Trichothecene Mycotoxin (T-2)

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TAB E – Trichothecene Mycotoxin (T-2)

http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/bw_ii/bw_tabe.htm

Overview: The Russian military discovered the potential use of

trichothecene mycotoxins as biological toxins shortly after World

War II, when civilians ate bread baked from flour contaminated with

species of fusarium mold. Some victims developed a protracted lethal

illness characterized by initial symptoms of abdominal pain,

diarrhea, vomiting, and exhaustion followed within days by fever,

chills, muscular pain, and an imbalance of the red and white blood

cells accompanied by pus-forming or other disease-causing organisms

or their toxins in the blood or tissues.[120] According to UNSCOM,

Iraq researched trichothecene mycotoxins, including T-2.[121]

The trichothecene mycotoxins are nonvolatile compounds produced by

molds. These substances are relatively insoluble in water but highly

soluble in ethanol, methanol, and propylene glycol. The

trichothecenes are very stable and resist heat- and ultraviolet

light-induced inactivation. Heating to 500o F for 30 minutes will

inactivate the toxins, while exposure to sodium hypochlorite

destroys toxic activity.

This discussion focuses on the T-2 mycotoxin, a highly toxic agent

that causes several illnesses in humans and animals. From the 1970s

and 1980s trichothecene mycotoxins surfaced in the press as a

biological warfare agent in incidents labeled " yellow rain " attacks

in Southeast Asia.[122]

Unlike most biological toxins and microorganisms that do not affect

the skin, T-2 toxin is an active dermal irritant and can severely

irritate an unprotected person's skin and eyes. The pain associated

with the exposure occurs within seconds to minutes. Larger doses

produce incapacitation and death within minutes to hours. A larger

amount of T-2 toxin is required for a lethal dose than of the

chemical warfare agents VX, soman, or sarin. Comparisons with

blister agents such as sulfur mustard show the T-2 toxin is about

400 times more efficient in producing blisters: it takes

approximately 50 nanograms of T-2 toxin to produce the same injury

to the skin as 20 micrograms (20,000 nanograms) of mustard. The T-2

toxin has a diverse effect depending on the manner and amount of

exposure with vomiting and diarrhea noted at exposure doses one-

fifth to one-tenth the lethal dose.[123]

The toxicity of T-2 toxin by the inhalational route of exposure … is

similar to that observed for mustard or ite. … However, the

lethality of T-2 toxin by the dermal [skin] route … is higher than

that for liquid ite … or liquid mustards, … Therefore, the

trichothecene mycotoxins are considered to be primarily blister

agents that, at lower exposure concentrations, can cause severe skin

and eye irritation, and at larger doses can produce considerable

incapacitation and death within minutes to hours.[124]

Signs and Symptoms: Exposure causes skin pain, itching, redness,

blisters, and sloughing (shedding) of dead skin. Effects on the

airway include nose and throat pain, nasal discharge, itching and

sneezing, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain; the

victim spits blood as a result of pulmonary or bronchial hemorrhage.

The T-2 toxin also produces effects after ingestion or eye contact.

Severe poisoning results in prostration, weakness, jerky movement,

collapse, shock, and death.[125]

Prophylaxis and Treatment: The only protection against T-2 toxin

effects is the individual protective mask and chemical protective

overgarment. No chemotherapy, vaccine, or specific antidote is

available.[126]