Reply #69: "anti-nerve gas tablets"

[TheWraith]

What should probably be mentioned is that most "antidotes" to nerve gas are, in and of themselves, usually at least mildly poisonous. They're just poisonous in the opposite way from nerve gas, making the combination of the two survivable. Usually. For instance Atropine, which is the usual antagonist chemical used for nerve gas exposure, is refined from deadly nightshade. 10 to 20 milligrams of it will incapacitate a human being. Half a gram will kill.

"However, most researchers cite radioactive poisoning from depleted uranium shells as the deadliest element in the Gulf War Illness “cocktail.”"

Not likely. The toxicity of depleted uranium is fairly small, originating from it's status as a heavy metal, akin to lead. In terms of real risk and LD50, you could eat a dozen depleted-uranium fragments, and you wouldn't be at a fraction the risk you would be from even trace exposure to sarin gas.

The LD50--that means lethal dose to 50%, the amount of a chemical that gives a 50% chance of killing the average person--the LD50 for depleted uranium would be about 20 grams, assuming a 220 pound male soldier. In contrast, the LD50 for Sarin is about 100 milligrams.