Half-life of the "novichok" nerve agent outside of a body?

In summary, there is an ongoing "epidemic" of "novichok" poisoning in Great Britain, a nerve agent with a slow evaporation rate and the ability to remain dangerous for years once deployed. It is believed to primarily affect the liver and may take longer to dissipate than if it were removed by the kidneys. Some sources mention the use of the substance in military applications, with one variant producing 15,000 tonnes and another only producing experimental quantities.
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What is the half-life of "novichok" in, and outside, a biological system? There seems to be an "epidemic" of "novichok" poisoning in Great Britain lately, and given that it's a nerve agent, my understanding is that it should be susceptible to fairly rapid decomposition/breakdown.
 
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Here's an interview with a toxicologist: https://www.npr.org/2018/07/06/626664129/the-deadly-novichok-nerve-agent-what-is-it?t=1531106306623 but they don't mention how it is removed, kidneys or liver.

Wikipedia mentions evaporation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novichok_agent
According to Vladimir Uglyov, who worked on the development of Novichok , it is very stable with a slow evaporation rate and can remain dangerous for years once deployed.

IMO it's better explained on the German Wikipedia page, at least as the body chemistry is concerned. They have a hint that the liver is affected, which makes me assume that it takes longer than if it were dissipated by the kidneys. Due to only a few cases, it's probably difficult to tell for how long it remains in a body.
 
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"dangerous for years" scares the hell out of me.

Edit: has to have been for some very special use/application; too long-lived for any military purpose.
 
  • #5
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"dangerous for years" scares the hell out of me.
Add the amount they had produced!

Also from Wikipedia:

Mirsajanow counts the substances A-230, A-232 and A-234 to the basic substances of the Novichok series and also the Russian variant of the VX (substance 33, VR). Of these, Substance 33 and A-230 were approved as chemical weapons, with Substance 33 producing 15,000 tonnes said Mirsajanow and A-230 only producing experimental quantities (tens of tonnes).

Mirsajanow zählt[ die Substanzen A-230, A-232 und A-234 zu den grundlegenden Substanzen der Nowitschok-Reihe sowie außerdem die russische Variante des VX (Substanz 33, VR). Davon erhielten Substanz 33 und A-230 die Zulassung als chemische Waffen, wobei von Substanz 33 nach Mirsajanow 15.000 Tonnen produziert wurden, von A-230 nur experimentelle Mengen (einige zehn Tonnen).

Now what is tens of tons divided by ##100\,\mu g\,## (Hay)?
 
  • #6
A small experimental amount of 100 billion times the lethal dose.
 

Related to Half-life of the "novichok" nerve agent outside of a body?

1. What is the half-life of the "novichok" nerve agent outside of a body?

The half-life of the "novichok" nerve agent, also known as A-234, varies depending on environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to light. In general, it ranges from several days to several weeks.

2. Can the half-life of "novichok" nerve agent be affected by the presence of other chemicals?

Yes, the half-life of "novichok" can be affected by the presence of other chemicals, especially those that are reactive or break down easily. This can result in a shorter or longer half-life, depending on the interactions between the substances.

3. How long does it take for "novichok" nerve agent to degrade in soil or water?

The degradation rate of "novichok" nerve agent in soil or water depends on various factors such as pH, temperature, and microbial activity. In optimal conditions, it can take several weeks or even months for the agent to completely degrade.

4. Can "novichok" nerve agent persist in the environment for a long time?

Yes, "novichok" nerve agent can persist in the environment for a long time, especially in colder temperatures or low-humidity environments. It can also remain in small concentrations in soil or water, making it a potential long-term threat to human health and the environment.

5. Is there a way to speed up the degradation of "novichok" nerve agent in the environment?

Yes, there are certain methods that can be used to accelerate the degradation of "novichok" nerve agent in the environment. These include treatment with oxidizing agents, exposure to ultraviolet light, or biodegradation by microorganisms. However, these methods may not completely eliminate the agent and could potentially create harmful byproducts.

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