Nitrogen Mustards

Abstract

Nitrogen mustards are among the blister agents/vesicants used in chemical warfare. HN-1 was originally designed to remove warts and later identified as a potential chemical warfare agent. HN-2 was designed as a military agent, but later used in cancer chemotherapy. HN-3 was developed as a military chemical warfare agent. Also, nitrogen mustards have found therapeutic applications in cancer treatment, and they have several pharmaceutical derivatives that were developed as cancer therapeutic agents. Ocular, percutaneous, inhalation, ingestion, and injection are all possible routes of nitrogen mustard exposure; effects of exposure may be local, systemic, or both. Moreover, exposure to nitrogen mustards vapor can cause injury to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes at lower concentrations. Direct contact with the liquid nitrogen mustards can cause skin and eye burns. The nitrogen mustards combine predominantly with the thiol group of molecules and are excreted as conjugated cysteinyl derivatives, similarly to sulfur mustards. Both nitrogen and sulfur mustards have structural similarities and have common chemical reactions. Comparison of the immunotoxicity of sulfur mustard and nitrogen mustard on humoral and cell-mediated immunity of mice showed similar effects on thymic and splenic weight, spleen cell number, and the formation of antibody.