( V o l a t i l i t y )

Transcription

1 D R A F T C H E M I C A L W E A P O N C A T E G O R I Z A T I O N S Charles P. Blair, last updated 01/30/2013 is it C H O K I N G CHL O R I N E ( C I ) First use: Germany on April 15, Near Ypres, Belgium L O W - Easy to protect against if you know it s coming; Killed hundreds of French and Algerian troops Victim s lung space to fill with their body s own fluids, thus the victim can no longer respire enough oxygen and he or she dies. S L O W 2-4 hour with a moderate exposure with death in 24 hours L O W - L O W D E L I V E R E D A S A G A S For its first use at Ypres, Belgium, the Germans used 5,730 cylinders, totaling 168 metric tons of agent R E L A T I V E L Y E A S Y A N D N O N - C O S T L Y Inexpensive, especially for industrialized nations. WIND WAS THE BIGGEST. At Ypres, in April 1915, Germans waited three weeks for ambient wind conditions to change. Wind direction changed, During the British chlorine attack near Loos, Belgium, in September 1915, causing MORE British casualties than German. C H O K I N G P H O S G E N E ( C G ) First use: 1915 by Germans Done confuse with phosgene oxime Much higher than Chlorine Again, effect on lungs but also an effect on the central nervous system. S L O W Can take up to 24 hours to kill victim Toxicity is 18 times higher than chlorine 2 L O W D E L I V E R E D A S A G A S C H O K I N G D I P H O S G E N E First use: 1916 by Germans Same as phosgene key is persistency M A S K B R E A K E R Same as phosgene key is persistency M A S K B R E A K E R S L O W Same as phosgene key is persistency M A S K B R E A K E R Same as phosgene key is persistency M A S K B R E A K E R Was created to be more persistent than chlorine or phosgene. M A S K B R E A K E R L I Q U I D A T R O O M T E M P E R A T U R E S Thus, it is easier to handle harder to weaponize than chlorine or phosgene C H O K I N G C H L O R O P I C R I N ( P S ) (Vomiting Gas) First used by Russians in 1916 L O W - Less than chlorine, phosgene, or diphosgene ¼ less toxic than phosgene or diphosgene More persistent than chlorine or phosgene. Mask Breaker: Then You Can Hit Enemy With Another CW Artillery, shells, bombs, landmines. Key: Remains Liquid Over A Wide Variety of Temps. Think Russian Winters Used in pesticides today. highly available for VNSAs but lethality could be an issue

2 Page 2 of 10 is it ʘ B L I S T E R L E W I S I T E (L) Japan likely used it again China in WWII 3 EYES SKIN CONTACT AND VERY FAST 4 Immediate pain / irritation; within hours lesions develop 5 Skin: 2.8 g 6 Inhalation: 1,200-1,500 mg 7 Toxicity of lewisite vapor is very similar to that of mustard vapor. 8 - ( less persistent then mustard 9 ) N O N F L A M M A B L E Liquid or vapor CAN BE USED IN VERY COLD ENVIRONMENTS remains a liquid like Chloropicrin Terrorists would probably find these agents less appealing because they hardly the most toxic and because they pose significant challenges to produce in large quantities. 10 ʘ B L I S T E R M U S T A R D S U L F U R ( H D ) ( d i s t i l l e d s u l f u r m u s t a r d ) Appeared in 1915 Ypres. Hitler s injury was due to this agent Mussolini in Ethiopia, Iraq against Iran in the 1980s. Libya against Chadian forces however:1 gram in vapor form will kill man in 30 minutes but most British troops dies after 6 days (62%). 80% of WW I injuries were Mustard Vapor. EYES SKIN CONTACT AND I N H A L A T I O N Inhalation is an important route of exposure. Ingestion is an uncommon route of exposure. 11 (see PP chart) initial effect 2-24 hours (relative to other nonnerve CWs) (can go through rubber and leather) One need FULL BODY protection and serious decontamination Note: Fat soluble so it effects organs If agent hits respiratory system, one is in deep trouble L Y T O X I C O I L Y L I Q U I D M E S S Y A N D D A N G E R O U S Relatively inexpensive Kills cells, creates puss, thus blisters are formed. Can dissolve into fatty layers and attack organs. Can lead to infections (secondary effects) If it hits eyes one might go blind. ʘ M U S T A R D / L E W I S I T E ( H L ) B L I S T E R ʘ B L I S T E R N I T R O G E N M U S T A R D ( H N - 2 ) 12

