CHEMICAL WARFARE KEN JORDAN ‘02. WHAT IS IT?? Chemical Warfare is the use of chemical compounds to...
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Transcript of CHEMICAL WARFARE KEN JORDAN ‘02. WHAT IS IT?? Chemical Warfare is the use of chemical compounds to...
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