VX (Kills bugs and people dead)

A US Army base in Utah was locked down for some time on Wednesday, because they discovered that they (transiently) misplaced a container of VX - a potent chemical weapon. Like they used in The Rock!

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A neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (or ACh) helps your muscles contract, as well as regulating functions as diverse as sweating, heart function, and pupil dilation. When everything is working correctly, ACh is a transient thing. It sends a message - for example, contract this muscle - and it is then broken down by an enzyme. It is important that, once it's done its job, ACh get broken down so the muscle quits contracting. If it doesn't get broken down, the muscle will be paralyzed.

VX throws a wrench into the body's mechanism for breaking down ACh, wreaking havoc on the broad array of ACh-mediated functions found in the body. As such, it's a potent poison.


The US has destroyed much of its stocks of VX. Today, chemical treatment and incineration are the preferred methods of destroying VX, but some of the earliest VX stock disposal was performed in the colorfully named Operation CHASE (Cut holes and sink 'em), wherein ships were filled with unwanted weapons and sunk into the ocean.

Interestingly, some molecules much like VX have high enough toxicity to insects and low enough toxicity to humans that they've found use as insecticides. Malathion is one such example.

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Madam Fathom has an excellent discussion of nicotine's effect on the brain and cognitive function. First off, I've rarely seen a clearer explanation of how neurons actually work:
I don't know if the rest of the world laughs at the US, but I feel quite sure they at least shake their collective heads when they hear how we lack one of the most important non-pharmaceutical measures against pandemic flu: paid sick leave.
I was a teenage rower, and now am a middle aged rower, so most of my exercise comes on the river, or on an erg (disregarding the 11 miles a day cycle to work, which is definitely good for me too, but that counts as base load).
It's not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache. - Dr. Frank N. Furter

Its interesting as well as thought provoking. I would be more interested to know the validity source of claim regarding the interaction of ACh with VX especially with respect to the immunodeficient factor reflected from this post. Insecticides have their own significance but should not be manipulated to avoid serious effects.

>>software company

I wonder if this may be at least partly responsible for the "rabbit in the headlights" effect that can be an alternative response to danger stimuli?

Adrenals etc, in response to sudden nervous stimulation, pump out too much acetyl-CoA, not enough adrenaline, and even though you want to run you get locked in place...

Acetylcholine has been known to trigger the fear, fight and flight functions in humans, and it is shocking to know that if it does not do its function properly, it could lead to paralysis.
I feel VX, though it is a potent insecticide, its use should be discontinued as it has similar effects and even mild accidental usage of it may lead to serious effects.

By software company (not verified) on 28 Jan 2011 #permalink