Real fears of their use in the Ukraine war.. What do you know about chemical weapons?

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has expressed concern over allegations of chemical weapons being used in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is witnessing heavy fighting.

For its part, the British government warned Russia of the consequences of the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, adding that all options were on the table if it was proven that they were used.

Britain's Armed Forces Minister James Hebe said the UK and its allies would respond to any use of chemical weapons by Russian forces in Ukraine.

On March 16, 2022, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed real fears that Russia would use chemical weapons in Ukraine, pointing out that Washington was very clear with Moscow, and informed it that there would be a response and repercussions if it used chemical weapons.

The Pentagon spokesman also stated on March 11, 2022, that US President Joe Biden announced that Russia would face severe consequences if it used chemical weapons.

A day earlier, the Wall Street Journal quoted a senior NATO official as saying there were concerns that Russia was preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine.

What is the story of these weapons that mankind has known since the First World War?

Chemical weapons.. what are they?

According to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the term chemical weapons can also be given to any of the toxic chemicals or compounds that can cause death, injury, temporary disability, and the like.

Chemical weapons are also known as a substance or group of highly lethal toxic substances of great danger, directed by the use of missiles carrying heads stuffed with chemicals, and the wind is used to spread their poison.

Munitions, devices, and other equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic chemicals fall under the definition of chemical weapons.

Weapons of mass destruction

Chemical weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction, although they differ from nuclear, biological and radiological weapons.

All of these weapons can be used in war. Weapons of mass destruction are distinguished from conventional weapons as being very effective because of their high explosive power, mobility, as well as the severe burns and damage they cause.

It is believed that missiles that carry chemical agents explode at a height of 200 feet above the surface of the earth (about 60 meters) to spread poison over the largest possible area, and they only affect living organisms unlike nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

In the process of detonating the chemical head, the toxic substance must be preserved, as the detonation heat may lead to the dismantling of the toxic substance so that it loses its effectiveness, which also requires the use of stable and stable chemicals that can withstand military use.

1822: Mustard gases were produced, but its toxic effect was not discovered until 1860.

Mustard gases were used in the First World War, which caused injuries to the eyes and lungs of many soldiers, and some of them continued to suffer from these injuries even after 40 years of exposure to mustard gases.

Old chemical weapons fall into two categories: chemical weapons produced before 1925 and chemical weapons produced between 1925 and 1946 that are so worn out that they can no longer be used as chemical weapons.

Forms of chemical weapons

The forms of chemical weapons vary. They are usually gaseous, but they may take a different form, such as being liquid or solid, for example.

nerve gas

The United Kingdom developed nerve gas in the early 1950s.

Nerve gas belongs to the organophosphorus compounds, and it is classified as a nervous agent because it affects the transmission of nerve impulses in the nervous system.

Odorless and tasteless in its pure form, it appears as an oily brown liquid.

It is especially effective as it represents a constant factor: when it is released into the atmosphere, it is slow to evaporate, and under normal weather conditions, the nerve gas can remain for several days on the surfaces, while it remains for months in very cold weather.

It is referred to as "the vapor of nerve gas is heavier than air", which means that when released "it will descend to low areas and the risk of exposure is greater."

These properties make nerve gas a useful weapon in blocking certain areas of the enemy.

The nerve agent is also fast-acting, and symptoms can appear just seconds after exposure.

These symptoms include increased salivation, narrowed pupils, and tightness in the chest.

As with other nerve agents, the nerve agent works by affecting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which acts as a "stop switch" for glands and muscles.

By blocking the secretion of this enzyme, the molecules continue to stimulate the muscles, and while the muscles cramp for a long time, they tire, causing death due to suffocation or heart failure.

Sarin gas

Sarin (also known as GB), is a volatile, but toxic, nerve agent. A single drop the size of a pinhead is enough to kill an adult human quickly.

It is a colorless, odorless liquid that can remain reactive in warm atmospheres, but evaporates rapidly when heated.

After its release, sarin spreads into the environment quickly and poses an immediate, albeit short-lived, threat.

Similar to nerve gas, "symptoms include headache, salivation and tears, then progressive paralysis of the muscles" and possible death.

1938: Germany developed sarin.

1995: Aum Shinrikyo sect used it in an attack on a train station in Tokyo. While the attack caused mass panic, it only killed 13 people because of its use in liquid form.

In order to maximize casualties, it must not only be gaseous, but its particles must also be small enough that they are easily absorbed through the lungs, but heavy enough that they are not expelled again on exhalation.

Sarin gas is not easy to use as a weapon.

The quality of the agent is also important. Sarin (such as nerve gas) is biodegradable, especially if it is not pure.

The shelf life of sarin in Iraq, for example, ranged from one to two years.

While decomposing products are still toxic, they cannot be used as weapons.

