Q. Imagine you're kim jong nam, and explain how you would personally feel, from the feeling that something is wrong to passing out. Would you immediately feel something is wrong, like does VX feel like burning your face skin or get itchy, or it is so that you suddenly feel a drowsyness, imbalance, blurred vision, nausea or something that you wouldn't normally associated with the site applied, aka the face?
If I were Kim Jong-nam, and VX nerve agent were applied to my face, the experience would likely unfold with no immediate, noticeable irritation—since VX is odorless, colorless, and doesn’t typically cause a burning sensation or other obvious symptoms at first. Here's how I might experience it:
Immediate Reaction:
1. Initial contact:
As the VX nerve agent is smeared on my face, I wouldn’t likely feel any discomfort at all. Unlike certain chemicals, VX doesn't cause a burning or itchy sensation when it first contacts the skin. It’s almost undetectable to the senses.
2. Absorption:
The VX would begin to absorb into the skin almost immediately due to the thin skin on the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth. I would probably not feel anything at this point, but the toxin would be entering my bloodstream and starting to block acetylcholinesterase.
Onset of Symptoms:
Within seconds to a few minutes, the effects of VX would start to become apparent:
3. Sudden Symptoms:
- I might begin to feel a sense of confusion or dizziness. This could manifest as a feeling that something is not quite right, like a feeling of disorientation, but I wouldn’t immediately associate it with the attack.
- I might notice blurred vision, or I could feel that my eyes are watering, which would be an odd, unfamiliar sensation.
- My muscles might start to feel weak, especially in my face and throat, making it harder to control my expression or swallow.
4. Increasing Paralysis:
- As the paralysis progresses, my ability to move my muscles, including my eyelids and mouth, would become increasingly difficult. I might start to feel a sense of heaviness in my chest as the muscles responsible for breathing begin to weaken.
5. Difficulty Breathing:
- Shortness of breath would likely set in, possibly causing panic. I might feel like I can't take in a full breath, even though I’m trying. This could feel like being suffocated, but in a very slow and gradual way. The paralysis of the diaphragm would start preventing my lungs from expanding properly, causing a feeling of increasing air hunger.
Passing Out:
6. Loss of Awareness:
- As my breathing becomes more labored and my muscle control fades, I would likely lose consciousness. This could happen quickly as my body becomes unable to maintain basic functions like breathing and circulation. My vision could go dark as I lose consciousness, potentially within minutes of the toxin’s application.
- The feeling of panic or distress might be strong at first, but as the toxin takes effect, I would likely feel drowsy or even disoriented, which could lead to passing out due to the lack of oxygen.
Summary of the Sensory Experience:
In essence, the process would feel like a gradual worsening of muscle weakness, especially in the face, chest, and diaphragm. There would be little to no sensation of pain or irritation, but a growing sense of helplessness as I struggle to breathe and my body slowly loses the ability to function. The absence of typical pain or irritation from the toxin is what makes VX so dangerous—there are no immediate warnings or visible signs, making it almost impossible to recognize what’s happening until it’s too late.
If I were Kim Jong-nam, and VX nerve agent were applied to my face, the experience would likely unfold with no immediate, noticeable irritation—since VX is odorless, colorless, and doesn’t typically cause a burning sensation or other obvious symptoms at first. Here's how I might experience it:
Immediate Reaction:
1. Initial contact:
As the VX nerve agent is smeared on my face, I wouldn’t likely feel any discomfort at all. Unlike certain chemicals, VX doesn't cause a burning or itchy sensation when it first contacts the skin. It’s almost undetectable to the senses.
2. Absorption:
The VX would begin to absorb into the skin almost immediately due to the thin skin on the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth. I would probably not feel anything at this point, but the toxin would be entering my bloodstream and starting to block acetylcholinesterase.
Onset of Symptoms:
Within seconds to a few minutes, the effects of VX would start to become apparent:
3. Sudden Symptoms:
- I might begin to feel a sense of confusion or dizziness. This could manifest as a feeling that something is not quite right, like a feeling of disorientation, but I wouldn’t immediately associate it with the attack.
- I might notice blurred vision, or I could feel that my eyes are watering, which would be an odd, unfamiliar sensation.
- My muscles might start to feel weak, especially in my face and throat, making it harder to control my expression or swallow.
4. Increasing Paralysis:
- As the paralysis progresses, my ability to move my muscles, including my eyelids and mouth, would become increasingly difficult. I might start to feel a sense of heaviness in my chest as the muscles responsible for breathing begin to weaken.
5. Difficulty Breathing:
- Shortness of breath would likely set in, possibly causing panic. I might feel like I can't take in a full breath, even though I’m trying. This could feel like being suffocated, but in a very slow and gradual way. The paralysis of the diaphragm would start preventing my lungs from expanding properly, causing a feeling of increasing air hunger.
Passing Out:
6. Loss of Awareness:
- As my breathing becomes more labored and my muscle control fades, I would likely lose consciousness. This could happen quickly as my body becomes unable to maintain basic functions like breathing and circulation. My vision could go dark as I lose consciousness, potentially within minutes of the toxin’s application.
- The feeling of panic or distress might be strong at first, but as the toxin takes effect, I would likely feel drowsy or even disoriented, which could lead to passing out due to the lack of oxygen.
Summary of the Sensory Experience:
In essence, the process would feel like a gradual worsening of muscle weakness, especially in the face, chest, and diaphragm. There would be little to no sensation of pain or irritation, but a growing sense of helplessness as I struggle to breathe and my body slowly loses the ability to function. The absence of typical pain or irritation from the toxin is what makes VX so dangerous—there are no immediate warnings or visible signs, making it almost impossible to recognize what’s happening until it’s too late.
