What does sarin do to the body?

Answer 1

• People may not know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor.
• People exposed to a low or moderate dose of sarin by breathing contaminated air, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching contaminated surfaces may experience some or all of the following symptoms within seconds to hours of exposure:
  • Runny nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Small, pinpoint pupils
  • Eye pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Drooling and excessive sweating
  • Cough
  • Chest tightness
  • Rapid breathing
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased urination
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
  • Slow or fast heart rate
  • Low or high blood pressure
• Even a small drop of sarin on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching where sarin touched the skin.
• Exposure to large doses of sarin by any route may result in the following harmful health effects:
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Convulsions
  • Paralysis
  • Respiratory failure possibly leading to death
• Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to sarin.

Answer 2

Sarin is a highly toxic nerve agent that inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine in the nervous system. This causes overstimulation of muscles and nerves, leading to symptoms such as convulsions, respiratory failure, and eventually death if not treated promptly.