Article on Mycotoxin as Biological Weapon

[Guest guest]

I found this article interesting on biological warfare. It includes

multiple agents but I cut and pasted the one on mycotoxins below.

It mentions activated charcoal of course, butit recommends cleaning

clothes in a 5% solution of sodium hydroxide (lye). I'd rather

throw clothes away than handle lye.

" If a soldier is unprotected during an attack, the outer clothing

should be removed within 4-6 hours and decontaminated with 5% sodium

hydroxide for 6-10 hours. "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

MYCOTOXINS

The trichothecene mycotoxins are highly toxic compounds produced by

certain species of fungi. Because these mycotoxins can cause massive

organ damage, and because they are fairly easy to produce and can be

dispersed by various methods (dusts, droplets, aerosols, smoke,

rockets, artillery mines, portable sprays), mycotoxins have an

excellent potential for weaponization.

Strong evidence suggests that trichothecenes ( " yellow rain " ) have

been used as a biological warfare agent in Southwest Asia and

Afghanistan. From 1974-1981, numerous attacks resulted in a minimum

of 6310 deaths in Laos, 981 deaths in Cambodia, and 3042 deaths in

Afghanistan. When taken from fungal cultures, the mycotoxins yield a

yellow-brown liquid that evaporates into a yellow crystalline

product (thus, the " yellow rain " appearance). These toxins require

certain solutions and high heat to be completely inactivated.

Signs and symptoms

After exposure to the mycotoxins, early symptoms begin within 5

minutes. Full effects take 60 minutes.

If skin exposure occurs, the skin burns, becomes tender, swollen,

and blisters. In lethal cases, large areas of skin die and slough

(fall off).

Respiratory exposure results in nasal itching, pain, sneezing, a

bloody nose, shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and blood-tinged

saliva and sputum.

If ingested, the person feels nausea and vomits, loses appetite,

feels abdominal cramping, and has watery and/or bloody diarrhea.

Following entry into the eyes, pain, tearing, redness, and blurred

vision occur.

Systemic toxicity may occur and includes weakness, exhaustion,

dizziness, inability to coordinate muscles, heart problems, low or

high temperature, diffuse bleeding, and low blood pressure. Death

may occur within minutes to days depending on the dose and route of

exposure.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of an attack of trichothecene mycotoxin depends on the

symptoms and identifying the toxin from biological and environmental

samples. Many people with these symptoms may report being in a

yellow rain or smoke attack.

Initial laboratory tests are not always helpful. Currently, a rapid

identification kit for any of the trichothecene mycotoxins does not

exist. Gas-liquid chromatography has been used in the past with

great success. However, chromatographic methods lack great

sensitivity, and presently alternative methods of detection are

under investigation.

Treatment

Treatment is mainly to help with symptoms. The immediate use of

protective clothing and mask during a mycotoxin aerosol attack

should prevent illness. If a soldier is unprotected during an

attack, the outer clothing should be removed within 4-6 hours and

decontaminated with 5% sodium hydroxide for 6-10 hours. The skin

should be washed with copious amounts of soap and uncontaminated

water. The eyes, if exposed, should be washed out with large amounts

of normal saline or sterile water. US military personnel can use a

skin decontamination kit effectively against most chemical warfare

agents, including the mycotoxins.

No specific therapy exists for a trichothecene exposure. After

appropriate skin decontamination, victims of inhalation and oral

exposures may be given superactivated charcoal orally. Activated

charcoal removes mycotoxins from the GI tract. Some victims may need

help breathing with a ventilator. Early use of steroids increases

survival time by decreasing the primary injury and shock-like state

that follows significant poisoning.

Prevention

No vaccine exists for trichothecene mycotoxin exposure. Currently, 2

topical skin protectants as well as vaccines are in advanced

development but have not been approved yet for use in humans.