Agent VX

Two antidotes exist for VX poisoning: atropine and pralidoxime chloride, also called 2-PAM. Atropine blocks one type of acetylcholine receptor on the post-synaptic nerve cell membrane. This prevents acetylcholine that is in the synaptic cleft from binding to the receptor. Pralidoxime chloride prevents VX from binding to cholinesterase. Together, these drugs have been combined in an antidote kit called Mark I.

VX is an extremely toxic material with low volatility and therefore, it dissipates very slowly. VX also has adhesive properties, which make it difficult to remove from surfaces. These characteristics make a powerful strategic contaminant. For example, military bases contaminated with VX could result in casualties for several weeks if the base continued to be used. In order to counter such tactics by terrorist groups, scientists at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory have recently developed technology to detect VX and to predict its degradation rate on concrete surfaces.