Sulfur mustard and lewisite are examples of which category of chemical agents?

• A. Nerve agents
• B. Blood agents
• C. Blister agents
• D. Incapacitating agents

Answer: (C)

Blister agents cause damage to skin and mucous membranes, producing painful blisters (vesication) and tissue injury. Sulfur mustard and lewisite are classic blister agents because they repeatedly cause skin and eye damage and can affect the respiratory tract, leading to lasting tissue injury. This category is different from nerve agents, which disrupt the nervous system; blood agents, which interfere with the body's ability to use oxygen; and incapacitating agents, which temporarily impair function without causing the characteristic blistering. Exposure can be by vapor or liquid and symptoms may be delayed, making prompt recognition and decontamination essential.