Although these physical signs and symptoms disappeared within a few weeks, psychologic problems associated with posttraumatic stress disorder persisted longer. Sarin is one of OP anticholinesterase compounds. Other nerve agents include tabun, soman, and VX gas. These chemical warfare agents have caused accidental exposure to military personnel. We report on the second sarin gas incident involving civilians after the first Matsumoto sarin incident1 in which the same terrorist group killed seven and injured more than 200 people.
Pure sarin is colorless, odorless, and volatile, and a highly lethal OP compound.
Since most victims encountered vaporized sarin, they showed ophthalmic and respiratory signs and symptoms. Thus, SLIH treated the largest reported patient population exposed to sarin. The nerve gas sarin was released in commuter trains on three different Tokyo subway lines by a terrorist cult group. Sarin was concealed in lunch boxes and soft-drink containers and placed on subway train floors. It was released as terrorists punctured the containers with umbrellas before leaving the trains.