CHEMICAL WARFARECHEMICAL WARFARE

KEN JORDAN ‘02KEN JORDAN ‘02

WHAT IS IT??WHAT IS IT??

• Chemical Warfare is the use of chemical compounds to kill or injure an enemy

THERE ARE 3 MAIN CHEMICAL THERE ARE 3 MAIN CHEMICAL AGENTS USEDAGENTS USED

Surface Agents

Nerve Agents

Herbicides

SOME SURFACE AGENTSSOME SURFACE AGENTS

Phosgene Gas Choking Agent--Causes Lungs to fill with Water

Chlorine Gas Destroys Cells that Line Respiratory Tract

Mustard Gas Causes Blisters on all surfaces, leads to respiratory failure

Hydrogen Cyanide Prevents Oxygen from Reaching Blood, Almond Scent

Surface Agents are Surface Agents are spread through spread through

the air and are the air and are transmitted through transmitted through

inhalationinhalation

SOME NERVE AGENTS

All four of these agents disrupt the actions of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine

Sarin

Soman

Tabun

VX

Nerve Agents are Nerve Agents are designed to designed to

attack through both attack through both inhalation and inhalation and

absorptionabsorption

“VX” The deadliest of all

nerve agents, VX will kill you in less than a minute unless its antidote, atropine, is administered directly into the heart.

HERBICIDESHERBICIDES

Agent Orange…Agent Orange…

-Used in Vietnam to clear away -Used in Vietnam to clear away jungle jungle canopy in order to better expose canopy in order to better expose

enemy troopsenemy troops

-A true chemical weapon? Although -A true chemical weapon? Although not targeted at troops, it did leave not targeted at troops, it did leave

lasting effects on some lasting effects on some

HISTORY Chemical weapons were first used in

significant amounts in World War I. German troops released Chlorine Gas

on unsuspecting French soldiers, choking them and causing panic.

The Germans also used Phosgene Gas and introduced Mustard Gas into war in 1917.

By 1918, all major world powers had employed chemical weapons.

EFFECTS

In 1925, following World War I, the Geneva Protocol was issued, outlawing all use of chemical and bacterial agents in warfare.

The United States did not agree to this until 1975!

MODERN USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS Italy uses chemical weapons against

Ethiopia in 1930s. Egypt uses chemical weapons

against Yemen in 1960s. Iraq uses chemical weapons against

Iran in 1980s-1990s. Japanese cult releases Sarin gas into

subway, killing 12, injuring 5500.

HOW DO THEY AFFECT US TODAY?

With the recent events of September 11th, the US has stepped up chemical research.

If chemical warfare ensues, our water supplies, livestock, and breathable air would be targeted.

Paranoia, propaganda

CHEMICAL STRUCTURES

Phosgene

O C

Cl

Cl

Sarin

H3CP

O F

O

CH3

H3C

Mustards

CH2

S

CH2

Cl

Cl

CH2

N

CH2

Cl

Cl

Tabun P

O C

O

NH3C

CH3

H3C

VX

CHEMICAL VS. CHEMICAL VS. BIOLOGICAL…BIOLOGICAL…

WHICH POSES A GREATER THREAT?WHICH POSES A GREATER THREAT?

THREAT OF BIOLOGICAL WARTHREAT OF BIOLOGICAL WAR

Biological weapons can be much Biological weapons can be much more dangerous in warmore dangerous in war

Ability to spreadAbility to spread Lack of controlLack of control Debilitating or lethal effectsDebilitating or lethal effects

IN CONCLUSION…IN CONCLUSION…

Terrorists are not as likely to use Terrorists are not as likely to use chemical weapons as they are chemical weapons as they are biologicalbiological

Chemical weapons must target a Chemical weapons must target a particular spot to be effectiveparticular spot to be effective

Agent Orange shows us that lasting Agent Orange shows us that lasting effects can occureffects can occur

Plants, livestock, and people can be Plants, livestock, and people can be affectedaffected