Blister agents cause skin burns and blisters, and they may damage the eyes, airway, lungs, and other organs.

• Type and ID Information
• Mustards (H)—UN2810, ERG# 153
• Lewisite (L)—UN2810, ERG# 153
• Phosgene oxime (CX)—UN2811, ERG# 154
• Of this group, mustard (H) is the most likely to be used, as it is the easiest to produce
• Dissemination—Liquid
• Availability—Not commercially available; however, some countries may have military stockpiles
• Volatility—Most are relatively persistent and pose a contact or inhalational threat by being slow to evaporate
• Vapor density—Is heavier than air
• Odor—Onions, garlic, or horseradish (mustard); geraniums (lewisite); intense and irritating (phosgene oxime)
• Routes of entry—Inhalation, ingestion, or absorption
• General signs and/or symptoms—Mustard agent exposure (no effects for hours), lewisite and phosgene oxime produce pain (effect seen immediately); severe itching and blisters, tearing/inflammatory reactions begin to appear immediately or up to several hours after exposure causing pain, extreme light sensitivity, spasmodic winking, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, extreme weakness, nasal secretions, hoarseness, progressive coughing, loss of voice, and difficult breathing; gastrointestinal effects result in the destruction of mucus membranes; shock is possible. Onset of symptoms may not appear for hours with mustard agents; but other blister agent signs/symptoms onset will occur immediately.