You are here: Home > Chemical Categories > Organophosphorus Pesticides and Nerve Agents - Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), Soman (GD), VX, and Fourth Generation Agents (FGAs) (Pesticide Syndrome, also called Cholinergic or Nerve Agent Toxidrome)

Organophosphorus Pesticides and Nerve Agents - Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), Soman (GD), VX, and Fourth Generation Agents (FGAs) (Pesticide Syndrome, also called Cholinergic or Nerve Agent Toxidrome)

Nerve agents are highly poisonous chemicals that work by preventing the nervous system from working properly. Nerve agents and other organophosphate pesticides cause acetylcholinesterase inhibition, resulting in signs and symptoms such as pinpoint pupils, eye pain, sweating, drooling, tearing, vomiting, and seizure, also known as Pesticide Syndrome, or Cholinergic Toxidrome.

Concise toxidrome definition: Overstimulation of cholinergic receptors leading to first activation and then fatigue of target organs, leading to pinpoint pupils, seizing, wheezing, twitching, and leaking all over.

Rationale or reasoning for toxidrome decisions: The name was chosen based upon clinical relevance and accuracy as well as ease of recall. Examples of names initially considered: SLUDGE, DUMBBELS, BBB, MTWHF, CCC, organophosphate-like, acetyl cholinesterase, pinpoint pupils, wet all over, twitching, and seizing (three seizing toxidromes).

Issues or concerns about this toxidrome: Toxidrome encompasses insecticides and nerve agents, which can differ radically in potency; clinical onset varies by state of agent and route of exposure as well as in special populations (including children); management differs between insecticides and nerve agents; chemical aging a concern with GD and possibly with certain insecticides; differing clinical presentation in children; training will need to address possible confusion between "cholinergic," "anticholinergic," and "anticholinesterase." Infants and young children in many instances present only with neurological signs and symptoms.

Cholinergic examples of industrial chemicals and potential chemical warfare/terrorism agents: Carbamate (e.g., aldicarb and methomyl) and OP (e.g., chlorpyrifos and parathion) insecticides; nerve agents (e.g., GA, GB, GD, GF, VX, and Fourth Generation Agents)

The clinically relevant routes of exposure and types of sources: Inhalation, dermal, and ingestion.

The organ systems generally affected: Central nervous system (CNS) and heart.

The initial signs and symptoms:

• SLUDGEMM
  • Salivation
  • Lacrimation
  • Urination
  • Defecation
  • Gastrointestinal (GI)
  • Emesis
  • Miosis
  • Changed mental status and respiratory distress (bronchospasm)
• SLOBBERED
  • Salivation
  • Lacrimation
  • Obtundation
  • Bronchoconstriction/Bronchorrhea
  • Bradycardia
  • Eye findings
  • Reduced vascular tone
  • Emesis
  • Diarrhea

A progression of signs and symptoms includes: Local effects (vapor to face: miosis, lacrimation, hypersalivation, wheezing; liquid to skin: local sweating with fasciculations or twitching) progressing to systemic effects (GI, CNS) with increasing exposure or increasing dose; with high dose, all signs and symptoms can occur suddenly; rapidly fatal if untreated.

The underlying pathology, biological processes, or modes of action include: Cholinergic crisis.

Common treatment protocol, specific antidotes and key supportive measures: Atropine, 2-PAM (oximes), benzodiazepines, airway and breathing support, scopolamine [not FDA-approved], ketamine [not FDA-approved], and decontamination as indicated.

Source:
Report to the Toxic Chemical Syndrome Definitions and Nomenclature Workshop (PDF - 2.01 MB) (DHS, NLM, May, 2012)

Information from Other Resources

Resource Comparison

Information from CDC, WISER, and CAMEO
Emergency Response Safety and Health Database (CDC/NIOSH) More Information Close ERSH-DB is a occupational safety and health database developed by NIOSH for the emergency response community. Contains high-priority agents in terrorist events Information includes: Agent characteristics Personal protective equipment Emergency response Signs/symptoms Decontamination First aid Long-term implications On-site fatalities Occupational exposure limits Acute expousre guidelines Decontamination (environmental and equipment) Agent properties Hazardous materials warning labels/placards Trade names and other synonyms Who to contact in an emergency Important notice Sarin (GB) Soman (GD) Tabun (GA) VX WISER (NIH/NLM) More Information Close WISER is a system designed to assist first responders in HAZMAT incidents. Data derived from HSDB and DOT Emergency Response Guidebook Information includes: Substance identification Protective equipment/clothing Protective distance Fire fighting procedures Reactivities/incompatibilities Treatment overview and many more... Sarin Soman Tabun VX CAMEO (EPA, NOAA) More Information Close CAMEO is a database of response information for thousands of hazardous materials MyChemicals: build a customized list of chemicals Predicts reactivity of 2 chemicals Information includes: Chemical identifiers Hazards Response recommendations Physical properties Regulatory information Alternate chemical names Sarin Soman Tabun VX	Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures (CDC/ATSDR) More Information Close MMGs for Acute Chemical Exposures were developed by ATSDR to aid emergency department physicians and other emergency healthcare professionals. Guidelines for managing acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents Information includes: Basic chemical and exposure information Summary of potential health effects Prehospital management information Emergency department management information Information for the patient Nerve Agents: Tabun (GA); Sarin (GB); Soman (GD); and VX Chemical Emergencies (CDC) More Information Close A collection of CDC resources for professionals, including: Case definition Toxic syndrome description Toxicology profiles Training First responders Medical management Emergency response cards Lab info Surveillance Preparation & planning Toxic Syndrome Description: Nerve Agent and Organophosphate Pesticide Poisoning (Signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis) Nerve Agents (Case Definition, Case Studies in Environmental Medicine) Sarin (GB) Soman (GD) Tabun (GA) VX

Additional Resources:

ChemIDplus - Chemical dictionary, structures, and links to many Internet resources (NIH/NLM)
Sarin, Soman, Tabun, VX

Hazardous Substances Data Bank - Comprehensive, peer-reviewed toxicology data (NIH/NLM)
Sarin, Soman, Tabun, VX,

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