CHEMICAL WARFARE

KEN JORDAN ‘02

 WHAT IS IT??

• Chemical Warfare is the use of chemical

compounds to kill or injure an enemy
THERE ARE 3 MAIN CHEMICAL
AGENTS USED

Surface Agents

Nerve Agents

Herbicides
 SOME 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 spread through

the air and are transmitted through

inhalation
 SOME NERVE AGENTS
Sarin
All four of these agents
Soman disrupt the actions of a
neurotransmitter called
acetylcholine
Tabun

VX
 Nerve Agents are designed to

attack through both inhalation and

absorption
“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.
 HERBICIDES
Agent Orange…
-Used in Vietnam to clear away jungle
canopy in order to better expose
enemy troops
-A true chemical weapon? Although
not targeted at troops, it did leave
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
H3C
O
P
H3C
Sarin O F
CH3
Cl
Phosgene O C
Cl
CH3
H 3C
Tabun P
O
O C
H3C N

CH2 Cl CH2 Cl
Mustards S N
CH2 Cl CH2 Cl

VX
 CHEMICAL VS.
BIOLOGICAL…

WHICH POSES A GREATER THREAT?

 THREAT OF BIOLOGICAL WAR
 Biological weapons can be much more
dangerous in war
 Ability to spread
 Lack of control
 Debilitating or lethal effects
 IN CONCLUSION…
 Terrorists are not as likely to use
chemical weapons as they are
biological
 Chemical weapons must target a
particular spot to be effective
 Agent Orange shows us that lasting
effects can occur
 Plants, livestock, and people can be
affected