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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 32, Number 1, January/February,
pp.2-9
An Overview of Biological Markers of Exposure
to Chemical Warfare Agents
Robin M. Black
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury,
SP4 0JQ, United Kingdom
An overview is given of biological markers of
exposure to chemical warfare agents. Metabolites, protein, and/or
DNA adducts have been identified for most nerve agents and vesicants
and validated in experimental animals or in a small number of
human exposures. For several agents, metabolites derived from
hydrolysis are unsatisfactory biomarkers of exposure because
of background levels in the human population. These are assumed
to result from environmental exposure to commercial products
that contain these hydrolysis products or chemicals that are
metabolized to them. In these cases, metabolites derived from
glutathione pathways, or covalent adducts with proteins or DNA,
provide more definitive biomarkers. Biomarkers for cyanide and
phosgene are unsatisfactory as indicators of chemical warfare
exposure because of other sources of these chemicals or their
metabolites.
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