1. Chemical weapon of mass destruction: Sarin Gas
CBE 555
Wilibrordus Armand Amadeus

2. What is chemical weapon?
A device that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on human beings
Can be widely dispersed in gas, liquid and solid forms
About 70 different chemicals have been used or stockpiled as chemical weapon agents during the 20th century

3. Brief history of chemical warfare: Ancient times
600 B.C.
Athenians poisoned the wells of the Spartans
Spartans tried lobbing burning sulfur pitch over the walls of Athens, hoping to fill the city with toxic smoke
400 B.C.
The "Laws of Manu," a Hindu treatise on statecraft advises poisoning food and water.
The manual contains hundreds of recipes for creating poison weapons, toxic smokes, and other chemical weapons.
A.D. 1200:
Genghis Khan catapulted burning sulfur pitch on fortified cities

4. Brief history of chemical warfare: Medieval times
15th century
Leonardo da Vinci proposed a powder of sulfide of arsenic and verdigris
Inhaler will asphyxiated
1672
Explosive and combustible device are used to produce toxic fumes in the Siege of Groningen
1854
Lyon Playfair proposed a cacodyl cyanide artillery shell
Poisonous vapor which would kill men without suffering 

5. Brief history of chemical warfare: World War times
World War I
124,000 tons of gas were produced:
85,000 fatalities + 1,176,500 non-fatal casualties
French use tear gases: ethyl bromoacetate and chloroacetone
Germany use pulmonary agents: chlorine, phosgene, mustard gas

6. Brief history of chemical warfare: World War times
World War II
Use of blister agents in China by Japanese Army
Germany decided not to use nerve agent fearing retaliation by Allies

7. Chemical weapon technology timeline: 20th Century
Agents
Dissemination
Protection
Detection
1914
Chlorine Chloropicrin Phosgene Mustard gas
Wind dispersal
Gas masks, urinated-on gauze
Smell
1918
Lewisite
Chemical shells
Gas mask Rosin oil clothing
smell of geraniums
1920s
Projectiles w/ central bursters
CC-2 clothing
1930s
G-series nerve agents
Aircraft bombs
Blister agent detectors Color change paper
1940s
Missile warheads Spray tanks
Protective ointment (mustard) Collective protection Gas mask w/ Whetlerite
1950s
1960s
V-series nerve agents
Aerodynamic
Gas mask w/ water supply
Nerve gas alarm
1970s
1980s
Binary munitions
Improved gas masks (protection, fit, comfort)
Laser detection
1990s
Novichok nerve agents

8. Types of chemical weapon
Harassing Agents Incapacitating Agents
Lethal Agents

9. Harassing agents Not intended to kill or injure
Used as Riot Control Agents
3 Categories:
Tear agents: produced immediate pain to eyes
Ex. Bromoacetone, Capsaicin, Xylyl bromide
Vomiting agents: produced congestion, coughing, sneezing
Ex. Adamsite, Diphenylchloroarsine
Malodorants: produced strong and unpleasant smell
Ex. Skunk weapon

10. Incapacitating agents
Non-lethal agents
Limited probability of permanent injury or loss of life
Cause mental disturbance: delirium or hallucination
Ex. 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate (BZ), Phencyclidine (SN), Lysergic acid diethylamide (K)

11. Lethal agents Cause injuries that require medical treatment
4 Categories:
Blister agents: cause injury to the skin
Ex. Vesicants, Nitrogen mustards, Arsenicals
Blood agents: interfere with blood process
Ex. Cyanogen Chloride, Hydrogen Cyanide, Arsine
Choking Agents (pulmonary agents): cause asphyxiation
Ex. Chlorine, Chloropicrin, Diphosgene, Phosgene
Nerve agents

12. Nerve Agents Effects: 4 Categories:
Disrupt chemical communication through nervous system
Blocking acetyl cholinesterase; stops neurotransmitter
Exhaustion of muscles leads to respiratory failure
4 Categories:
G series: high volatility; non-persistent to semi-persistent effect
Ex. Tabun, Sarin, Soman, Cyclosarin
GV series: medium volatility, semi-persistent to persistent effect
V series: medium volatility, semi-persistent to persistent effect
T series: Related to puffer fish Tetrodoxing
G series[edit]
These are high volatility nerve agents that are typically used for a nonpersistent to semipersistent effect.
Tabun (GA)
Sarin (GB)
Soman (GD)
Cyclosarin (GF)
GV series[edit]
These agents have a volatility between the V and G agents and are typically used for a semi-persistent to persistent effect.
Novichok agents
GV (nerve agent)
V series[edit]
These agents have low volatility and are typically used for a persistent effect or liquid contact hazard. VE VG VM VX
T series[edit]
These agents are related to the puffer fish Tetrodotoxin
Saxitoxin (TZ)

13. Sarin Gas Organophosphorous compound: [(CH3)2CHO]CH3P(O)F
Discovered in 1938 in Germany by scientists attempting to create stronger pesticides
Colorless, odorless liquid
Very lethal:
26 times more deadly than cyanide
SLUDGE syndrome: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, Gastrointestinal distress, and Emesis
Suffocation from lung muscle paralysis
Death within 1 minute after ingestion

14. Sarin Gas
08/sarin.jpeg
c-sarin-chemical-warfare-nerve-agent/

15. Sarin gas in Syria
Ghouta chemical attack occurred on 21 August 2013 during the Syrian civil war
District around Damascus, Syria, were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent Sarin
Estimates of the death toll around 1,729 fatalities
The UN has confirmed "unequivocally and objectively" that chemical weapons have been used in Syria
UN did not determine who is the perpetrators of the attack

16. Discussion Lyon Playfair response to justify chemical warfare:
“There was no sense in this objection. It is considered a legitimate mode of warfare to fill shells with molten metal which scatters among the enemy, and produced the most frightful modes of death. Why a poisonous vapor which would kill men without suffering is to be considered illegitimate warfare is incomprehensible. War is destruction, and the more destructive it can be made with the least suffering the sooner will be ended that barbarous method of protecting national rights. No doubt in time chemistry will be used to lessen the suffering of combatants, and even of criminals condemned to death.”
What do you think with this statement?
Any possible development of new chemical weapon in the future?