What is meant by chemical warfare?
Chemical warfare is the use of the toxic properties of chemical substances to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy in warfare and associated military operations.
What are chemicals agents?
The term chemical agent means any chemical element or compound, on its own or admixed, as it occurs in the natural state or as produced, used or released, including release as waste, by any work activity, whether or not produced intentionally and whether or not placed on the market.
What is the difference between toxins and chemical agents?
Toxic substance is simply a material which has toxic properties. A toxic agent is anything that can produce an adverse biological effect. It may be chemical, physical, or biological in form. For example, toxic agents may be chemical (such as cyanide), physical (such as radiation) and biological (such as snake venom).
What chemicals are used in chemical warfare?
Types of Chemical Weapon Agents
- Nerve agents (such as sarin, soman, cyclohexylsarin, tabun, VX)
- Vesicating or blistering agents (such as mustards, lewisite)
- Choking agents or lung toxicants (such as chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene)
- Cyanides.
- Incapacitating agents (such as anticholinergic compounds)
Why was chemical warfare used?
They were primarily used to demoralize, injure, and kill entrenched defenders, against whom the indiscriminate and generally very slow-moving or static nature of gas clouds would be most effective.
Why is chemical warfare bad?
In your view, why are chemical weapons banned? Their indiscriminate nature. They could kill or maim any person, whether that person is participating in a given conflict or not. A second issue is that the effect of certain chemical weapons could bring lifelong damage that would remain after the conflict ends.
What are the effect of chemical agents?
Chemical agents can cause incapacitation, disorientation or death. Many of the more commonly used agents can be produced inexpensively and easily stored.
What is the most common form of chemical agent?
Blister agents Blister agents (also known as vesicants) are one of the most common chemical weapon agents, typically dispersed via liquid, vapour, aerosol or dust.
What is the difference between toxins and toxic?
The terms toxicants and toxins both refer to toxic substances. But, toxins are natural products such as the ones found in poisonous mushrooms, or in a snakes’ venom.
Is toxin and toxic the same?
Toxin is usually used when referring to a toxic substance produced naturally. Toxicant is usually used when referring to a toxic substance that is produced by, or a by-product of, man-made activities. The word toxin is used informally to describe both groups.
What are warfare agents?
Chemical warfare agents (CWA’s) are defined as any chemical substance whose toxic properties are utilised to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy in warfare and associated military operations. Chemical agents have been used in war since times immemorial, but their use reached a peak during World War I.
What is a chemical warfare agent?
Chemical warfare agents (CWA’s) are defined as any chemical substance whose toxic properties are utilised to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy in warfare and associated military operations. Chemical agents have been used in war since times immemorial, but their use reached a peak during World Wa …
What are chemical weapons?
Chemical weapons (warfare agents) developed for military use. Toxic industrial and commercial chemicals that are produced, transported, and stored in the making of petroleum, textiles, plastics, fertilizers, paper, foods, pesticides, household cleaners, and other products. Chemical toxins of biological origin such as ricin.
How many chemicals are used in chemical warfare?
About 70 different chemicals have been used or stockpiled as chemical warfare agents during the 20th century. The entire class known as Lethal Unitary Chemical Agents and Munitions have been scheduled for elimination by the CWC.
What causes injuries from chemical weapon agents?
Injury from chemical weapon agents, known as CWAs, may result from industrial accidents, military stockpiling, war, or a terrorist attack. Industrial accidents are a significant potential source of exposure to chemical agents.