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Balali-Mood M, Hefazi M. A review on the delayed complications of sulphur mustard poisoning. Journals of Birjand University of Medical Sciences 2005; 12 (3 and 4) :9-15
URL: http://journal.bums.ac.ir/article-1-66-en.html

The widespread use of sulphur mustard (SM) as an incapacitating warfare agent in the past century has proved its highly long lasting toxic effects. It exerts direct toxic effects on the eyes, skin, and respiratory tissue, with subsequent systemic action on the nervous, immunologic, haematologic, digestive and
reproductive systems. SM is an alkylating agent that affects DNA synthesis and thus its delayed complications has been considered since the World War One and cases of malignancies in the target organs particularly in haematopoietic, respiratory and digestive systems were reported. Important delayed
respiratory complications include chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, frequent bronchopneumonia, and pulmonary fibrosis, all of which tend to deteriorate in time. Severe dry skin, delayed keratitis, and decreased number of natural killer cells with subsequent increased risk of infections and malignancies are also among the most distressing long-term consequences of SM intoxication. However, there are still major gaps in SM literature. Immunological and neurological dysfunctions, as well as SM relationship to mutagenicities, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis are important fields which require further studies, particularly on human subjects following single exposure.