SKIN TOXICITY – Irritating, corrosive, may be fatal on absorption through the skin
EYE TOXICITY – Intensely irritating, may cause burns to eye tissue
RATE OF ACTION – Immediate
SYMPTOMS (PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION) – Violent lachrymator, intense burning sensation on inhalation, cough, sore throat, and labored breathing, redness, painful blistering, and general pain on skin, watering of the eyes including redness, pain, and blurred vision
TREATMENT – Remove contaminated clothing, flush eyes and skin with running water for at least 15 minutes, move to fresh air
PROTECTION – Gas mask, impermeable clothing
DECONTAMINATION – Thorough washing
USE – Grenades, mortar and artillery shells
This was the third Bromine compound fielded by the German in WWI. Unsatisfied with the slight improvement of Benzyl bromide over the earlier Xylyl bromide, the Germans brought out Bromoacetone for use as an easily volatilized toxic tear gas. It was also used by the British and American forces, along with the French who fielded it mixed 20 % Chloroacetone. The French mixture, known as Martonite, had a slightly greater effectiveness than Bromoacetone alone, and it helped stretch out the available supply of Bromine. Bromoacetone was the most widely used lacrymator of WWI with all combatants using it in one form or another. It also proved to be the most effective tear gas of WWI
