Blood agent

A chemical warfare agent that disrupts the blood’s ability to transport or use oxygen, often by interfering with cellular respiration.

Cytochrome c oxidase: A mitochondrial enzyme that transfers electrons to oxygen at the end of the respiratory chain. Cyanide and hydrogen sulfide can inhibit this enzyme, preventing cells from using oxygen.
Hydrogen cyanide: A volatile chemical compound that inhibits cellular respiration and has been used as a chemical warfare agent. It is a classic blood agent that prevents cells from using oxygen.
Nerve agent: A chemical warfare agent that disrupts nervous-system signaling, usually by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Nerve agents target neurotransmission rather than oxygen transport or cellular respiration.
Chemical Weapons Convention: An international treaty that prohibits chemical weapons and requires the destruction of declared stockpiles. Its prohibitions and verification regime govern blood agents as chemical weapons.
Hemoglobin: The oxygen-binding protein in red blood cells that carries most oxygen through vertebrate blood. Carbon monoxide disrupts oxygen delivery by binding strongly to hemoglobin.
Cyanogen chloride: A volatile toxic chemical compound that can inhibit cellular respiration and damage the respiratory tract. It combines blood-agent effects with strong respiratory irritation.
Choking agent: A chemical warfare agent that injures the respiratory tract and lungs, impairing breathing and gas exchange. Choking agents primarily damage lung tissue, unlike blood agents’ biochemical interference.
Chemical warfare: The use of toxic chemicals or their precursors to injure, incapacitate, or kill in conflict. Blood agents are one class of chemicals developed for chemical warfare.
Cellular respiration: The set of metabolic pathways by which cells extract usable energy from nutrients. Several blood agents cause harm by disabling oxygen-dependent energy production.
Arsine: A highly toxic arsenic hydride gas that can destroy red blood cells and cause systemic poisoning. Its effects include hemolysis, a different route to impaired oxygen delivery.

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Chemical warfare agentBroader topic: This class acts through oxygen transport or cellular oxygen use.