INTRODUCTION THE CHEMICAL THREAT AND ENEMY CAPABILITY THE STATUS OF CHEMICAL PROLIFERATION Chemical Warfare Capabilities of Nations International Agreements and Verification Terrorism MILITARY CHEMICAL AGENTS TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS Chemical Agent Delivery Systems Physical Properties of Chemical Agents Strategic Concerns in the Use of Toxins Choice of Agent and Delivery S...

This article describes a brief history of chemical warfare, which culminated in the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention. It describes the current level of chemical weapons and the risk of using them. Furthermore, some traditional technology for the development of chemical weapons, such as increasing toxicity, methods of overcoming chemical protection, research on natural toxins or the in...

Chemical weapons have given the human experience of warfare a uniquely terrifying quality that has inspired a general repugnance and led to periodic attempts to ban their use. Nevertheless, since ancient times, toxic agents have been consistently employed to kill and terrorize target populations. The evolution of these weapons is examined here in ways that may allow military, law enforcement, a...

Clinical manifestations of sixteen children and teenagers exposed to chemical warfare in Halabje are presented. 15 patients complained of burning of skin. Dry coughing was present in 13 subjects. The most frequent signs were conjunctivitis, skin erythema, edema of the eyelids, hyperpigmentation, ulceration, erosion, dyspnea, closure ofthe eyes, blisters, edema of the skin, and crepitation ...

Chemical and biological weapons can be used during conflicts and by terrorists to injure or kill humans and animals. Chemical weapons contain toxic chemicals and biological weapons contain pathogenic organisms. With proper protective equipments and training, the lethal effects of chemical and biological warfare agents can be minimised. First aid kit is available that contain detection, decontam...

clinical manifestations of sixteen children and teenagers exposed to chemical warfare in halabje are presented. 15 patients complained of burning of skin. dry coughing was present in 13 subjects. the most frequent signs were conjunctivitis, skin erythema, edema of the eyelids, hyperpigmentation, ulceration, erosion, dyspnea, closure ofthe eyes, blisters, edema of the skin, and crepitation in bo...

Recent events have emphasized the threat from chemical and biological warfare agents. Within the efforts to counter this threat, the biocatalytic destruction and sensing of chemical and biological weapons has become an important area of focus. The specificity and high catalytic rates of biological catalysts make them appropriate for decommissioning nerve agent stockpiles, counteracting nerve ag...

Please direct correspondence to Pierre Gareil at [email protected]. he different conflicts of the 20th century were marked by the use of chemical weapons. Therefore, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was signed in 1993 and came into force in 1997 to prohibit the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical warfare agents (1). But today, the use of chemical weapons by terro...

Chemical warfare agents are toxic weapons and emergency prehospital medical care providers should be well prepared, trained, and equipped to give response. Personnel need to be aware of the following medical issues regarding prehospital management of a chemical attack, event recognition, incident medical command and control, safety and protection, decontamination, isolation of the incident area...