LEWISITE

1
LEWISITE

• Stored only at Deseret Chemical Depot in Tooele,
  UT
• Causes immediate pain and redness upon skin or
  eye contact
• unlike sulfur mustards

CA167
2
INHALATION EXPOSUREOF LEWISITE

• Vapor causes immediate irritation of upper
  respiratory tract
• May cause sneezing
• In severe cases, abnormal accumulation of fluid
  in lungs and seepage of fluid between layers of
  membrane lining chest cavity
• Mucous secretions are common and more likely

CA168
3
DIRECT CONTACT EXPOSUREWITH LEWISITE

• Liquid Lewisite causes immediate severe pain upon
  contact with eyes and skin
• Eyes can be severely damaged
• immediate stinging pain
• twitching of eye muscles
• swelling of inner surface of eyelids and
  inflammation of iris may close eye within 1 hour
• corneal damage may occur

CA169
4
DIRECT CONTACT EXPOSUREWITH LEWISITE

• Eye swelling subsides within hours
• Mild inflammation of eyelids may heal in few days
  without special treatment
• Severe exposure may cause permanent injury or
  blindness

CA170
5
DIRECT CONTACT EXPOSUREWITH LEWISITE

• Liquid Lewisite produces more severe skin lesions
  than sulfur mustard
• Blistering over entire exposed area follows skin
  reddening
• Deeper injury to connective tissue and muscles,
  greater blood vessel damage, more inflammation
• Dead, gray skin will be noted within minutes
  after contact with liquid or vapor

CA171
6
DIRECT CONTACT EXPOSUREWITH LEWISITE

• Pain is immediate
• becomes deep and aching
• itching and irritation persist for a day
• blisters develop fully in 1/2 of time as sulfur
  mustard
• Systemic poison to liver and kidneys
• at large doses
• Does not damage blood-producing tissues

CA172
7
INITIAL FIRST AID TREATMENTFOR LEWISITE EXPOSURE

• Immediate decontaminate to avoid deep burns from
  liquid exposure
• BAL ointment antidote for Lewisite no longer
  manufactured

CA173