Chemical weapons

Chemical weapons
“A higher form of killing”!
chemical weapons !
Chemical weapons use the toxic properties !
(as opposed to the explosive properties)!
of chemical substances (agents) to cause
physical or physiological harm to an enemy:!
- Death!
- Permanent disabling !
- Temporary incapacitation !
They interfere with the physiological
processes via chemical reactions!
Chemical weapons"
- largely produced "
- widely used"
- still present in huge quantities"
- banned in 1993 "
A basic difference between chemical and
nuclear weapons is in their production:!
- No special material is needed for chemical!
weapons, just common industrial substances!
- Production plants are not different from common!
industrial factories – only smaller!
- No special know-how or critical technology !
involved!
La novità degli effetti fisiologici delle armi chimiche
ha avuto anche un enorme impatto psicologico sulle
truppe generando ansia, stress e terrore, diffusosi
poi nelle popolazioni civili venute a contatto con i
reduci dalla guerra. !
Gli agenti chimici possono venir utilizzati per una
forma di guerra psicologica, per attacchi al morale e
induzione di terrore, per l’orrore e il panico che
provoca il solo timore di un loro possibile impiego!
Un armamento chimico non si limita
all’acquisizione di adeguate sostanze tossiche; !
- queste devono venir rese operative mediante !
opportuni mezzi di disseminazione, !
- gestiti da specifici corpi militari; !
occorre inoltre: !
- creare le necessarie contromisure , sia profilattiche!
che mediche, !
- addestrare le truppe a operare in condizioni di!
guerra chimica e !
- inserire tali armi nella dottrina militare a livello!
tattico e strategico!
Gli agenti chimici tossici possono attaccare
l’organismo attraverso più vie: !
•  vapori e aerosol assorbiti attraverso gli occhi e le mucose!
del naso e della bocca e, se inalabili, in ogni punto del!
tratto respiratorio; !
•  gocce di liquido e liquidi occlusi in particelle solide!
penetrano attraverso la pelle, gli occhi, la pelle e!
membrane mucose; !
•  cibo e bevande contaminate sono assorbite nel tratto!
gastro-intestinale !
Ferite e abrasioni rendono più facile l’assorbimento!
Chemical agents!
~ lethal chemicals, intended either to kill
or to injure the enemy so severely as to
necessitate evacuation and medical
treatment!
~ disabling chemicals, used to
incapacitate the enemy by causing a
disability from which recovery may be
possible without medical aid !
lethal chemicals !
developed into chemical-warfare agents!
~ tissue irritants: !
- choking gases !
(lung irritants or asphyxiants) !
- blister gases (vesicants)!
~ systemic poisons: !
- blood gases!
- nerve gases !
Choking agents (lung irritants)"
~ Liquids dispersed in gas form"
~ Damage the respiratory tract and cause severe"
pulmonary oedema in about four hours,"
leading to eventual death. Effects are variable"
~ Rapid or delayed depending on the specific agent."
~ Agents Include"
Chlorine"
Chloropicrin (PS)"
Diphosgene (DP)"
Phosgene (CG)
Choking agents injure their victims through
inhalation and have a comparatively mild effect on"
the skin. "
Exposure to low chemical concentrations causes
chest discomfort or shortness of breath, irritation of
nose and throat, and tearing eyes. "
High agent concentrations may quickly cause
swelling of the lungs, respiratory failure, and
possibly death. "
Symptoms of lung damage can occur up to 48 hours
after inhalation of moderate concentrations, and
may not manifest themselves until physical effort
aggravates the lungs."
Vesicants (blister gases)"
~ Skin blisters"
- Damage eyes, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and internal"
organs"
- Initial effects rapid"
~ Mustard agents"
- Destroy different substances within cells of living tissue"
- Initial effects occur 12 to 24 hours after exposure."
- Symptoms variable"
- Acute mortality low"
- Death can occur from complications after lung injury."