Although the stockpile of chemical weapons in Syria was old and likely had largely decomposed, the sarin used in the attack on the outskirts of Ghouta, on August 21, 2013, was of higher quality than that used in the 1995 Tokyo attack or Halabja .

But it is still a far cry from the sarin produced by the United States and the Soviet Union.

September 2013: The United Nations confirmed that a chemical weapons attack, including specially designed missiles, spread sarin over rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital.

- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that this attack was "the most prominent confirmed use of chemical weapons against civilians since Saddam Hussein used them in Halabja in 1988," according to his description.

mustard gas

It is also known as sulfur mustard, and got its name from its smell similar to moldy mustard or the smell of garlic and onions, and it belongs to a group of agents that cause pimples and ulcers (that is, they cause the appearance of water-filled blisters on the skin) that work by targeting the eyes, respiratory system and skin, first As an irritant and then as a toxin to the cells of the body.

When the skin is exposed to it, it reddens and burns for a few hours before the appearance of large blisters that cause severe scarring and pain.

The eyes swell and water, and you may go blind for several hours from exposure to the gas, and when inhaled or swallowed, victims develop sneezing, hoarseness, coughing up blood, abdominal pain, and vomiting.

But exposure to mustard gas is not always fatal. When it was first used in World War I, it only killed 5% of the people who inhaled it.

It has become a common chemical weapon - it was used in the two world wars, during the civil war in Yemen and the Iran-Iraq war - because of its properties.

In addition to its hideous effects, mustard gas is chemically stable and very stable, its vapor is 6 times heavier than air, and its effects remain near the ground for several hours, making it useful for filling and destroying enemy trenches.

Remains toxic for a day or two under moderate weather conditions, and weeks to months in very cold conditions.

Even more, the stability can be increased by "condensing" the agent: dissolving it in non-volatile solvents.

It poses significant problems for protection, decontamination and treatment.

Mustard gas is relatively easy to produce, with early precursors readily available.

It also retains its quality for a long time.

For example, German munitions used in world wars are still extracted from excavations in Belgium, and the gases in them hardly decompose.

Mustard gas forces enemy forces to wear full protective gear, which leads to inefficiency.

But protective equipment does not always work, gas masks, for example, are often not enough.

During the Iran-Iraq war, mustard gas leaked through the masks.

Mustard gas also easily penetrates clothing, shoes, or other items.

Phosgene... the most dangerous

Phosgene is an almost colorless gas at room temperature. It smells of fresh grass in low concentrations. It is not flammable and evaporates when heated above 8 degrees, making it easy to evaporate.

But its vapor density is more than 3 times that of air, which means that it stays in low-lying areas, including trenches.

To this day, phosgene is considered one of the most dangerous chemical weapons in existence.

It was first used with chlorine gas on December 19, 1915, when Germany dropped 88 tons of the gas on British forces, causing 120 deaths and 1,069 injuries.

During World War I, he was responsible for 80% of deaths caused by the use of chemical weapons.

Although it is not as toxic as sarin or the nerve gas, it is much easier to manufacture, which makes it available to everyone.

Phosgene is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and pesticides.

It is made by exposing chlorinated hydrocarbons at high temperatures.

It can be made at home by exposing chloroform to ultraviolet light for a few days.

Phosgene is a choking agent that works by attacking lung tissue.

Possible initial symptoms such as coughing, choking, chest tightness, nausea and sometimes vomiting appear several minutes after exposure.

In fact, victims continue to inhale it until symptoms appear.

These effects can appear as late as 48 hours after exposure.

Chlorine gas..the most available

Chlorine gas is greenish-yellow in color and has a strong bleach-like odor.

Similar to phosgene, it is a choking agent, obstructing breathing and destroying tissues in the body.

It can be easily compressed and cooled to a liquid state, so it can be shipped and stored.

Chlorine diffuses quickly and stays close to the ground because it is heavier than air.

Although it is less lethal than other chemical agents, the danger of chlorine lies in its ease of manufacture and concealment.

Inspectors of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced that "pulmonary irritants such as chlorine gas have been used systematically in a number of attacks" in Syria, after Assad pledged to give up his chemical weapons.

This has heightened doubts about the value of the US-Russian agreement on eliminating Syria's chemical weapons.

Chlorine gas is a readily available industrial chemical that has many peaceful uses, including as bleaches in paper and cloth, to make pesticides, rubber, and solvents, and to kill bacteria in drinking water and swimming pools.

Despite the dual-use nature of chlorine gas, its use as a chemical weapon is still prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

riot gases

The Chemical Weapons Convention did not ban riot gases (because they do not apply to domestic law enforcement), as they are often used to cause destructive effects.

Temporary effects include crying, uncontrollable blinking of the eyes, burning in the throat, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and sometimes temporary blindness.

A table comparing chemical agents in terms of their speed and durability