Blood agent
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| This article forms part of the series |
| (A subset of Weapons of mass destruction) |
| Lethal agents |
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| Blood agents |
| Cyanogen chloride (CK) |
| Hydrogen cyanide (AC) |
| Blister agents |
| Lewisite (L) |
| Sulfur mustard gas (HD, H, HT, HL, HQ) |
| Nitrogen mustard gas (HN1, HN2, HN3) |
| Nerve agents |
| G-Agents |
| Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB) Soman (GD), Cyclosarin (GF) |
| GV |
| V-Agents |
| VE, VG, VM, VX |
| Novichok agents |
| Pulmonary agents |
| Chlorine |
| Chloropicrin (PS) |
| Phosgene (CG) |
| Diphosgene (DP) |
| "Non-lethal" agents |
| Incapacitating agents |
| Agent 15 (BZ) |
| KOLOKOL-1 |
| Riot control agents |
| Pepper spray (OC) |
| CS gas |
| CN gas (mace) |
| CR gas |
A blood agent or cyanogen agent is a chemical compound, containing the cyanide group, that prevents the body from utilizing oxygen. The term "blood agent" is a misnomer, however, because these agents do not actually affect the blood in any way. Rather, they exert their toxic effect at the cellular level, by interrupting the electron transport chain in the inner membranes of mitochondria (see cyanide).
[edit] Use of a blood agent as a weapon
During The Holocaust, the Nazis used a potent blood agent known as Zyklon B (hydrogen cyanide), as a replacement for carbon monoxide, to systematically murder Jews and other enemies of the Third Reich in death camp gas chambers. Zyklon B was mostly used because it has a quicker and deadlier effect on the body.
[edit] Examples of blood agents
[edit] See also
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