Protective effect of povidone-iodine ointment against skin lesions induced by sulphur and nitrogen mustards and by non-mustard vesicants

Mustard gas (sulphur mustard, SM) is a powerful vesicant employed as a chemical weapon. The present study demonstrates the effect of povidone iodine (PI) ointment against skin toxicity caused by SM. Gross and histopathological examinations showed that application of PI up to 20 min following exposure to the vesicant resulted in marked skin protection. The shorter the interval between exposure and treatment the better was the protection achieved....