Silent but deadly, unknown but known, and simple yet complex. Chemical’s are all around us. They’re part of our everyday life, we find them as a necessity to live almost, but what happens when these chemicals are in a non controlled setting? When they are used to take a turn for the worst, and become silent murderous machines?
Chemical weapons are defined to be a chemical containing toxins which are then put into what is referred to as the “delivery system” (The way in which the chemical will be released). These delivery systems can range anywhere from a bomb to gases, a liquid, or even a vapor. They can then lead damage to the body by reacting as a choking agent, nerve agents, or blood agents. Choking agents must be inhaled for them to take effect, they then enter the respiratory system and begin to attack and drown the lungs. Some symptoms of being under a choking agent would be your eyes feel like they have a burn, then your skin/body starts to feel the same. Possibly in your facial area like the nose or mouth. Next you could possibly start to cough up blood with a pain in your throat every time you breath. Nerve agents take effect once you’re exposed to the agent itself. It will affect your respiratory system, then start to make you feel light headed as if you’re losing consciousness, next if exposed to a high enough dosage of the agent it will start to paralyze your muscles and soon leave you to be suffocated to death. Symptoms of nerve agents are you start to feel a sharp pain in your chest, then it’ll start to get tight and you’ll be at UNease. Then you could start to feel pain in your stomach area, become nauseous. and begin to throw up. If left UN-aided it could lead to death. Blood agents are inhaled then released ...
... middle of paper ...
... Agent Group, Persistency Rate of Action. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://www.opcw.org/about-chemical-weapons/what-is-a-chemical-weapon/
Blood agents. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://www.opcw.org/protection/types-of-chemical-agent/blood-agents/
Sepkowitz, K. (2013, August 26). Sarin, Nitrogen Mustard, Cyanide & More: All About Chemical Weapons. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/26/sarin-nitrogen-mustard-cyanide-more-all-about-chemical-weapons.html
References
Croddy, E., Perez-Armendariz, C., & Hart, J. (2002). Chemical and biological warfare: A comprehensive survey for the concerned citizen. New York: Copernicus.
Ganesan, K., Raza, S. K., & Vijayaraghavan, R. (2010). Chemical warfare agents. Classification of CW Agents, 1. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3148621/
3Brophy, L. (1959). The Chemical Warfare Service (1st ed.). Washington: Office of the Chief of
Guillemin, J. (2005). Biological weapons: From the invention of state-sponsored programs to contemporary bioterrorism Columbia University Press.
B”Heller, C.E (1984). Leavenworth papers No 10. Chemical warfare in world war I. Combat studies institute”.
The two chemical weapons that were used were: nerve agent and mustard gas. Nerve agent has two main classes that are Class G and Class V. Class V is more new, however less fatal. The specific nerve agent used by the Iraqis is Cyclosarin. Cyclosarin is an extremely toxic substance used as a chemical weapon, which is a member of Class G. Cyclosarin is the most dangerous gas out of both classes. It is known to have a sweet smell and is also flammable unlike other nerve gases. Mustard gas on the other hand is yellow and smells like garlic. Both gases cause death in minutes and have long lasting effects. These can include diseases and other horrible problems. Many of these diseases cannot be cured, for the cells have been damaged and cannot be repaired.
Unknown. (2001). Chemical and Biological Defense Program annual report to Congress (2000). In Chemical and Biological Defense Program annual report to Congress (2000) (pp. 116,
The purpose of this essay is to deal with the fact that chemical warfare should be brought back to modern warfare strategies. As Warren Rudman said, “And they will tell you unequivocally that if we have a chemical or biological attack or a nuclear attack anywhere in this country, they are unprepared to deal with it today, and that is of high urgency.” Rudman’s words are true in what they say and that we should do everything to counter-act his statement. Biological weapons are a key to outstanding success in war and therefore, I strongly suggest that chemical warfare is an effective and producible weapon tactic that can be used on today’s battlefield.
Josko, Deborah. "Botulin Toxin: A Weapon in Terrorism." Clinical Laboratory Science. 01 Jan. 2004: n.p. eLibrary Science. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Trueman, Chris. "Chemical Warfare and World War Two." Chemical Warfare and World War Two. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. .
Fries, A. A., & West, C. J. (1921). Chemical warfare,. New York [etc.: McGraw-Hill book company, inc..
Poison gas was perhaps the most feared weapon out of all. Created to overcome the long stalemate style of trench warfare, its purpose was to draw out soldiers hiding in the trenches. One side would throw the poison gas into the enemy trenches and they would either wait for their enemy to come out into open fire or perish in the trenches. The first poison gas used in battle was chlorine at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres on April 22, 1915 by the Germans. Shortly after, followed the phosgene. The effects of these gases were ghastly. Chlorine was the most deadly as "within seconds of inhaling its vapor, it destroys the victim's respiratory organs, bringing on choking attacks" (Duffy). Phosgene had similar effects, except the fact that the effects started kicking in after 48 hours of inhalation. In September 1917, the Germans introduced the mustard gas or Yperite which was contained in artillery shells against the Russians at Riga. Those exposed t...
Poisons come in different forms and act in different ways. They can act locally, absorption through the body, or both. There are three different categories that poisons are put into: inorganic, organic, and asphyxiants...
Pita, R. (2009). Toxin weapons: From World War I to jihadi terrorism. Toxin Reviews, 28(4), 219-237. doi:10.3109/1556950903246136
...cy on biological warfare. During his visit to Fort Detrick, he announced that the United States would terminate all research on biological weapons. By the year 1972 the United States had completely destroyed all biological weapon stockpile. In return of this act the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention was held, As a result of 118 countries signed a agreeing not to develop, produce, or stockpile any form of biological weapon(Mayer p4). Unfortunately despite many laws passed over time, few countries have abided by them. Evidence of this came in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s there were reports that the Soviet Union was using biological weapons in Laos, Kampuchea, and Afghanistan (Mayer p 4).
In the beginning of the 20th century, scientists were experimenting with a wide range of chemicals to develop a method that may affect several diseases in hopes of producing a cure. A German chemist, Paul Ehrlich, who was experimenting treatments of syphilis with chemical methods, created the term “chemotherapy” (Bonander, 2011). It wasn’t until 1943 when the United State’s secret chemical weapon program discovered that nitrogen mustard, also know...