Author/Authors :
Alavian، SM نويسنده Baqyiatallah University of Medical Sciences, , , Fallahian، F نويسنده Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Shohrati، M نويسنده Research Center for Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Fakher- Yaseri، H نويسنده Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Farhad Zamani، F نويسنده Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
During the Iraq-Iran war of 1980 -1988, the most commonly used chemical warfare agents
(CWA) were nerve agents and sulfur mustard gas (SM). SM was used frequently as a chemical
weapon by Iraq during the war against Iran, and had deleterious effects on Iranian military
troops and the unprotected inhabitants of Sardasht, Iran and Halabche, Iraq. In this
report, we review the scientific literature to develop an understanding of the health consequences
that victims from both countries experienced as a result of exposure to SM. Currently,
45 000 Iranians are suffering from the long-term effects of mustard gas, which includes
cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and ocular complications.
Because many of the health consequences associated with SM exposure have a late onset,
and because these effects can drastically reduce quality of life, it may be necessary to instruct
military experts to equip and train local chemical and biological response teams in
order to establish strategies for inhibiting the production and use of chemical weapons. In
addition, it is highly recommended that any remaining chemical weapons existing around the
world are safely destroyed.
