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Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM) is a strong vesicant agent which has been used in several military
conflicts. Large stockpiles still exist to the present day. SM is believed to be a
major threat to civilian populations because of the persistent asymmetric threat by
non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, its easy synthesis and handling and the
risk of theft from stockpiles. Following an asymptomatic interval of several hours,
acute SM exposure produces subepidermal skin blisters, respiratory tract damage, eye
lesions and bone marrow depression. Iranian victims of SM exposure during the Iran-Iraq
(1984-1988) war were treated at intensive care units of 3 Munich hospitals. All 12
patients were injured following aerial attacks with SM filled bombs, which exploded
in a distance between 5 and 30m. All patients soon noted an offensive smell of garlic,
addle eggs or oil roasted vegetables. No individual protective equipment was used.
Eye itching and skin blistering started 2h after SM exposure. Some patients complained
of nausea, dizziness and hoarseness. 4h after exposure, most patients started vomiting.
Eye symptoms worsened and most patients suffered from temporary blindness due to blepharospasm
and lid oedema. Additionally, pulmonary symptoms such as productive cough occurred.
Patients were transferred to Munich 4-17 days after SM exposure. On admission all
patients showed significant skin blistering and pigmentation. Conjunctivitis and photophobia
were the major eye symptoms. Pulmonary symptoms, including productive cough were persistent.
Bronchoscopy revealed massive inflammation of the trachea with signs of necrosis.
3 patients needed tracheotomy. Chest X-ray did not yield abnormal observations. This
presentation summarizes the experience of treating SM victims in Munich and discusses
therapeutic implications.