Facts About Sarin(2)

Facts About Sarin

How sarin works

The extent of poisoning caused by sarin depends on the amount of sarin a person was exposed to, how the person was exposed, and the length of time of the exposure. Symptoms will appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor form of sarin and within a few minutes up to 18 hours after exposure to the liquid form.

All the nerve agents cause their toxic effects by preventing the proper operation of the chemical that acts as the body’s “off switch” for glands and muscles. Without an “off switch,” the glands and muscles are constantly being stimulated. They may tire and no longer be able to sustain breathing function.

Sarin vapor is heavier than air, so it would be more likely to settle in low-lying areas. Because sarin mixes easily with water, water can easily be contaminated.

Sarin is the most volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it can easily and

quickly evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread into the environment. People can be exposed to the vapor even if they do not come in contact with the liquid form of sarin.

Because it evaporates so quickly, sarin presents an immediate but short-lived threat.

Immediate signs and symptoms of sarin exposure

People may not know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor.

People exposed to a low or moderate dose of sarin by breathing contaminated air, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching contaminated surfaces may experience some or all of the following symptoms within seconds to hours of exposure:

○ Runny nose

○ Watery eyes

○ Small, pinpoint pupils

○ Eye pain

○ Blurred vision

○ Drooling and excessive sweating

○ Cough

○ Chest tightness

○ Rapid breathing

○ Diarrhea

○ Increased urination

○ Confusion

○ Drowsiness

○ Weakness

○ Headache

○ Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain

○ Slow or fast heart rate

○ Low or high blood pressure