The Germans used it first on April 22, 1915 by opening 168 tons of chlorine gas. This gas was heavier than air which meant it stayed near the ground and anyone who would breathe is suffocated immediately (Wikipedia). Another type was mustard gas and this was the most deadly kind because gas masks could not stop it. It penetrated the clothing and burned the skin. During the whole war, gas killed more than 700,000 troops on both sides. Eventually, they stopped the use of gas in 1925 and it was not used in World War II because Hitler got temporarily blinded by it…
I have decided to do my research paper about the effects of Agent Orange on the ecosystem and environment of Vietnam and the soldiers who were fighting during the Vietnam war. This topic is one of many examples of how dangerous chemical being used for warfare also destroyed the environment. This event also caused damage to the people who were in contact with the agent and spread genetically through their descendants. I often wonder how the government can use such dangerous chemicals without thinking of the consequences it would have on the people involved. I want to understand the negative effects of agent Orange during the Vietnam war.…
Boils, burning, and blindness imagine sitting in a field hospital in agony wishing that the pain would just end. Many of these soldiers’ lives would be forever changed after heading to the battlefield and being confronted with this. We all know that warfare technology through the age’s changes and advances but even a general from five hundred years ago would say that this is just cold-blooded. That dreadful weapon is gas warfare or a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. The first use of gas warfare was used on April 22, 1915 during the Battle of Ypres when the Germans attacked the French. These soldiers experienced a chlorine…
The earliest record of this chemical weapons goes far back to 1000 BC, when the Chinese soldiers used arsenic smoke on its enemies.[4], also in the first and second world wars these weapons were used greatly e.g the Germans used mustard gases at a village in Langemark in 1915, the British and the French also used the weapons in their bomb shells, the war of 1980-1988 (Iran and Iraq) Iraq used nerve agents and mustard gases to kill their enemies [2]. In recent times in 1995 sarin was used in Tokyo attacks of sub way trains, in 2008 ricin was found in a motel room in Las Vegas.[4]. Due to the technological advancement in the chemical industry it has made it easier to access and get hold of these weapons, hence they pose a great threat to humanity now and in the future.…
The use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War had far greater negative consequences than positive. However it resulted in the banning of Agent Orange. This ban will insure that future generations are safer and healthier in terms of chemical exposure. In the past, the government has used Agent Orange as a weapon of war. Due to concerns associated with the use of chemicals, including Agent Orange during military conflicts, countries have made rules prohibiting or restricting the use of chemicals in warfare. Their actions will benefit all of mankind. Agent Orange is a very detrimental chemical, but this enormous accident could have been prevented had more scientific research been conducted prior to use in battle. If the United States government would have known the negative effects Agent Orange would have on the innocent citizens and soldiers, this disaster could have been…
Biological and chemical warfare has been around since the beginning of time. From poison tipped arrows to purposely transmitting smallpox to individuals. There has been ongoing political conflict on biological and chemical warfare for quite some time for legitimate reasons too. Biological and chemical warfare is very deadly and sometimes inhumane, but on the other hand it is very cost efficient and is very effective at doing its job. Biological and chemical warfare is also good for the country or individual using it because their is no loss of life or huge amounts of people dieing to kill others only one side dies. Biological and chemical warfare is a safe and cost effective alternative to modern warfare.…
During the Great War the poison gas was one of the most feared weapons even though it was machine guns that ultimately killed the largest number of people. These gases comprised of lethal elements like phosgene and chlorine; it was a major component in First World War and was very widespread which gave many people the view that it was “the chemists’ war”. One of the advantages of gas attack compared to the conventional artillery was that hiding in the trenches alone wasn’t an option anymore. Though there was no instant death with poisonous gases it would leave anyone in heavy contact with it in agony for days. In order to counter the poison gas effect many countries had come up with gas masks, it significantly reduced the number of casualties however, the soldiers who were not able to use the masks were often left in distress and they would eventually die. Poisonous gases was a terrifying weapon however its impact rather like the tank isn’t obvious, during the war it only caused 3% of the fatalities. The use of lethal gases would be further used in wars again for killing of civilians and also for capital…
The first use of mustard gas as a chemical weapon was during the battle of Ypres, Belgium in 1914. The German Imperial Army and the Allied forces had been in a stale mate for months. During that time battles were fought in trenches with both sides trying to gain ground, but ended up with many casualties and barely any ground taken from the enemy. To counter act this ongoing stale mate both sides would attempt to bomb…
Mustard gas was possibly first invented by Cesar-Mansuete Despretz in 1822, but as he never mentioned any kind of irritation, it is doubtful.…
To understand chemical warfare you must first understand what a chemical agent is. A United Nations report from 1969 defines chemical warfare agents as " ... chemical substances, whether gaseous, liquid or solid, which might be employed because of their direct toxic effects on man, animals and plants ... ". This means basically that any chemical that is used to directly effect and harm a person, plant, or animal would be an act of chemical warfare.…
Chemical Warfare is a method of warfare in which toxic or incapacitating chemicals agents are used to further the goals of the combatants. The concept of Chemical Warfare is as old as warfare itself. Until the 20th century such warfare was primarily limited to starting fires, poisoning wells, distributing smallpox-infected articles, and using smoke to confuse the enemy. The most extensive and large-scale use of Chemical Weapons was witnessed during World War I. The horror created by this category of weapons in that war forced the political leaders of the world to look much more seriously for ways to avoid such gory events in the future.…
Intro- Chemical and biological weapons first appeared in a large quantity in the First World War. Chemical weapons, such as sarin, nerve gas, and mustard gas, have to be made in a laboratory. Biological weapons, such as Typhus, Q fever, and Anthrax, can be viruses or bacteria. Chemical and Biological weapons have few advantages and so many disadvantages that the advantages aren’t worth the possible effects.…
The German Army first used chlorine gas cylinders and sulfur fumes during the First World War in April 1915 against the French Army at Ypres (Chlorine Gas, 1915). During that moment in history, the use of chemical weapons was non-existent, but the German Army had perfectly planned their attack to break down the French resistance with a big surprise. The German Army dispersed the chlorine gas in a fashion similar to a tactical grenade i.e. a smoke grenade, to condition the mindset of the French soldiers to…
Transition: Now since we explore the different types of Chemical Warfare and what is chemical warfare. Let’s explain and understand how chemical warfare works.…
Historically chemical weapons are rarely seen in combat but when they are they are used to great effect, killing thousands and injuring many more. Chemical weapons were first used in combat in May 1915 when the Germans released chlorine gas against the French in the Battle of Ypres. Over the course of WWI new chemical agents were developed including cyanide, phosgene and mustard gas. The Geneva Protocol of 1925 condemned chemical weapons but states that if a state used chemical weapons retaliation in kind was acceptable. The treaty also did nothing to stem the production and stockpiling of chemical weapons. Since 1925 the use of chemical weapons has been confirmed in such wars as the Italian-Ethiopian War, Iran-Iraq War and perhaps most infamously was Saddam Hussein’s ethnic cleansing of the Kurds in 1987.…