Pernicious Chemical Weapons

In the wake of alleged chemical attack by the Syrian government, there is a growing fear among nations regarding the indiscriminate use of destructive chemical weapons. Suddenly there is new sense of urgency and fear among the nations about the impact, usage of these advanced war weapons and its dubious role in mass destruction. The timely intervention of the UN and inspection of Syrian domain by its officials might provide some concrete evidence about the nature and extent of real damage caused by the chemical weapons.   But modern warfare seems to ostensibly employ the most dangerous weapons which can cause an unprecedented damage to the life on earth. These include the chemical, nuclear and biological war weapons which constitute the most dreaded weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Chemical weapons constitute the usage of lethal agents meant to kill, incapacitate or injure the enemy. Often these compounds cause extensive damage not only to men but also to the agriculture and live stock by causing hunger and starvation. Thus these lethal agents bring life to a complete stand still in the affected area. Lethal agents have been used in wars for over several thousand of year’s modern usage of these chemical weapons dates back to First World War. Mustard gas (nitrogen mustards, a vesicant) and phosgene (a chloride gas) were extensively used that caused lung searing, blindness and death due to asphyxiation. There was a huge public furore over the disastrous trail left by these chemical gases. Even military officials were not impressed by the performance of these weapons. Unlike conventional weapons of war, which hit the targeted areas, chemical weapons lack the directed action. They drift along the wind and hence it largely fails it target.

Hence immediately after the First World War several conventions were initiated to curtail the usage of these harmful weapons. Around 133 countries has become party to Geneva Protocol also known as Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare. This protocol prohibits usage of chemical and biological weapons, but failed to address the issue of storage, stockpiling and transfer of these weapons. Later to address this lacuna the modern arms control agreement Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) known as Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction was enacted. It is administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) located at The Hague. This not only prevents use of chemical and biological weapons but effectively inspects chemical weapons and destroys the stocks present in its 189 signatories (nearly 98% population). CWC prevents the use of any toxic chemical, regardless of its origin, like the non living toxic compounds produced by living organisms like plants (toxins like botulinum, ricin) are considered  chemical weapons unless they are used for purposes that are not prohibited under the general purpose criteria. There are seven nations (Israel and Myanmar have signed but not ratified) not party to the CWC. North Korea, South Sudan, Angola, Egypt haven’t signed the act. Syria though not signatory member of Chemical Weapons Convention is a party to Geneva Protocol which doesn’t take stock of the production and storage of chemical weapons in its territory. But despite being a non party to CWC, UN Commissioner for Human Rights strongly condemns Syria as it has customary binding to the International law which prohibits the use of chemical weapons by both the government and anti-government allied forces.

Chemicals weapons constitute several potent and lethal chemicals. They are used in solid, liquid and gaseous form. These are stored in three basic configurations- munitions, projectiles, cartridges, mines and rockets and even as air-craft delivered munitions. They are both unitary and binary munitions –unitary munitions contain a single lethal chemical, where as binary munitions contain two chemicals which are not lethal until they are mixed.

There are four different categories based on their physiological affects on the human body. They are –Blood agents like the cyanides that interfere in development and maturation process of the RBC and are metabolic poisons; Blister agents or vesicants like the nitrogen and sulphur mustards, urticants that produce water-filled blisters and wheal on skin; Nerve agents cause dislocation of nerve synapses resulting in loss of neurological control. These include the compounds of varying efficacies and designated as G series, V series and GV series containing compounds like Sarin, Tabun, Cyclosarin. Symptoms range from severe palpitation, sweating to paralysis, convulsions and death. Pulmonary agents like phosgene, chlorine, and chloropicrin result in severe irritation to lungs and cause damage to lung-blood barrier.

Apart from these harmful chemical agents, police and military sometimes use Riot Control Agents (RCA) to control the unruly mobs and rioters. They are intended not to kill or injure but to control and disperse the huge restive crowds and mobs particularly during agitations.  They include regular non-lethal incapacitating agents like LSD which cause hallucination and delirium; harassing agents like tear gas such as Bromoacetone, Bromobenzyl cyanide irritate the mucous membrane and have a lachrymatory affect; vomiting agents like Adamsite, Diphenylchloroarsine (DA), Diphenylcyanoarsine (DC) cause coughing, sneezing and nausea and malodorants that produce strong unpleasant and repulsive smell.

In the deadly Syrian attack by Bashar al-Assad against his own people Sarin (GB), a nerve agent and an organophosphate compound was supposedly used. This chemical attack has resulted in the death of 1300 people. Sarin was last used in 1994 and 1995 in terrorist attacks in Japan. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), Sarin is a colourless, tasteless clear liquid when pure and can quickly evaporate. It is a very potent nerve agent and was developed by Germans as an insecticide in 1938. The symptoms vary depending on the amount, mode and length of exposure of a person to the chemical. Exposure to mild doses of Sarin might result in chest tightness, rapid breathing, drooling, rapid sweating, blurred vision and nausea. It mainly targets the functioning of acetyl choline esterase enzyme resulting in uncontrolled stimulation of muscles. A tiny drop of Sarin on skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching. Large doses might result in harmful health as it results in convulsions, paralysis and respiratory failure leading to death. Mildly exposed people usually recover completely but severely exposed people are unlikely to survive.

 Syrian issue is now widely debated among the leaders of various nations and most of them are contemplating a legal action. This should deter the use of chemical weapons any more.  An authentic decision and future course of action hasn’t been formulated as yet against the aggressive Syrian regime but major countries are not averse to use of military.

Man with his relentless efforts have marvelled and excelled in the spheres of science and technology. But unfortunately have miserably failed to evolve their barbaric traits of the Stone Age. Unless discretion and restraint prevails the most civilised human species is doomed to be annihilated by its own Frankenstein’s monster.