What is "Novice" poison and how does it affect the body

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Detailed answers to questions about the most scandalous poisonous substance in the world.

What is "Newbie"?

“Novichok” is not one specific poison, but a whole family of chemical warfare agents of nerve-paralytic action. The group includes more than 60 toxic compounds. This was reported in 2018 at a press conference following the 57th session of the Executive Committee of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recommendations NOTIFICATION OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL USA, Canada and the Netherlands This happened after the former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in the city of Salisbury (Great Britain) with a substance from the Novichok group.

One of the creators of Novichok, Vil Mirzayanov, confirmed One of the inventors of Novichok allowed the spread of these substances from the USSR throughout the world that the chemical formulas from the new OPCW list belong precisely to this class of toxic substances. According to another developer, Vladimir Uglev, in Salisbury was used "Novichok", codenamed A-234.

Where did the "Newbie" come from?

Actually, two names are mentioned above. These are Soviet chemists who, in the 1970s, developed chemical warfare agents at the Volsk branch of the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT). The work was part of the extensive program "Folio" Chemical weapons - a war with one's own people (the tragic Russian experience), covering a whole range of chemical weapons.

So, in 1972, a potentially combat "Novichok" A-230 was created. The military even conducted tests, but they were unsuccessful: the substance lost its toxic properties in the cold. And in 1975, they began to develop the A-234 - the future poison from Salisbury.

It was synthesized in laboratories One of the inventors of Novichok allowed more than 100 different chemical combinations to be distributed from the USSR all over the world: some more toxic, such as A-232 or A-234, and some less.

Vladimir Uglev, developer of Novichok, in a commentary for Interfax

Uglev claims that chemical warfare agents were created in the USSR, but not produced. That is, they were made in the quantity required for testing - and no more.

At the same time, Vil Mirzayanov, back in 1992, declared the Russian whistleblower Vil Mirzayanov that Russia, based on Novichok, had created a new generation of chemical weapons, which it plans to hide from the whole world. After this message, the chemist was arrested and charged with divulging state secrets. True, then he was released, and Mirzayanov emigrated to the United States.

How does the Novichok poison work?

Little is known about the chemical composition and, as a consequence, the effect of "Novichok" on the body. It is assumed Vil Mirzayanov: "Novichok" could only be produced in Russia that the poison works as a cholinesterase inhibitor. According to the Zweites Statement der Charité: Klinische Befunde weisen auf Vergiftung von Alexei Nawalny hin doctors from the Berlin clinic Charite, it was this toxin that was found in the body of Alexei Navalny.

Cholinesterase inhibitors are found in naturally occurring poisons (for example, some species of snakes), and are also synthesized artificially. This compound stimulates the nervous system. It is used in certain doses. Role of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of mental illnesses, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Let's figure out how it works.

Cholinesterase is a group of enzymes that break down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine, in turn, is a substance through which signals are transmitted from one neuron to another. It plays an important role: thanks to acetylcholine, nerve cells actively "communicate" with each other, stimulate muscles. And a person gets the opportunity to move quickly and energetically, concentrate attention, learn, experience excitement.

A cholinesterase inhibitor is a substance that inhibits the action of an enzyme, which leads to an increase in the amount of acetylcholine in the body. As a result, nerve cells begin to exchange signals too intensively. This causes constant excitement, overexertion, muscle spasm, convulsions.

Cholinesterase inhibitors are the basis for the action of some chemical warfare agents, such as sarin.

The muscles contract convulsively, because of this, a person cannot breathe normally, and a strong cardiac arrhythmia occurs. Therefore, if the level of acetylcholine is not returned to normal, the victim may die altogether.

How does Novichok poisoning happen?

Dozens of different ways Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents. Most often, nerve agents enter the body as a gas when inhaled. But they can penetrate in a different way: for example, in the form of a liquid - swallowed, got on the skin or mucous membranes, injected into the blood.

According to the developer of the poison "Novichok" accused Russia of poisoning Skripal Vil Mirzayanov, just 2 grams of "Novichok" is enough to kill 500 people.

What does a person feel when poisoned by Novichok?

Intense pain. It is caused by cramps and violent microspasms of the muscles. If a person is not helped in time, he will quickly lose consciousness.

Is there an antidote for Novichok?

Yes. As a rule, the action of nerve-paralytic substances such as "Novichok" is stopped by drugs that start the active production of cholinesterase in the body so that the enzyme quickly reduces the level of acetylcholine. This allows you to stop the nervous attack on the muscles and their uncontrolled contraction.

Will the person poisoned by "Novichok" be able to survive and recover?

It depends on the type of substance used, its dosage and the amount that has entered the body. Unfortunately, recovery is not always possible.

For example, one of the first known cases of Novichok poisoning occurred ‘It’s got me’: the lonely death of the Soviet scientist poisoned by novichok with the Soviet chemist Andrei Zheleznyakov. The scientist conducted tests of the A-232 in the laboratory of GosNIIOKhT in Moscow, during which some of the substance got into the air. Zheleznyakov almost immediately felt the symptoms of poisoning and soon fainted.

Despite the rapid onset of treatment, the chemist regained consciousness only after a few days. But he never recovered: his legs began to fail, his arms weakened, then toxic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, epilepsy, and cerebral disorders developed. The scientist died five years after the incident.

Back in 1992, Vil Mirzayanov called the Russian whistleblower Vil Mirzayanov poisoning by "Novichok" practically incurable. And even if a person manages to survive, he will most likely remain disabled.

The consequences of poisoning will last for tens and tens of years. Even if a very small amount of a substance gets into the body. What is a "Newbie" and why is he so dangerous? …

Vil Mirzayanov developer of "Novice", in a comment for the BBC

But again, we repeat: a lot depends on the composition of the toxin and its dose. Since it is not clear with this how the consequences of poisoning by Novichok will develop in each specific case, it is difficult to predict.