~ agents"
mustard gas
bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide "
lewisite
2-chlorovinyldichloroarsine "
agent T
bis(2-chloroethylthioethyl) ether"
nitrogen mustard tris(2-chloroethyl)amine"
phosgene oxime"
sulfur mustard"
Blister agents can enter the body by inhalation or contact with the skin or eyes.
Some agents can penetrate through normal clothing material, causing burns even in
cloth-covered areas. While blister agents react quickly upon skin contact, their
symptoms may be delayed. In the case of mustard agent, damage occurs within one
to two minutes of exposure, but symptoms do notmanifest for several hours. As
even low concentrations of vaporized blister agents quickly cause damage, it is
unlikely that exposed individuals can remove these agents from the skin prior to
injury."
The initial symptoms of blister agent exposure are a reddening of the skin,
resembling sunburn, combined with pain in the affected area. Swollen skin,
blisters, and lesions may then develop, depending on the degree of exposure.
Systemic symptoms, such as malaise, vomiting, and fever, may also develop in
extreme cases. Exposure to large amounts of liquid mustard agent may prove fatal. "
The eyes are also very sensitive to blister agents. Following exposure to high
concentration vapor, great pain, corneal damage, and scarring may occur. Liquid
agent often causes the most severe eye damage. This may come from contact with
airborne droplets or by self-contamination of the eyes from contaminated clothing
or body parts. "
Victims inhaling blister agents may suffer damage to their lungs. While a single,
low-level exposure may produce only temporary impairment, high concentrations
or repeated exposures may cause permanent damage. Inhalation victims may have
symptoms ranging from mild bronchitis to blistering of the lungs.!
Agenti vescicanti "
doppio ruolo militare: "
- per ferire e uccidere, "
- per degradare l’efficienza operativa"
delle truppe avversarie costringendo i"
soldati a indossare maschere e"
ingombranti indumenti protettivi totali "
- resi molto persistenti rendono"
indisponibili il terreno, navi, aerei,"
veicoli e materiali bellici!
Blood agents"
~ Highly volatile"
~ Rapidly acting"
~Health Effects"
- seizures"
- respiratory failure"
- cardiac arrest"
~Agents "
- hydrogen cyanide"
- cyanogen chloride!
Blood agents act through inhalation or ingestion
and impair cellular oxygen use. The central"
nervous system is especially susceptible to this
effect. "
The symptoms of blood agent exposure depend
upon the agent concentration and duration of
exposure. In mild cases, headache, dizziness, and
nausea may occur for several hours, followed by
complete spontaneous recovery."
Higher concentration or longer exposure may cause
convulsions and coma. "
Very high concentrations may lead to powerful
gasping for breath, violent convulsions, and cardiac
failure within a few minutes.!
Cyanide
Nerve gases"
organophosphorus and organophosphate
compounds that inhibit tissue cholinesterase"
~ Disable enzymes responsible for"
transmitting nerve impulses."
~ Initial effects of occur within 1-10 minutes"
of exposure"
~ Death"
- Within 15 minutes for Tabun, Sarin, and"
Soman"
- From 4-42 hours for VX."
Nerve agents"
~ class G acting via inhalation"
- tabun, or GA"
- sarin, or GB"
- soman, or GD"
- cyclosarin, or GF !
Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate !
- GE "
(Phosphonofluoridic acid, ethyl-, isopropyl ester)"
~ class V acting through skin penetration or aerosol"
- VX (Methylphosphonothioic acid S-(2-(bis(1- "
methylethyl)amino)ethyl) O-ethyl ester) "
- Vx, VE, VG (amiton), VM!
Nerve agents are extremely dangerous and can enter the
body through the lungs or by skin contact. "
For the G-series nerve agents, such as sarin, the inhalation
toxicity is significantly greater than the dermal toxicity. "
Of the nerve agents, VX is the most deadly and tabun is the
least deadly, though all are exceedingly toxic."