3 Page 3 of 10 is it ʘ B L I S T E R B L O O D P H O S G E N E O X I M E ( C X ) nettle gas because its effects are like stinging nettle Not known to have ever been used on the battlefield DECEMBER 1915 H Y D R O G E N C Y A N I D E ( A C ) Do not confuse with phosgene gas SKIN CONTACT AND With high enough concentrations it can cause pulmonary edema (like choking agents I N G E S T I O N S K I N a n d / o r E Y E And its effects can last up to one year. Skin Contact with liquid = : LD50 of 100 mg/kg 16 exposure 17 ): 30mg. 18 penetrates garments and rubber much more Quickly than do other chemical agents. 13 Some do not consider phosgene oxime a vesicant. Due to its extensive tissue damage, it is sometimes referred to as a corrosive. 14 Low Water Soluble Rapidly evaporates to form a colorless gas. Very difficult Powder or aerosol When mixed with another chemical agent (e.g., VX), the rapid skin damage caused by phosgene oxime Renders the skin more susceptible to the second agent. 15 Aum Shinrikyo s attempted to use two plastic bags, one filled with two liter of powdered sodium cyanide; the other with 1.5 liter of diluted sulfuric acid. When combined, these two agents create hydrogen cyanide (AC). The Jordan chemical plot of April The 1993 World Trade Center accusation (see Tucker s Toxic Terror) B L O O D C Y A N O G E N C H L O R I D E ( C K ) SKIN Liquid: minutes after exposure; common skin contact exposure time is 5-7 minutes 200 mg/kg Inhalation: 11,000 mg C Y A N O G E N C H L O R I D E ( C K ) With inhalation, death occurs 6-8 minutes later 20

4 Page 4 of 10 is it B L O O D A R S I N E ( S A ) (derived from arsenic) H Y D R O G E N S U L F I D E H Y D R O G E N S U L F I D E ( Sour Gas ) ( Sour Gas ) N E R V E T A B U N - G A Developed in German in The first of the three G Series nerve agents. Used by Iraq against Iran (with sarin there were 45, ,000 casualties) Eyes Skin Contact and 15 minutes to a few hours Vapor: second to several minutes. Liquid: minutes to hours after exposure. Some common reports hold that for 1-30 minutes t ere is an asymptomatic period follows by symptoms quick onset. LD50 = 1000 mg 1,000 mg 21 exposure 22 ): 200 mg. 23

5 Page 5 of 10 is it N E R V E T A B U N - G A Developed in German in The first of the three G Series nerve agents. Used by Iraq against Iran (with sarin there were 45, ,000 casualties) Eyes Skin Contact and 15 minutes to a few hours Vapor: second to several minutes. Liquid: minutes to hours after exposure. Some common reports hold that for 1-30 minutes t ere is an asymptomatic period follows by symptoms quick onset. LD50 = 1000 mg 1,000 mg 24 exposure 25 ): 200 mg. 26 Agent effectively inhibits the enzyme cholinesterase. Normally cholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine. Accumulation of acetylcholine leads to muscle paralysis. Result can be respiratory failure and asphyxiation N E R V E S A R I N - G B Developed in German in 1938 The 2 nd G Series Agent Used by Iraq against Iran (with tabun there were 45, ,000 casualties) I N H A L A T I O N I N G E S T I O N S K I N a n d / o r E Y E Ingestion is an uncommon route of exposure. 27 Vapor: second to several minutes. Liquid: minutes to hours after exposure. Some common reports hold that for 1-30 minutes t ere is an asymptomatic period follows by symptoms quick onset. 1,700 mg 28 An LD50 = 1,700mg is common in the open source literature exposure 29 ): mg. 30 N O N F L A M M A B L E 31 B i n a r y s a r i n. With binary sarin (also referred to as GB binary and GB2 ) a forward container has methylphosphonic difluoride (DF), while a second, rear container has an isopropyl alcohol and isopropylamine solution (OPA). The DF resides in the munition prior to use. The OPA is added just prior to launch. After deployment of the weapon, the two canisters rupture, the isopropyl amine binds to the hydrogen fluoride generated during the chemical reaction, and the chemical mixture produces GB. 32 Experts note that, The final product of the weapon is of the same chemical structure as the original nerve agent. The term binary refers only to the storage and deployment method used, not to the chemical structure of the substance. 33 With regard to how long it takes the DF and OPA to mix before binary sarin is extant, Eric Croddy notes that, as in any chemical reaction, a certain amount of time is required for the [binary] reaction to run its course. In the case of GB binary, this required about seven seconds. 34

