Based on available research, if symptoms are to occur following an exposure, they appear with minutes to hours. Long-term effects have not been noted in scientific publications regarding individuals who did not have symptoms at the time of exposure. Furthermore, nerve agents have not been shown to cause birth defects or cancer. Nerve agents may be delivered in gas or liquid form. Nerve agents are designed to interfere with the function of the nervous system, and disrupt normal control of vital organ systems required to sustain life.
Organophosphates are a common ingredient of insecticides used in homes, industry, and agriculture.
Exposure to a small amount of vapor from sarin or cyclosarin can cause dimness of vision, runny nose, chest tightness, and tearing of the eyes within minutes of exposure. Medium amounts of vapor can cause all of these symptoms plus eye pain, headache, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, depression, and changes in heart rate. As with low level exposure, the symptoms occur within minutes of exposure. The effects of low and medium exposure may persist from several days up to two weeks. Exposure to high amounts may lead to loss of muscle control, twitching, paralysis, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma, and death.