Hydrolysis Products Of Mustard Gas Research Articles

Monitoring of hydrolysis products of mustard gas, some sesqui- and oxy-mustards and other chemical warfare agents in a plant material by HPLC-MS/MS

At present, there is a real threat of chemical warfare agents being used in terrorist acts and military clashes. Sulfur and nitrogen mustards are blister agents with high lethality and rapid disruption of armed forces. These highly poisonous substances are hydrolyzed to the characteristic marker compounds when released into the environment. Analysis of environmental objects allows to establish the fact of alleged use of chemical warfare agents and to reveal their type. However, water and soil samples are not always reliable for retrospective analysis. The resulting chemical warfare agent markers may be washed out from the application site over time by groundwaters or atmospheric condensations. This study shows the potential for using plants as a convenient material for retrospective analysis. Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) was chosen as a model plant for this purpose, since it can be easily and quickly grown hydroponically. The plants were cultivated in the environment of the selected markers to study an accumulation of these compounds by the plants. An effective and fast method of homogenization with subsequent ultrasonic extraction was applied. The extracts were analyzed using a specially developed and validated HPLC-MS/MS approach. Separation of the hydrophilic markers was carried out on a reversed-phase column with a polar endcapping. Sensitive mass spectrometric detection was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Achieved limits of detection for most markers were in the range of 2–40 ng mL−1. It was discovered from the research that after the removal of markers from the growing medium the plants are able to store and concentrate these markers for at least 5 weeks, ensuring a high retrospectivity of the analysis. The obtained results indicate the perspective of using plants as additional objects of analysis during the investigation of incidents related to the use of chemical warfare agents. However, more complex plants and models should be studied in the future.

Влияние продуктов гидролиза иприта на развитие массовых видов цианобактерий

Влияние продуктов гидролиза иприта на развитие массовых видов цианобактерий

Destruction of mustard gas hydrolysis products by marine and soil bacteria

Destruction of mustard gas hydrolysis products by bacterial cultures isolated from soils and bottom waters at the sites of chemical weapons disposal has been studied. Among the tested microorganisms, the soil bacteria Pseudomonas putida Y-21 and Rhodococcus erythropolis 8D and the marine bacteria Achromobacter sp. 75-1, Arthrobacter sp. 23-3, and Pseudomonas sp. 93-2 show the highest activity. Thiodiglycol is utilized by two pathways; one of them, with formation of [(2-hydroxyethyl)thio]acetic and thiodiglycolic and thioglycolic acids, is a common pathway for all bacteria under study. The results demonstrate both the possibility of self-purification of natural objects by natural communities of microorganisms and the prospects for application of microorganisms--destructors in bioremediation of polluted territories.

Comparison of Organic Solvents Used for the Determination of Mustard Gas Hydrolysis Products in Urine Samples Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

This study aimed to optimize a method for determining N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA) and N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) in urine samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The analytes were derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and the most proper organic solvent was investigated. Best recoveries were found for acetonitrile and dimethylsulphoxide. The recoveries of spiked samples (100 ng ml−1) were found as 108 ± 5.7% for EDEA and 97 ± 6.4 for MDEA. The limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) values were 0.5 ng ml−1 and 0.4 ng ml−1 for EDEA and MDEA, respectively. The precision of the method in terms of RSD was between 5–8%.

Microbial responses to mustard gas dumped in the Baltic Sea

Microbiological studies were carried out on chemical weapon dump sites in the Baltic Sea. The effect of mustard gas hydrolysis products (MGHPs) on marine microbiota and the ability of microorganisms to degrade MGHPs were studied. Many stations at the dump sites demonstrated reduced microbial diversity, and increased growth of species able to use mustard gas hydrolysis products as sole source of carbon. Significant amounts of MGHP-degrading bacteria were revealed in the near-bottom water. The MGHP-degrading microorganisms identified as Achromobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Arthrobacter sp. were isolated. These microorganisms were capable of utilizing the major product of hydrolysis, thiodiglycol, as the sole source of carbon and energy. The bacteria were capable of metabolizing MGHPs at a low temperature. The metabolic pathway for thiodiglycol degradation was proposed. The results suggest the potential for MGHPs biodegradation by naturally occurring populations of near-bottom-water and sediment microorganisms.

The effect of mustard gas on the biological activity of soil

A special group of substances that are very dangerous for the biosphere includes war gases such as mustard gas (bis(2-chloroethyl)sulphide). The influence of mustard gas hydrolysis products (MGHPs) on soil microbiota has been investigated. These substances bear numerous toxic effects on soil microorganisms. They change significantly the number and the specific composition of soil microbiota and inhibit the enzyme activity of soils. The main “ecological targets” of mustard and its hydrolysis products’ toxic action have been determined. MGHPs affect the growth and reproduction of soil micromycetes, as well as their morphological and cultural properties. Increase in number and size of mitochondria in the fungal cells is accompanied by increase in dehydrogenases activity. Cell permeability influenced by MGHPs grows in connection with concentration of toxicants. Increase of permeability corresponds to growth of the amount of unsaturated fatty acids. The changes in the fatty acid composition of lipids in the cells of the soil micromycetes display their adaptation to adverse impact of the substances studied. MGHPs and thiodiglycol enhance synthesis of polysaccharides and pigments.