Nerve agents interfere with the nervous system, causing
overstimulation of muscles. Victims may suffer nausea and
weakness and possibly convulsions and spasms. At higher
concentration, loss of muscle control, nervous system
irregularities, and death may occur. "
The action of nerve agents can be irreversible if victims are
not quickly treated.!
soman!
sarin!
Nerve gases’ lethality"
50% of exposed 70 kg heavy person"
via"
inhalation"
form"
vapor"
GA"
135"
GB" GD" VX"
70"
dose"
70" 30" mg min/m3"
Skin
liquid" 4000" 1700" 350" 10" mg"
penetration"
toxicity!
CWtable!
Production of chemical agents "
The most common blister, blood and choking
agents have many different methods for their
production published in the open literature. Many
precursor substances are commonly produced for
peaceful uses. "
Nerve agent production requires the use of toxic
chemicals during synthesis and specialized
equipment to contain the nerve agents produced. "
Of the nerve agents, VX is the most difficult to
manufacture."
Physical protection against chemical agents "
includes gas masks and special protective clothing. "
~ Gas mask filters equipped with chemical filters are effective against inhaled
chemical agents but may not provide sufficient protection against chemical agents
active on skin contact, such as VX or mustard agents, or high concentrations of other
nerve agents. Gas mask filters contain layers of activated charcoal and fine porous
material to remove particles and chemicals from the airstream. The activated
charcoal binds chemicals, preventing them from being inhaled. Each gas mask filter
has a finite capacity, proportional to the amount of unbound activated charcoal
remaining, and so has a limited lifetime once put into operation."
~ A protective garment protects against those chemical weapons that cause effect
upon skin contact. These garments range in complexity and protective ability.
Hazardous materials suits are typically suits made of layered rubber containing
activated charcoal. In comparison, military battle dress over-garments designed to
protect against chemical weapons in the battlefield are generally cloth,"
sometimes treated to resist absorbing liquids, containing a layer of charcoalimpregnated foam."
The rubber in protective equipment is impermeable to most chemical agents, while
the activated charcoal acts in a manner similar to a gas mask filter. The combination
of properly fitted and worn mask and suit should provide full protection against
most chemical exposures.!
disabling chemicals "
The key distinction lies in the duration of
disablement:"
~ irritant or harassing agent: chemical causing"
incapacitation that lasts for little longer than the"
period of exposure – a characteristic of many"
irritant agents used by police forces "
~ incapacitating agent: causing incapacitation that"
lasts for a period of time substantially longer than"
that of exposure, thus providing a wider variety of"
possible actions for users of the weapon"
irritant or harassing agents"
The harassing effects arise from the body’s reflex responses
to sensory irritation, and include lacrimation, sternutation,
vomiting and pain. The conjunctiva of the eyes is
particularly sensitive to some irritants. "
Gaseous irritants, or dispersed as aerosol particles,
penetrate to the deeper recesses of the respiratory tract.
Inhalation of a high concentration of a sensory irritant may
produce the same degree of damage to the lungs as the
lethal lung irritant phosgene. "
Skin irritants can also be used to harass, and some
pruritogens and algogens (such as dichloroformoxime, also
known as phosgene oxime) have been described as possible
chemical warfare agents. "
valium!
irritant or harassing agents"
have three common characteristics: "
~ rapid onset of effect, "
~ brief duration of effect, and "
~ high safety ratio (i.e. large margins between the dosage of"
an agent thatis effective [effective dose – ED] and the"
dosage that produces lethal effects [lethal dose –LD])"
can be divided into three types: "
~ lachrymators (irritants that cause tearing), "
~ sternutators (substances that induce sneezing) and "
~ vomiting "
agent CN ω-chloroacetophenone "
agent CA α-bromophenylacetonitrile "
agent CS 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile"
agent CR dibenzoxazepine "
agent OC oleoresin capsicum!
Agenti antisommossa"
- letali se la vittima viene esposta ad alte
concentrazioni, o se utilizzati in luoghi
chiusi;"
- impieghi in azioni belliche durante la
prima guerra mondiale, dai giapponesi in
Cina e dagli USA nella guerra in Vietnam!
incapacitating agents "
One class of potential incapacitating agents include
powerful psychotropic drugs. "
These affect the central nervous system in a variety
of ways so that the behaviour of exposed
individuals is altered, making them incapable of
performing military functions."
