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
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?
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