Sarin gas allegedly said to be used in a chemical attack in Syria on August 21 according to evidence cited Sunday by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, is considered an extremely intoxicating gas, colorless, odorless and was discovered in 1938 in Germany.
Even if not inhaled, this organophosphorus compound could penetrate the skin and stops nerves in muscles from switching off. Death will usually occur as a result of asphyxia. 0.5 mg from this toxic gas is the lethal dose for an adult person.
Initial symptoms are major headache and constriction of the pupils. Soon after, the victim has difficulty breathing.
A person’s clothing can release sarin for about 30 minutes after it has come in contact with sarin gas, which can lead to exposure of other people.
Sarin was discovered in 1938 by german scientists at IG Farben attempting to create new pesticides. The compound was named in honor of its discoverers: Schrader, Ambros, Rüdiger and Van der Linde. This gas was used for the first time as a chemical weapon during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980’s, then by Aum Shinrikyo sect in 1995 attack on the Tokyo Metro.
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