- lysergide, LSD "
- agent BZ 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (agent 15)"
- agent CA α-bromophenylacetonitrile "
- sernyl"
- agent 15 ester of glycollic acid
effetti del BZ "
dal sistema nervoso periferico i muscoli
vengono sotto-stimolati, "
sul sistema nervoso centrale il BZ
produce confusione, torpore, perdita di
memoria, ataxia, con illusioni e
allucinazioni concrete e paranoidi!
agent15!
Disabling agents"
- growing military interest for anti-"
terrorism actions and in asymmetrical"
wars"
- large research and development"
activities as “non-lethal” weapons"
- special interest in psychedelic drugs"
and biochemicals"
Disabling chemicals!
Pierot
Pierot!
efffettich!
Chemical Weapon military utility"
Chemical warfare agents may be used for several
purposes, including:"
- casualty production"
- degrading mobility of troops as a consequence of "
their donning protective suits or forcing "
decontamination operations"
- harassment and psychological exhaustion"
- impairing logistics "
(airfields, train stations, depots, etc.)"
- terrain denial"
- [strategic purposes]!
effettiMDW!
Chemical Weapon military conditions"
- A presumptive agent must not only be highly
toxic, but also 'suitably highly toxic', so that it is not
too difficult to handle."
- The substance must be capable of being stored for
long periods in containers without degradation and
without corroding the packaging material."
- It should be producible in large quantity"
- It should be integrable in operational tactics with
other weapons systems. !
Chemical Weapon military utility"
- It is a typical areal weapon and its dispersion
techniques are critical"
- It must be relatively resistant to atmospheric water
and oxygen so that it does not lose effect when
dispersed."
- It must also withstand the sheering forces created
by the explosion, as well as heat when dispersed. !
vaporization!
Diffuson tech!
history of chemical weapons"
~ from antiquity to late 19th century"
- poisoned arrows"
- irritating smokes"
- contamination of water supplies"
* “scientific” developments in China"
~ industrial production"
- World war I"
- colonial wars"
- Egypt-Yemen "
- anticrop agents in Vietnam"
- Iraq-Iran"
- Syria"
~ scientific developments"
Mo tzu!
bombacinese!
Natura
bombe con polvere di solfuro
di arsenico e verderame; "
un gas velenoso “tedesco”; "
un fumo mortale da arsenico,
zolfo, e realgar soffiato da
mantici da fabbro; "
un composto di veleno di
tarantola e rospo mescolati "
con bava di un cane di
idrofobo !
Leonardo !
World War I"
the largest use of chemical weapons ever"
- tactical motivation"
break the stalemate of trench war"
- effectual reason"
large availability of agents"
- practical results "
physical harassing "
psychological impact "
reduction of mobility"
World War I"
the largest use of chemical weapons ever"
- tactical motivation"
break the stalemate of trench war"
- effectual reason"
large availability of agents"
- practical results "
physical harassing "
psychological impact "
reduction of mobility"
Fritz Haber"
Nobel Prize in
Chemistry 1918"
"for the synthesis of
ammonia from its
elements”!
Gas Uk somme
attack!
livens!
T shell!
WW1!
australia!
Production!
british1!
masks!
vikers!
antigas
WWI Estimated gas casualties"
Nation !
!
Fatal!
Russia !
56,000
Germany !
9,000
France !
!
8,000
British Empire !8,109
Austria-Hungary!3,000
USA
!
!
1,462
Italy
!
!
4,627
Total
!
!
88,498
Non-fatal"
! 419,340"
! 200,000"
! 190,000"
! 188,706"
! 100,000"
! 72,807"
! 60,000"
!1,240,853
shells!
use!
Impieghi di armi chimiche fra le due
guerre mondiali"
- guerra civile russa "
- inglesi contro afgani nel 1919 "
- inglesi contro curdi e iracheni nel 1921"
- spagnoli e francesi contri berberi in Marocco "
(1921-1926)"
- italiani in Tripolitania (1930) "
- italiani in Abissinia (1935-36) "
- sovietici nel Sinkiang (1934)"
- guerra civile spagnola (1936) "
- giapponesi in Manciuria e Cina (1937-1942)
verso la seconda guerra mondiale"
- disponibilità di limitate quantità di vari agenti chimici "
- solo nel 42 arsenali sufficienti per azioni di attacco"
- ancora incertezze sul valore militare delle armi chimiche"
- mancanza di preparazione specifica delle truppe"
- mancanza di forme di protezione globale "
- produzione di armi chimiche tradizionali in competizione"
a quella di esplosivi – utilizzo delle stese risorse"
- ostilità popolare, e diffusa a livello militare e politico"
- decisa opposizione di Roosevelt"
- riserve di Hitler"
la seconda guerra mondiale"
- produzione di enormi quantità di vari agenti chimici e"
varietà di proiettili d’artiglieria e bombe aeree in"
Germania, UK e USA"
- nessun impiego né startegico né tattico"
~ rarità di occasioni in cui potevano essere superiori alle"
armi convenzionali – meglio controllabili"
~ mancanza di preparazione specifica delle truppe"
~ deterrenza reciproca (discorsi di Roosevelt e Churchill)"
- mancato ricoscimento da parte tedesca dell’enorme"
superiorità dei gas nervini"
~ avrebbero potuto impedire lo sbarco in Normandia"
~ ritardare la riscossa e l’avanzata russa
Dopo la seconda guerra mondiale"
- sviluppo dei gas nervini (classe V scoperta in UK nel 1952"
e sviluppata in USA )"
⟹ rilancio delle armi chimiche"
⟹ possibile impiego strategico"
- tecnologia dei sistemi binari"
- sviluppo di agenti antisommossa non letali"
- enormi arsenali in USA e URSS "
~ per impieghi tattici"
~ per dissuasione strategica reciproca"
- sospensione delle attività offensive "
in UK verso il 1955 e in Francia negli anni ’60"
Impieghi dopo la seconda guerra
mondiale"
- forze chimiche operative nella guerra in Corea: impiego di
agenti antisommossa per il controllo di prigionieri"
- iprite e gas nervini dell’Egitto nella guerra civile yemenita"
(1963-1970)"
- defolianti e agenti irritanti CN, DM e CS degli USA in"
Vietnam (1961-1973)"
⟹ mobilitazione opinione pubblica mondiale "
- iprite e tabun dell’Iraq contro l’Iran (1980-1988)"
⟹ sensibilizzazione dei governi "
- iprite e gas nervini di Iraq contro curdi e shi’iti (1987-1988)"
- sarin in the civilian war in Syria (2012-2014?)
Operation Ranch Hand !
was a U.S. military operation during the Vietnam War,
lasting from 1962 until 1971. It was part of the overall
herbicidal warfare program during the war called
"Operation Trail Dust". "
Ranch Hand involved spraying an estimated 20 million U.S.
gallons (76,000 m3) of defoliants and herbicidesover rural
areas of South Vietnam in an attempt to deprive the Viet
Cong of food and vegetation cover. Areas of Laos and
Cambodia were also sprayed to a lesser extent. "
Nearly 20,000 sorties were flown between 1961 and 1971.
The Vietnamese government estimates that 400,000 people
were killed or maimed and 500,000 children born with birth
defects as a result of this spraying of what were called by
the Americans 'rainbow herbicides’!
Operation Ranch Hand !
The Agents used—known as the Rainbow Herbicides—their active
ingredients, and years used were as follows:!
• Agent Pink (60% – 40% n-butyl:isobutyl esters of 2,4,5-T) used in
1961-1965!
• Agent Green (n-butyl ester of 2,4,5-T) unclear when used, but
believed to be at the same time as Pink!
• Agent Purple (50% n-butyl ester of 2,4-D, 30% n-butyl ester 2,4,5-T,
20% isobutyl ester of 2,4,5-T) used from 1962–1965!
• Agent Blue (cacodylic acid and sodium cacodylate) used from 1962–
1971 (in powder and water solution)!
• Agent White (acid weight basis: 21.2% tri-isopropanolamine salts of
2,4-D and 5.7% picloram) used from 1966–1971!
• Agent Orange (50% n-butyl ester of 2,4-D and 50% n-butyl ester of
2,4,5-T) used from 1965–1970!
orange9!
orange8!
orange1!
Main developments in the 80s"
- remote handling"
- binary weapons"
- cluster chemical weapons"
- missile delivery systems"
- airflow dispersion"
binary weapons"
An alternative to the direct manufacture of nerve agents is
to manufacture certain chemicals that, when mixed, react to
form the desired nerve agent. These chemical combinations
are called binary chemical weapons. "
Binary chemical weapons have certain advantages and
disadvantages when compared with the actual nerve agent.
The chemicals comprising a binary chemical weapon are
much less toxic than the actual nerve agent and thus are less
dangerous to manufacture, transport, and handle."
The nerve agent obtained through the use of a binary
chemical weapon may be less pure or effective than directly
manufactured nerve agent, since the conditions under
which the nerve agent is manufactured are less controlled. !
binary!
Honest John!
armi chimiche irachene contro Iran"
1982
gas CS"
1983-88 iprite"
1984-88 tabum"
bombe da aerei e elicotteri"
60.000 vittime iraniane"
marzo 88 attacco contro la città di Halabjah"
5000-8000 vittime civili"
- solo allora condanna internazionale -!
Tariq Al-Qods!
Halabjjah!
Terrorist actions"
Aum Shinrikyo sect led by Shoho
Asahara (Chizuo Matsumoto)"
- 1990 creates a laboratory"
- 1993 production of Sarin"
- June 1994 attack in Matsumoto: "
7 deaths, 144 injured"
- March 1995 attack in Tokyo underground:"
12 deaths, 954 injured, 5500 medically treated !
Chemical attacks in Syria!
Syria!
Località
data
denunciante
denuncia
esame
Salquin
(confine turco)
17.10.12
Francia (26.3.13)
armi chimiche non
specificate
no
Homs
23.12.12
vittime civili
no
Darayya
(Damasco)
13.3.13
Francia e UK
(21.3.13),
Qatar (22.3.13)
UK (26.3.13),
Qatar (22.3.13)
armi chimiche non
specificate
no
Khan Al Assal
(Aleppo)
19.3.13
19.3.13
25 morti e 110
intossicati fra
militari e civili da un
attacco con sarin
morti e feriti civili
si
Otaybah
(Damasco)
Siria (19.3.13);
Francia e UK
(21.3.13),
USA (14.6.13)
Francia e UK
(21.3.13)
Adra
(Damasco)
24.3.13
UK (23.5.13)
armi chimiche non
specificate
no
Saraqueb
(Idlib)
29.3.13
UK (23.5.13),
Francia (4.6.13)
piccole quantità di
sarin
si
Jobar
(Damasco)
12-14.4.13
Francia (27.6.13)
Sheik Maqsood
(Aleppo)
13.4.13
USA (14.6.13)
Darayya
(Damasco)
25.4.13
UK (23.5.13)
Qasr Abu Samrah
14.5.13
Adra
(Damasco)
no
no
impiego di una
piccola quantità di
sarin
armi chimiche non
specificate
si
USA (14.6.13)
armi chimiche non
specificate
no
23.5.13
USA (14.6.13)
armi chimiche non
specificate
no
Ghouta
(Damasco)
21.8.13
molti paesi
molti morti e feriti
si
Bahhariyeh
(Damasco)
22.8.13
Siria (28.8.13)
18 soldati ricoverati
si
Jobar
(Damasco)
24.8.13
Siria (28.8.13)
4 soldati ricoverati
si
Ashrafiah Sahnaya
(Damasco)
25.8.13
Siria (28.8.13)
5 soldati ricoverati
si
no
Goutha attack
Obtaining High Confidence in Chemical Analyses of Suspected CW Samples"
• Chain of custody. High confidence requires that the chain of custody and the treatment of
samples before they reach participating analytical laboratories be accurately known and
without possibility of tampering, contamination or influences that might interfere with
subsequent chemical analysis."
• Multiple laboratories. High confidence in a positive finding would require that all
participating laboratories, of which there should be at least two and preferably three,
conclude without reservation that the agent or its distinctive breakdown products are
present in the provided samples."
• Blank and control samples. The analyses must include suitable blank samples and control
samples in matrices similar to those of the field samples. The blanks and controls should be
provided by an outside laboratory (one not doing the analyses). Analyses of blanks and
controls should be interspersed with analyses of the environmental and/or biomedical
samples of interest. The identity and provenance of all samples should be unknown to the
laboratories doing the work."
• Methods. Laboratory findings should be based on two different generally accepted
methods of analysis based on different physical principles."
• Laboratory experience. The laboratories must have excellent prior records in such
analysis. "
• Independent Review. Laboratory methods and findings should be reviewed by an
independent group of technically qualified and experienced experts with unimpeded access
to laboratory personnel who had done the analyses and to their laboratory records. High
confidence requires unanimous approval by the review group.!
Elements considered by the UN commission
in Syria confirming the use of sarin!
evento
interviste visite mediche
epidemiologia
campioni ambientali
munizioni
campioni biologici
Khan Al Assal 19.3.13
si
si
no
no
si
Saraqueb 29.3.13
si
no
no
no
si
Ghouta
21.8.13
si
si
si
si
si
Jobar
24.8.13
si
no
no
no
si
Ashrafiah Sahnaya
25.8.13
si
no
no
no
si
The United Nations Mission remains deeply concerned that chemical
weapons were used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in the
Syrian Arabic Republic, which has added yet another dimension to
the continued suffering of the Syrian people. !
agents02!
CW destruction"
- after WW2: land burial, sinking in seas and lakes, "
open air combustion or explosions"
- presently: only safe means for environment and"
public health allowed"
* High temperature - incineration"
* Low temperature - hydrolysis"
~ not easy"
~ expensive"
~ special plants required!
impianto distruzione!
In considering the technologies for the destruction
of chemical weapons, it is important to recognize
that the destruction technology is only one part of
the overall process of safely disposing of these
unwanted materials. "
The technology destroys the agents and
decontaminates their containers while creating
residual process streams (or effluent streams)
whether gas, liquid, or solid. "
The treatment of these effluent streams to permit
discharge to the environment with minimum
impact on public health and the environment is as
important as the destruction technology itself !
Forno proiettili!
There are three broad categories of chemical
weapons and chemical warfare agents:"
~ Assembled chemical weapons stockpile. Such weapons are
in storage that is controlled and will generally be in good condition;
however, some may have begun to corrode and leak. The nature of
the munition and its agent fill will usually be known."
~ Bulk storage agent. Depending on storage and maintenance
care and activities, the containers are likely to be in good condition.
The nature of the agent will usually be known."
~ Recovered old munitions and agent containers. These will
frequently have been uncovered unexpectedly by excavations, and
the condition and nature of the munition and its agent fill will often
be unknown; The destruction of such munitions and
decontamination of the containers will frequently require additional
steps such as identification of whether the munition has a chemical
agent fill, whether it is explosively configured, the nature of"
the agent fill, and whether this has degraded.!
Armi recuperate!
Forno AC!
Pierot
Chemical agents to be destroyed "
as at 31 August 2013!
!
Chemical agent
Russia
!
!
9,600 t
USA
!
!
2,750
% declared !
24!
10.25!
Syria !
projectiles and containers ~ 3.7 million!
!
!!