CHEMICAL WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION: SARIN GAS

Wilibrordus Armand AmadeusCBE 555

What is chemical weapon?

A device that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on human beings

Can be widely dispersed in gas, liquid and solid forms

About 70 different chemicals have been used or stockpiled as chemical weapon agents during the 20th century

Brief history of chemical warfare:Ancient times

600 B.C. Athenians poisoned the wells of the Spartans Spartans tried lobbing burning sulfur pitch over the walls

of Athens, hoping to fill the city with toxic smoke 400 B.C.

The "Laws of Manu," a Hindu treatise on statecraft advises poisoning food and water.

The manual contains hundreds of recipes for creating poison weapons, toxic smokes, and other chemical weapons.

A.D. 1200: Genghis Khan catapulted burning sulfur pitch on fortified

cities

Brief history of chemical warfare:Medieval times

15th century Leonardo da Vinci proposed a powder of sulfide of

arsenic and verdigris Inhaler will asphyxiated

1672 Explosive and combustible device are used to

produce toxic fumes in the Siege of Groningen 1854

Lyon Playfair proposed a cacodyl cyanide artillery shell

Poisonous vapor which would kill men without suffering 

Brief history of chemical warfare:World War times

World War I 124,000 tons of gas were produced:

85,000 fatalities + 1,176,500 non-fatal casualties

French use tear gases: ethyl bromoacetate and chloroacetone

Germany use pulmonary agents: chlorine, phosgene, mustard gas

Brief history of chemical warfare:World War times

World War II Use of blister agents in China by Japanese

Army Germany decided not to use nerve agent

fearing retaliation by Allies

Chemical weapon technology timeline: 20th Century

Agents Dissemination Protection Detection

1914

ChlorineChloropicrinPhosgeneMustard gas

Wind dispersalGas masks, urinated-on gauze

Smell

1918 Lewisite Chemical shellsGas maskRosin oil clothing

smell of geraniums

1920s  Projectiles w/ central bursters

CC-2 clothing  

1930sG-series nerve agents

Aircraft bombs  

Blister agent detectorsColor change paper

1940s  Missile warheadsSpray tanks

Protective ointment (mustard)Collective protectionGas mask w/ Whetlerite

 

1950s

1960sV-series nerve agents

AerodynamicGas mask w/ water supply

Nerve gas alarm

1970s

1980s   Binary munitions

Improved gas masks(protection, fit, comfort)

Laser detection

1990sNovichok nerve agents

     

Types of chemical weapon

Harassing Agents Incapacitating Agents

Lethal Agents

Harassing agents

Not intended to kill or injure Used as Riot Control Agents 3 Categories:

Tear agents: produced immediate pain to eyes Ex. Bromoacetone, Capsaicin, Xylyl bromide

Vomiting agents: produced congestion, coughing, sneezing Ex. Adamsite, Diphenylchloroarsine

Malodorants: produced strong and unpleasant smell Ex. Skunk weapon

Incapacitating agents

Non-lethal agents Limited probability of permanent injury or

loss of life Cause mental disturbance: delirium or

hallucination Ex. 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate (BZ),

Phencyclidine (SN), Lysergic acid diethylamide (K)

Lethal agents

Cause injuries that require medical treatment

4 Categories: Blister agents: cause injury to the skin

Ex. Vesicants, Nitrogen mustards, Arsenicals Blood agents: interfere with blood process

Ex. Cyanogen Chloride, Hydrogen Cyanide, Arsine

Choking Agents (pulmonary agents): cause asphyxiation Ex. Chlorine, Chloropicrin, Diphosgene,

Phosgene Nerve agents

Nerve Agents

Effects: Disrupt chemical communication through nervous

system Blocking acetyl cholinesterase; stops

neurotransmitter Exhaustion of muscles leads to respiratory failure

4 Categories: G series: high volatility; non-persistent to semi-persistent

effect Ex. Tabun, Sarin, Soman, Cyclosarin

GV series: medium volatility, semi-persistent to persistent effect

V series: medium volatility, semi-persistent to persistent effect

T series: Related to puffer fish Tetrodoxing

Sarin Gas

Organophosphorous compound: [(CH3)2CHO]CH3P(O)F

Discovered in 1938 in Germany by scientists attempting to create stronger pesticides

Colorless, odorless liquid Very lethal:

26 times more deadly than cyanide SLUDGE syndrome: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination,

Defecation, Gastrointestinal distress, and Emesis Suffocation from lung muscle paralysis Death within 1 minute after ingestion

Sarin Gas

http://mastermindmaps.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sarin.jpeg

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/06/graphic-sarin-chemical-warfare-nerve-agent/

Sarin gas in Syria

Ghouta chemical attack occurred on 21 August 2013 during the Syrian civil war

District around Damascus, Syria, were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent Sarin

Estimates of the death toll around 1,729 fatalities The UN has confirmed "unequivocally and objectively" that

chemical weapons have been used in Syria UN did not determine who is the perpetrators of the attack

Discussion

Lyon Playfair response to justify chemical warfare:

“There was no sense in this objection. It is considered a legitimate mode of warfare to fill shells with molten metal which scatters among the enemy, and produced the most frightful modes of death. Why a poisonous vapor which would kill men without suffering is to be considered illegitimate warfare is incomprehensible. War is destruction, and the more destructive it can be made with the least suffering the sooner will be ended that barbarous method of protecting national rights. No doubt in time chemistry will be used to lessen the suffering of combatants, and even of criminals condemned to death.”

What do you think with this statement? Any possible development of new chemical weapon in the

future?