluations of pathophysiology
Phosgene use in World War 1 and early evaluations of pathophysiology

World War 1 ended 100 years ago. The aftermath included the consolidation of significant advances in medical care of casualties. Some of these advances were made in the care of chemical casualties, in particular the mechanisms of toxicity and treatment of phosgene exposure. Phosgene, or carbonyl chloride, is an extremely poisonous vapour that was used to devastating effect during World War 1. Observations made of acutely poisoned casualties formed the basis of much research in the early post-World War 1 era. Some extremely elegant experiments, some at the nascent Porton Down research facility, further evaluated the toxin and defences against it. Researchers drew on knowledge that was later forgotten and has since been relearnt later in the 20th century and made many correct assumptions. Their work is the bedrock of our understanding of phosgene toxicity that survives to this day. The horrors of chemical warfare prompted the Geneva Protocol of 1925, prohibiting the use of chemical agents in warfare, and chemical warfare on this scale has not been repeated. The ease with which phosgene can be synthesised requires healthcare providers to be familiar with its effects.

CBRN, Chemical Warfare, phosgene, TOXICOLOGY, World War 1
0035-8665
Nicholson-Roberts, T.C.
112cc355-d087-4430-afc7-45170c1f48dc
Nicholson-Roberts, T.C.
112cc355-d087-4430-afc7-45170c1f48dc

Nicholson-Roberts, T.C. (2018) Phosgene use in World War 1 and early evaluations of pathophysiology. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps. (doi:10.1136/jramc-2018-001072).

Record type: Article

Abstract

World War 1 ended 100 years ago. The aftermath included the consolidation of significant advances in medical care of casualties. Some of these advances were made in the care of chemical casualties, in particular the mechanisms of toxicity and treatment of phosgene exposure. Phosgene, or carbonyl chloride, is an extremely poisonous vapour that was used to devastating effect during World War 1. Observations made of acutely poisoned casualties formed the basis of much research in the early post-World War 1 era. Some extremely elegant experiments, some at the nascent Porton Down research facility, further evaluated the toxin and defences against it. Researchers drew on knowledge that was later forgotten and has since been relearnt later in the 20th century and made many correct assumptions. Their work is the bedrock of our understanding of phosgene toxicity that survives to this day. The horrors of chemical warfare prompted the Geneva Protocol of 1925, prohibiting the use of chemical agents in warfare, and chemical warfare on this scale has not been repeated. The ease with which phosgene can be synthesised requires healthcare providers to be familiar with its effects.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 26 September 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 23 October 2018
Keywords: CBRN, Chemical Warfare, phosgene, TOXICOLOGY, World War 1

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 427898
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/427898
ISSN: 0035-8665
PURE UUID: 998330b6-03ec-474e-9674-8505afa9c58d

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Date deposited: 01 Feb 2019 17:30
Last modified: 05 Jun 2024 19:38

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Author: T.C. Nicholson-Roberts

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