6 Page 6 of 10 is it N E R V E S O M A N G D Developed in German in 1944 I N H A L A T I O N I N G E S T I O N S K I N I N J E C T I O N a n d / o r E Y E Ingestion is an uncommon route of exposure. 35 Vapor: second to several minutes. the LD50 is reached at 18 M e d i u m E v a p o r a t i o mg 36 n r a t e = t h 1 / 4 t h a t Liquid: minutes to hours after exposure. Some common reports hold that for 1-30 minutes t ere is an asymptomatic period follows by symptoms quick onset. exposure 37 ) can result in an LD50 via 70 mg. 38 Generally the LD50 is listed as 100mg 39 Generally the LD50 is listed as 100mg 40 M a s k s a n d r u b b e r g l o v e s S o m a n i s C o m b u s t i b l e F L A S H P O I N T I S o f w a t e r. When heated, soman s F ( C ) S o m e w h a t vapors may reportedly, w a t e r form explosive s o l u b l e mixtures with air, presenting an explosion hazard Indoors, outdoors, and in sewers. 42 Explored by Germany, Great Britain and the United States. Significant amounts were produced - the Russian Federation declared The CDC reports that soman s Vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along the ground and collect and stay in poorly-ventilated, low-lying, or confined areas (e.g., sewers, basements, and tanks). 43 United States. Significant amounts were produced - the Russian Federation declared 44 Some 4800 metric tons of Russian GD declared to the OPCW. North Korea has been accused of its production Binary soman (also referred to as GD binary and GD2 ). With binary soman (GD binary, GD2): DF [methylphosphonic difluoride] is located in [one] canister, while a mixture of pinacolyl alcohol and an amine is in a second canister. After deployment of the weapon, the two canisters rupture and the chemical mixture produces binary soman. 45 N E R V E V X E X T R E M E L Y Eyes Skin exposure AND Inhalation with V series agents is less common than with the G Series. 46 Vapor: second to several minutes. Liquid: minutes after exposure; common skin contact exposure time is 5-7 minutes 10 mg 47 LD50=10mg 48 exposure 49 ): 30mg. 50 L O W Most suitable CW for weaponization Agent effectively inhibits the enzyme cholinesterase. Normally cholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine. Accumulation of acetylcholine leads to muscle paralysis. Result can be respiratory failure and asphyxiation Very difficult Precursors can be hard to get Very corrosive Remains liquid in a variety of temperatures VX binary (VX2): O-Ethyl O-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonite (QL) is in 1 canister. The other canister contains elemental sulfur. When the weapon is fired, the canisters rupture and the chemical mixture produce VX. Novichok agent ("Newcomer") : a series of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s and 1990s, all in the "third generation nerve agent" category. Some of these agents (Novichok-5, Novichok-7) are binary agents. 51

7 Page 7 of 10 is it INCAPACITANTS B Z V E R Y L O W INCAPACITANTS L S D V E R Y L O W R C A s C S T E A R G A S ( L A C R I M A T O R O R E Y E I R R I T A N T ) ( O r t h o c h l o r o b e n z y l i d e n e M a l o n o n i t r i l e )

