Neurotoxins – a New Type of Weapon (Literature review)

Full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for five years. The damage caused to the environment will remain for many years to come: it will take decades to stop negative climate change, soil degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as significant efforts to restore ecosystems that have been subjected to extremely heavy pressure. The objective: based on the analysis of literary sources, to identify the main neurotoxic substances released during combat operations, the mechanisms of their influence, and the syndromes of nervous system damage. Neurological disorders are the most common cause of disability/death, and their increased rate is associated with air pollution by particulate matter, which affects the nervous system, provoking the development of neuropathology. When buildings are destroyed, they catch fire, releasing complex volatile substances, some of which affect the nervous system. The following types of neurotoxins are formed: 1) chlorinated organic compounds (e.g. hydrogen chloride), which cause irritation of the mucous membranes and affect the nervous system; 2) dioxins and furans, which have the ability to accumulate in the body, they have neurotoxic and carcinogenic potential; 3) brominated flame retardants, which cause cognitive impairment. Neurotoxic activity have: heavy metals – mercury, cadmium, copper, and its salts; combustion products of fuels and explosives – nitrogen oxides, which instantly cause irritation of the nervous system, and with prolonged exposure – disorders of cognitive functions; carbon monoxide, which blocks the delivery of oxygen to the brain; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which have carcinogenic and neurotoxic activity; cyanide compounds, which can be formed during the combustion of nitrogen-containing materials, have an acute neurotoxic effect. Conclusions. Toxins of modern ammunition are slow chemical weapons that act long after the explosion, forming encephalopathy and neuropathy. Their sources are: complex volatiles, complex toxins, heavy metals, fuel combustion products. Toxins identified in explosive devices include: heptyl, hexogen/octogen, trinitrotoluene, carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, lead, and other heavy metals. They cause various lesions of the nervous system, convulsive syndrome, acute brain hypoxia, polyneuropathy, and have delayed clinical manifestations.