In the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the threat of the use of chemical weapons by Russian troops looms large. What are chemical weapons? What examples? Chlorine? Mustard gas? What is the most toxic gas? What legislation? Explanations.
[Mise à jour le 14 mars 2022 à 12h58] In the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the threat of the use of chemical weapons by Russian troops looms large. The Russia “will pay a high price if it uses chemical weapons” in its war against Ukraine, warned Friday, March 11 the President of the United States Joe Biden during a speech at the White House. In case of war, we are talking about weapons of mass destruction. Among these are distinguished chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear weapons. What’s this a chemical weapon? What are the guys chemical weapons? What is the most toxic gas in the world ? What is the legislation on chemical weapons?
Definition: what is a chemical weapon?
“Chemical weapons are weapons of mass destruction which designate toxic chemicals (and their components), ammunition and devices designed to release these chemicals, as well as materials specifically designed for the use of these ammunition and devices” explain it Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), “a chemical weapon is a chemical used to intentionally cause death or harm by its toxic properties. Ammunition, devices and other equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic chemicals also fall under the definition of chemical weapons.“. Toxic chemicals are defined as “any chemical which, by its chemical action on vital processes, can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent damage to humans or animals” according to the OPCW.
What are the types of chemical weapons?
Chemical weapons are classified into 3 categories
►Incapacitating Agents : are not intended to kill or injure and can be used by law enforcement during police operations. It includes, for example, tear gas.
►Toxic Agents divided into 4 main categories:
- Vesicants affect the skin (Mustard gas, Lewisite, Phosgene oxime etc.)
- Nerve or nerve agents affect the way nerves transmit signals to muscles and other nerves. They have the effect of paralyzing all the muscles, including the lungs or the muscles that control them, which leads to death by asphyxiation (lead, pesticides, sarin, VX etc)
- Pulmonary agents affect the lungs and airways (chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene, sulfur mustard gas etc)
- Systemic (or hemotoxic) asphyxiants block cellular respiration and prevent cells from functioning (cyanide compounds, hydrogen sulfide)
► Arsonists which can cause burns.
What examples of chemical weapons?
Examples of chemical weapons include:
- teargas.
- mustard gas,
- lead,
- chlorine,
- Hydrogen sulfide,
- cyanide
What is the most toxic gas in the world?
The most dangerous chemical weapons are agents innervatingas the sarin and VX, and the vesicantsas the lewisite and mustard gas.
When were the first chemical weapons used?
Since antiquitythe poisonous weapon has regularly been used against military adversaries (poisons), but it is really the First World War which was a turning point in the extent of the use of this weapon. The use of chemicals as a combat weapon began April 22, 1915 in Ypres. The Germans use for the first time on a large scale a deadly gas: chlorine. “In total, the chemical weapon caused the death of 90,000 people between 1914 and 1918” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What does the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons say?
The negotiations of the Conference on Disarmament in 1989 led to the signing, in Paris, of the Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons January 15, 1993. It is the first multilateral treaty that prohibits an entire class of weapons of mass destruction and provides for international verification of their destruction.
Sources:
Chemical WeaponsUnited Nations.
Chemical weapons in historyIRSN.
Fight against chemical weaponsMinistry of Foreign Affairs,
What is a chemical weapon? OPCW
Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW