TECHNOLOGY OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
January 30, 2013
The Johns Hopkins University
Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
Advanced Academic Programs
1. Definitions of Chemical Weapon
2. Types of CW (seven) (The typology of CW)
3. Properties of CW (eight salient
variables and their values) (The typology of CW)
Includes Dispersal Considerations
4. Specific CW Agents
Overview of Presentation
OVERALL GOAL OF PRESENTATION FOR CLASS TWO
Having done over 500 pages of reading on chemical weapons, warfare, etc., one must then categorize salient aspects of the literature into a useful typology. Thus, the overall goal of this presentation is to assist students in the class requirements of:
1) Defining chemical weapons;
2) Identifying the seven types of CW;
3) Explaining, comparing, and contrasting the seven properties that CW are typically broken down into;
4) Identifying and understanding the seven most important salient variables with regard to dispersing chemical agents; and
5) Investigating and the most important agents for each CW type and for CW writ large.
CW – Defining Chemical
Weapons
General Characterizing of CW
1. Lethality
2. Mode of Action
3. Speed of Action
4. Toxicity
5. Persistency
6. Agent Availability / Ease of
Fabrication
7. Weaponization
Dispersal Considerations
1. Availability of agent and/or
precursors
2. Temperatures
3. Wind
4. Altitude
5. Moisture
6. Sunlight
7. Time of Day (e.g., upcoming
sunlight/darkness, upcoming
temp, etc.)
TERMS
SPECIFIC CW AGENTS 1. Choking Agents
o Chlorine (CI)
o Phosgene (CG)
o Diphosgene
o Chloropicrin (PS)
2. Blister Agents (vesicants)
o Mustard Sulfur (HD)
o Lewisite
o Phosgene Oxime
3. Blood Agents o Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
o Zyklon B
o Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
o Hydrogen Sulfur (“Sour Gas”)
4. Nerve Agents
G Series o Tabun – GA
o Sarin – GB
o Soman – GD
VX
5. Incapacitating Agents BZ
LSD
6. Riot Control Agents
(RCAs) (LACRIMATOR OR EYE
IRRITANT)
CN : e. g., Mace
CS: Tear Gas
7. Herbicides
TERMS continued
Goal 1:
What is a Chemical Weapon?
The general and traditional definition of a chemical weapon is a toxic chemical contained in a delivery system, such as a bomb or shell.
The [Chemical Weapons] Convention defines chemical weapons much more generally. The term chemical weapon is applied to any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. Munitions or other delivery devices designed to deliver chemical weapons, whether filled or unfilled, are also considered weapons themselves.
Source: all text taken verbatim from the OPCW. Available at: http://www.opcw.org/about-chemical-
weapons/what-is-a-chemical-weapon/
What is a Chemical Weapon?
For now in class, this definition
best captures CW
“Deliver poisonous substances into a target population, with the purpose of causing injury, incapacity, or death.” … Delivery occurs “by inhalation, ingestion, contact with the skin, or a combination of all three.”
-- Croddy et al., p. 87 & 88 (emphasis added)
poisonous substances
inhalation ingestion contact with the skin
Matsumoto in 1994?
Tokyo in 1995?
Use of sarin (CB) and attempted use of a cyanide CW weapon
CW PRODUCTION by a VNSA AUM SHINRIKYŌ (AUM SUPREME TRUTH)
Late 1993 Manufactures Sarin and later VX
Successfully Tests sarin in Western Australia
Matsumoto, June 1994: Use of sarin in City of Matsumoto, Nagano (refrigerator truck with spray nozzle) Killing seven (7)
Injuring 144
Tokyo, March 1995: Use of sarin Against the Tokyo Subway Thirteen (13) killed*; 54 seriously injured; ~ 1,000 others
injured (primarily psychological)
Additionally, a notionally weaponized hydrogen cyanide (AC) device is placed in a parcel – fails to engage.
* Dr. Amy Smithson, private correspondence.
The 7 CW AGENTS – What two types did Aum
use or attempt to use?
1. BLOOD AGENTS
2. NERVE AGENTS
Goal 2: CW Types Identify the seven types of CW
The 7 CW AGENTS – What are the other five
types?
1. CHOKING AGENTS
2. BLISTER AGENTS
3. INCAPACITATING AGENTS
4. RIOT CONTROL AGENTS
5. HERBICIDES
BLOOD AGENTS
NERVE AGENTS
Goal 3: Properties of CW Explore the seven properties that CW are
typically broken down into;
CW agents are described according to the properties they
possess. Let’s consider the Aum attack using a typology
that answers key questions:
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY 2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION 3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION 4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the desired effect?
• TOXICITY 5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY 6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS 7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
Lethality
How likely will exposure to a chemical
weapon lead to death
An attacker may choose to administer a
sub-lethal dose: goal would be to
incapacitate not kill
Some chemical agent types are
designed to be non-lethal, e.g. riot
control agents (RCAs)
1: LETHALITY Answers the question:
How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
LETHALITY of sarin (GB)?
• Very high
LETHALITY of hydrogen cyanide (AC)?
• Medium
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY 2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION 3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION 4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the
desired effect?
• TOXICITY 5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY 6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
Mode of Action
How can a
chemical agent
enter the body?
1. Inhalation
2. Ingestion
3. Percutaneous
(through the skin,
eyes, or mucus
membranes)
MODE OF ACTION
What is the mode of action for Sarin?
Potentially all three
INHALATION INGESTION SKIN / MUCUS MEMBRANE /or EYE CONTACT Ingestion is an uncommon route of exposure for Sarin. Sarin (GB) the Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, Center for Disease Control (DCD). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750001.html
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY 2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION 3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION 4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the
desired effect?
• TOXICITY 5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY 6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
3. Speed of Action
What is the delay between exposure
and effect
Instantaneous (seconds to minutes)
versus hours and days
Speed of Action
What was the Speed of Action for Aum’s
Sarin attack?
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY 2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION 3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION 4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the
desired effect?
• TOXICITY 5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY 6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
4. Toxicity
Quantity of a chemical agent that is
required to produce a specific,
deleterious effect
Toxicity continued
Toxicity of CWAs Potential to cause injury in biologic systems
LD50 – single dose causing death in 50% of animals
ED50 – dose where 50% of exposed population will exhibit signs or symptoms
LD50 and ED50 limited use for toxicity of agents inhaled or absorbed across mucous membranes
Concentration-time (C-T) used for CWAs
○ Concentration in air x time exposed
○ Represented as milligrams/minute/cubic meter
Latency – time delay between exposure and clinical signs/symptoms (sulfur mustard and pulmonary have longest…nerve agents and cyanides shortest)
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY 2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION 3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION 4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the
desired effect?
• TOXICITY 5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY 6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
5. Persistency
The terms persistent and non-persistent describe the time chemical agents remain in an area.
These terms do not classify chemical agents technically.
Persistency
Length of time a chemical agent remains hazardous after its release
Non-persistent agents last from a few minutes to about an hour, i.e., rapid evaporation.
Semi-persistent agents last from several hours to about a day
Persistent agents can last for several days to a few weeks. These tend to be thick and oily.
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY
2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION
3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION
4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the desired effect?
• TOXICITY
5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY
6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
6. Availability How did Aum acquire its sarin precursor?
Excerpt from Week 2
required reading: Marc
Sageman, Terrance Leighton,
Lloyd Hough, Hidemi Yuki,
Rui Kotani and Zachary M.
Hosfor, “Aum Shinrikyo
Insights Into How Terrorists
Develop Biological and
Chemical Weapons,” Centers
for a New American Security,
July 2011, p. 52. Available at:
http://www.cnas.org/files/doc
uments/publications/CNAS_A
umShinrikyo_SecondEdition_
English.pdf
1. How likely is the CW agent to lead to death?
• LETHALITY
2. How will CW agent enter or attack a body?
• MODE OF ACTION
3. How fast will the CW agent act?
• SPEED OF ACTION
4. How much of the CW agent is needed to result in the desired effect?
• TOXICITY
5. How long will the CW agent last on the “battlefield”?
• PERSISTENCY
6. How difficult is it to acquire the CW agent(s)?
• AVAILABILITY OF AGENT AND/OR PRECURSORS
7. How challenging is it to manufacture / weaponize the CW agent?
• WEAPONIZATION
7. Weaponization
Under normal atmospheric conditions, is
the chemical agent a solid, liquid, or
gas?
How does this state affect an agent’s
weaponizability?
How corrosive is the agent?
WEAPONIZATION: Aerosolization
The most efficient
method for
creating
casualties
Not too small; not
too big for lung
deposition
Aerosols
containing 0.5 to 3
micron sized
particles can
remain in lungs
SMALL MICRONS:
Evaporate at short distances Aerosolization
This aspect of CW will emerge over the
course of the class…
Agent Availability / Ease of Fabrication
Goal 4: Dispersal Considerations Consider the seven most important
salient variables with regard to
dispersing chemical agents
DISPERSAL CONSIDERATIONS
AGAIN, MICRON SIZE IS PARAMOUNT
1. Temperatures
2. Wind
3. Altitude
4. Moisture
5. Sunlight
6. Time of Day (e.g., upcoming
sunlight/darkness, upcoming temp, etc.)
ADVANTAGES TO CW Force an Enemy to “Suit Up”
Chem/bio protection
suits are difficult to work
in and take time to put on
Can be expensive for
defender
Potentially inexpensive
for attacker
Increases “fog of war”
Fear
Interlude: What are the advantages
and disadvantages to CW?
ADVANTAGES TO CW
Kill or Incapacitate an
Enemy
“Poor Man’s Nuclear Weapon”
State actors may perceive that CW potential can act as a deterrent
Chemical weapons cost less to make than nuclear weapons
Relatively easy to acquire basic chemical agents to make chemical weapons
Easier to hide chemical weapons production than nuclear weapons production
Invisible Agents of War or Terrorism
Many people greatly fear weapons they
can’t see or hear
Chemical weapons may not require
explosives to disperse them
Chemical weapons can create certain
tactical advantages
Because they haven’t been used much,
people tend to fear them more (potential fear
is typically greater than the manifestation of the fear itself)
Goal 5: Investigate the most important agents for
each CW type and for CW writ large.
CHOKING AGENTS
1. Chlorine (CI)
2. Phosgene (CG)
3. Diphosgene
4. Chloropicrin (PS)
Choking Agents (Asphyxiants)
Some of the first chemical agents used in modern warfare
Inhaled in sufficient quantities, they can cause pulmonary edema suffocating the victim (“dry-land drowning”)
Can irritate eyes, nose, and throat
Chlorine – abundant and relatively cheap
Cl2 gaseous at room temp. Heavier than air effective against trench
warfare
Pungent, green-yellow gas; can be liquefied under moderate pressure distinctive odor gave warning of its presence
Considered obsolete as weapon of war
But for VNSAs?
Most effective of all the choking agents
Phosgene – responsible for about 80% of those killed by chemicals during W.W. I
Gaseous state
Liquid at room
temp.
Similar to
phosgene
First used by Russians in
1916.
Useful commercial
chemical – pesticide
controls
Less lethal than chlorine,
phosgene, or diphosgene
“mask breaker” ○ Useful for simultaneous
attack
More persistent than
chlorine or phosgene.
Remains Liquid Over A
Wide Variety of Temps
(Think Russian Winters)
Description of Chloropicrin by the U.S. Army : PS is a pungent, colorless, oily liquid. It is very volatile and is usable
during any season to produce incapacitating or lethal concentrations. PS … is a powerful irritant whose vapors cause nose and throat irritation, coughing, and vomiting. As an eye irritant, it produces immediate burning, pain, and tearing. Even in very limited concentrations PS causes the eyelids to close. In high concentrations PS damages the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. It is very soluble in fats and oils, and different organs absorb it. In the liquid form it causes severe burns on the skin that generally result in blisters and lesions. Chloropicrin was used in large quantities by “all the warring countries” during World War I. Chloropicrin was used alone; more often it was mixed with chlorine, phosgene, diphosgene and tin chloride. It was stockpiled during World War II, generally in concentrations or mixtures to produce tearing. It is more toxic than chlorine but less toxic than phosgene (CG). Chloropicrin decomposes into, chlorine gas and nitrogen oxide near open fires, producing toxic fumes. The protective mask protects against vapors; protective clothing protects against the liquid agent.
Source : Potential Military Chemical/ Biological Agents and Compounds, Headquarters
Department of the Army. Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 12 December 1990 PCN 320 008457 00, p. 61. Available at: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/policy/army/fm/3-9/fm3-9.pdf
1. Sulfur Mustard (HD)
2. Lewisite
3. Phosgene oxime
2. Blister Agents
Serious skin irritation
Damage to (primarily
upper) respiratory
system
Blister Agents (Vesicants) Temporary or
sometimes
permanent
blindness
Could penetrate clothing,
rubber, leather
Persistent chemical
Multiple routes of attack
Sulfur Mustard: Lethality*
* Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. (Washington, D.C., Department of Defense, Office of The Surgeon
General, US Army, Borden Institute,2007, 266. Available at:
http://www.bordeninstitute.army.mil/published_volumes/chemwarfare/CH8_Pgs259-310.pdf
Sulfur Mustard:
Sulfur mustard (HD): quite stable due to having very low vapor
pressures. Sulfur mustard also has a freezing point, usually, of 14.5 °C
(although “freezing point depressants” can be added to make it freeze
only at lower temperatures). To increase the shelf life and stability of
the ultimate mustard agent, some states have made it a binary
munition (see below). Separated, no reactions take place and things
are peaceful. Reportedly, “if not distilled to a high purity, mustard tends
to polymerize when stored for long periods, forming solids that
precipitate out of solution and reduce the efficacy of the
dissemination.”Things just get worse from there.
Mauroni, Albert J. Chemical Demilitarization: Public Policy Aspects,
Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003, p. 19,
OTA, Technologies Underlying Weapons of Mass Destruction, p. 21.
Sulfur Mustard: Speed of Action*
* Medical Aspects
of Chemical and
Biological Warfare.
(Washington, D.C.,
Department of
Defense, Office of
The Surgeon
General, US Army,
Borden
Institute,2007, 266.
Available at:
http://www.bordenin
stitute.army.mil/pub
lished_volumes/che
mwarfare/CH8_Pgs
259-310.pdf
Sulfur Mustard: Weaponization*
“The toxic and physico-
chemical properties of
mustard gas allow it to be
used in all types of
munitions.”
Source: The Riegle Report, U.S. Chemical and Biological Warfare-Related Dual
Use Exports to Iraq and their Possible Impact on the Health Consequences of the
Gulf War, A Report of Chairman Donald W. Riegle, Jr. and Ranking Member
Alfonse M., D'Amato of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with
Respect to Export Administration, United States Senate, 103d Congress, 2d
Session, May 25, 1994 Available at:
http://www.gulfweb.org/bigdoc/report/r_1_2.html
“Dew of Death” – intended for spraying from aircraft
Less persistent than mustard
Non-flammable
Phosgene Oxime (“Nettle Gas”)
Can be weaponized into an aerosolized or powdered form
Causes painful sores that harden like bee stings
Long lasting systemic poison as well as fast acting
Simple barriers can prevent exposure
“The systemic toxic agents are those compounds which, instead of confining their dominant action to some particular organ or part of the body, usually near the point of impact, have the power to penetrate the epithelial [the “covering”] of the lungs without causing local damage. They then pass into the bloodstream, whence they are diffused throughout the whole interior economy of the body and exercise a general systemic poisoning action which finally results in death from paralysis of the central nervous system”
Augustin M. Prentiss, Chemicals in War: A Treatise on Chemical
Warfare (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1937), p. 170.
Block use or uptake of oxygen in the
blood asphyxiation
Highly volatile less useful for
chemical warfare
But persistency has an advantage
can clear the battlefield of agent quickly
Cyanide easy to produce could be
attractive for terrorists
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
Not very useful on battlefield but used as tool of genocide
Barely liquid at room temp
Active ingredient in Zyklon-B
( ) cont.
Difficult to weaponize (very unstable)
Aum created (but did not successfully
employ) an HCN device (Tokyo 1995)
AQ experimented with it
With medical treatment it is non-lethal
Cyanide-based
Zyklon-B
Active ingredient is HCN
Used by Germany during World War II to massacre millions of Jews and some non-Jews
(BUT WON’T BE TESTED ON)
Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
Hydrogen Sulfur (“Sour Gas”)
4. Nerve Agents (Toxic Organophosphates)
G – Series (“G” is short for “German”)
1. Tabun – GA
2. Sarin – GB
3. Soman – GD
V – Series (“V” is short for “venomous”)
4. VX
5. “Soviet VX” (also called “VR”)
NERVE AGENTS
Toxic effects via inhalation and contact
Paralyze respiratory musculature
Can cause death in a few minutes – basically immediate
Vary in persistence
Chemical composition related to insecticides
G-series: GA – tabun, GB – sarin, GD – soman
V-series: VE, VG, VM, and VX – similar to G-series but more lethal
NERVE AGENTS
Developed and stockpiled by the
Germans in W.W.II
Did not see battlefield use until 50 years
later: Iran – Iraq war.
PERSISTENCY OF NERVE AGENTS
Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. (Washington, D.C., Department of Defense, Office of The Surgeon General, US Army,
Borden Institute,2007, 167. Available at: http://www.bordeninstitute.army.mil/published_volumes/chemwarfare/Ch5_pg155-220.pdf
G-SERIES NERVE AGENTS
TABUN-GA
Tabun – GA
Discovered in 1936 by German chemists
Less toxic than other G-agents
Only four (4) precursors Sodium cyanide
Dimethylmine
Phosphorus oxychloride
Ethyl alcohol
Sarin (GB)
5 minute video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2qYc
qRIYg&feature=related
Used by Aum Shinrikyō in 1994 (Matsumoto) and 1995 (Tokyo)
Soman (GD
Developed in German in 1944
More lethal than GA or GB
Precursors can be difficult to obtain
Less stable than GA or GB (e.g., harder to weaponize and deliver
“Binary soman (also referred to as “GD binary” and “GD2”). “With binary soman (GD binary, GD2): DF [methylphosphonic difluoride] is located in [one] canister, while a mixture of pinacolyl alcohol and an amine is in a second canister. After deployment of the weapon, the two canisters rupture and the chemical mixture produces binary soman.”*
*Source: Velez-Daubon and Darling, “CBRNE - Nerve Agents, Binary - GB2, VX2.”
V - Agents
Similar in structural and toxic properties those
of the G-nerve agents but possess even
higher toxicity.
Only VX and the Soviet version of VX have
been weaponized.
VX is 100-400 times more toxic than sarin
(GB) when inhaled.
Nerve Agents: VX
7 minute video http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=mkbBnvz0rw0&feature=related
10 to 15 mg can kill an average-sized man
High persistence – can “slime” surfaces
Ceteris Paribus, your best choice in CW agents
5. Incapacitants: Psychoactive
Chemicals
Should not endanger life
Should not cause permanent injury
Recovery should not require medical
attention
Agent should be deliverable, potent, and
easy to store
REMINDER: How do We
Characterize a Chemical
Weapon? 1. Lethality
2. Mode of Action
3. Speed of Action
4. Toxicity
5. Persistency
6. Weaponization
7. Availability of agent and/or precursors
8. Dispersal considerations
REMINDER: Dispersal
Considerations
AGAIN, MICRON SIZE IS PARAMOUNT
1. Temperatures
2. Wind
3. Altitude
4. Moisture
5. Sunlight
6. Time of Day (e.g., upcoming
sunlight/darkness, upcoming temp, etc.)
NOTE: CW AGENTS – MAJOR TYPES NOT
COVERED SUBSTANTIVELY IN THIS COURSE
1. CHOKING AGENTS
2. BLISTER AGENTS
3. BLOOD AGENTS
4. NERVE AGENTS
5. INCAPACITATING AGENTS
6. RIOT CONTROL AGENTS
7. HERBICIDES
Incapacitants: Psychoactive
Chemicals: “Harassing Agents”
Theoretically should not endanger life
Theoretically should not cause
permanent injury
Theoretically recovery should not
require medical attention
Theoretically agent should be
deliverable, potent, and easy to store
INCAPACITANTS: TYPES During the 1950s and 1960s several
pharmacological substances were explored for
use as incapacitants. These included:
Depressants
Belladonna drugs (scopolamine, BZ)
Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD)
Opiate Derivatives (fentalyl and its derivatives*)
For the purposes of this class, we explore BZ and LSD
*Fenatyl (or a related derivative were used by Russian security forces during
the Moscow Music Theatre siege of October 23, 2002. The agent – put into
use with the intention of incapacitating the Chechen rebels conducting the
siege - killed 129 civilians. The Chechens were organized under the Special
Purpose Islamic Regiment (SPIR).
Incapacitants: Belladonna Drugs
3-Quinuclidinyl Benzilate (BZ) Belladonna-based (poisonous nightshade plant)
Very unpredictable
Eventually phased out of the U.S. CW stockpile
____________________________________
Acts on the central nervous system
Can cause: Unconsciousness
“Altered States of Situational Awareness”* Hallucinations
Overall, BZ can disrupt key mental functions like: Memory
Problem solving
Attention/focus
Comprehension
* Eric Croddy, Weapons of Mass Destruction Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (Santa Barbara: ABC Clio, 2005), 90.
Incapacitants: Hallucinogens Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
Researched for potential to gather intelligence, e.g. CIA’s MKULTRA program
Highly potent
LSD can cause:
Unconsciousness
Hallucinations
Interesting Music
Disruption of key mental functions like: Memory
Problem solving
Attention/focus
Comprehension
Riot Control Agents
Prohibited by
Chemical Weapons
Convention when
used as a form of
warfare
Lawful for use by
police to control unruly
crowds
Could be deadly if
used in tunnels or
other enclosed spaces
RCAs
Two criteria:
Must be able to irritate and disable their
human target
Must inflict only temporary effects that will
not require medical treatment
GENERAL RCA CHARACTERISICS:
Not Persistent
Low Toxicity
Rapid Speed Of Action
Overall, Easy To Produce
RCAs
What are the main agents? Mace (CN) (chloroacetophenon) Largely phased by CS
CNB - (CN in Benzene and Carbon Tetrachloride) CNC - (CN in Chloroform) CNS - (CN and Chloropicrin in Chloroform)
Tear Gas (CS) Used for confidence building and law enforcement
Much more intense that CN but less toxic
Wears off in 5-10 minutes
Can be highly flammable (Waco assault)
Pepper Spray (OC) oleoresin capsicum “Natural”
Not as intense as CN or CS
Wears off in ~ 30 minutes
Adamsite (DM) diphenylaminochlorarsine – among other things, a vomiting agent Unlike other RCAs, its speed of action is delayed by several minutes
Far more toxic than other RCAs
Reportedly a “mask breaker”* – more persistent than other RCAs
* Eric Croddy, Weapons of Mass Destruction Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (Santa Barbara: ABC Clio, 2005), 3.
Herbicides
A. Defoliants
These compounds cause trees, shrubs, and other plants to shed their leaves prematurely
B. Plant Growth Regulators
These compounds regulate (stimulate or inhibit) plant growth
C. Desiccants
These compounds remove water from plant tissues, causing the plants to dry and shrivel.
D. Soil Sterilants
These compounds make a soil incapable of supporting higher plant life.
1) Define chemical weapons?
2) List the seven types of CW?
3) Understand, compare, and contrast the seven properties that CW are typically broken down into?
4) Understand and explain the seven salient? variables with regard to dispersing chemical agents (and why they are salient)?
5) Demonstrate familiarity with the most important agents for each CW type and for CW writ large?
6) List the three most dangerous CW agents, explaining how you define “dangerous” and why your selections meet this criterion while others don’t?