8 Page 8 of 10 is it R C A s C N C H L O R O A C E T O P H E N O N E M a c e ( L A C R I M A T O R ) R C A s C R D I B E N Z O X A Z E P INE R C A s A D A M I S T E ( D M ) ( A R S E N I C A L ) ( S o m e t i m e s a l s o s o m e t i m e s l i s t e d a s a B l o o d A g e n t ) H E R B I C I D E S D E F O L I A N T S R a i n b o w H e r b i c i d e s A g e n t O r a n g e

9 Page 9 of 10 is it H E R B I C I D E S P L A N T G R O W T H R E G U L A T O R S H E R B I C I D E S D E S I C A N T H E R B I C I D E S S O I L S T E R I L A N T S 1 Eric Croddy, Weapons of Mass Destruction Encyclopedia, Volume 1(Santa Barbara: ABC Clio, 2005), Jonathan Tucker, War of Nerves, p Not based on references. Just my educated guess. 4 Lewisite liquid or vapor produces pain or irritation within seconds to minutes after contact. Pain caused by a lewisite lesion is much less severe than that caused by mustard lesions, and it diminishes after blisters Form. Erythema is evident within 15 to 30 minutes after exposure to liquid lewisite, and blisters start within several hours; these times are somewhat longer after vapor exposure. Lewisite is absorbed by the skin Within 3 to 5 minutes (compared with 20 to 30 minutes for an equal amount of mustard) and spreads over a wider area than the same amount of mustard. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. (Washington, D.C., Department of Defense, Office of The Surgeon General, US Army, Borden Institute,2007,292. Available at: 5 Cirincione, Wolfsthal, and Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, p Cirincione, Wolfsthal, and Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, p Cirincione, Wolfsthal, and Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, p Ibid [Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare], p Crodde, p Crodde, Weapons of Mass Destruction Encyclopedia (2005 ABC Clio: Santa Barbara), Sulfur Mustard (HD)Available at: 12 Nitrogen mustard is similar yet has not been used in battle to date (via open-sources) 13 Ibid [Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare], p Cirincione, Wolfsthal, and Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, p Ibid [Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare], p Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, Second Edition, 2005), p In 2004, this author wrote the following incident case for the In the Jordanian incident, some estimates of the possible number of people that could have been killed are as high as 80,000. See, Details Emerge on al-qaeda Chemical Plot in Jordan, Global Security Newswire, April 27, 2004; "Qaeda-linked Chemical Attack in Jordan Could Have Killed 80,000," Agence France Presse, April 26, 2004; Interview with Mahmoud Al-Kharabsha Member of the Jordanian Parliament and Former Chief of Jordanian Intelligence," Federal News Service, April 27, Cirincione, Wolfsthal, and Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, p Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, Second Edition, 2005), p Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, Second Edition, 2005), p Sarin (GB) the Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, Center for Disease Control (DCD). Available at: 28 Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, Second Edition, 2005), p Medical Management Guidelines for Nerve Agents: Tabun (GA); Sarin (GB); Soman (GD); and VX, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last updates, March 3, Available at: 32 Larissa I Velez-Daubon, MD; Chief Editor: Robert G Darling, MD, CBRNE - Nerve Agents, Binary - GB2, VX2, Medscape, updated: June 7, Available at: 33 Velez-Daubon and Darling, CBRNE - Nerve Agents, Binary - GB2, VX2. 34 Eric Crody, Dilrour (DF, Delfuoromethyl-phosphonate, in Eric A. Croddy and James J. Wirtz, eds., Weapons of Mass Destruction Encyclopedia, Volume One: Chemical and Biological Agents (ABC Clio: Santa Barbara, CA, 2005), p Sarin (GB) the Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, Center for Disease Control (DCD). Available at:

10 Page 10 of CBW Info Collection, 2005, Available at: CBW Info Collection, 2005, Available at: 42 Soman (GD) Sarin (GB) the Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, Center for Disease Control (DCD). Available at: 43 Soman (GD) Sarin (GB) the Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, Center for Disease Control (DCD). Available at: 44 CBW Info Collection, 2005, Available at: 45 Velez-Daubon and Darling, CBRNE - Nerve Agents, Binary - GB2, VX Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, Second Edition, 2005), p Velez-Daubon and Darling, CBRNE - Nerve Agents, Binary - GB2, VX2.