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Chemical Weapons: The Human Toll

Published/Copyright: September 2, 2014
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Chemistry International
From the journal Chemistry International Volume 36 Issue 5

A stark reminder of the importance of communicating responsibility with respect to multi-use chemicals comes from grasping the short- and long-term human toll of the use of chemical weapons in Syria in 2013 and Iran in the late 1980s. 1000 people (mainly civilians) were killed in the August 2013 sarin attack near Damascus. Still unknown are the number injured in this attack and the extent of continuing health problems. So far no investigations have addressed this issue. During the Iraq/Iran war chemical weapons were used extensively by Iraq against Iranian soldiers and civilians, and in 1988 by Iraq against its own Kurdish community. At least 7000 Kurds died from chemical weapons in these attacks. Most were civilians, including many women and children. Well over 7000 were injured and millions of Kurds fled across borders into neighbouring Iraq, Turkey and Syria out of fear of the effects of these agents. The number of people who still bear the scars of these attacks in Kurdish areas is also unknown. At least two chemical weapons, mustard gas and a nerve agent, possibly sarin, were used in the attacks. A nerve agent caused most of the fatalities. Iran still treats 30000 people, mainly former soldiers, for mustard gas related injuries. However, those being treated are the ones who were able to prove injury from mustard gas because of their army affiliations. Many others were not able to establish a causal link between mustard gas and their injuries, and have had to manage as best they can.

One of the major complications in making chemical weapons is the safety of the workforce involved in their manufacture, because of the potency of these substances. Creating these chemical weapons is within the reach of most competent chemists and the precursors are well known. It is, of course, illegal to do this and most countries have severe penalties for those who may be tempted. Multiple Uses of Chemicals was created, in part, to open the eyes of those who could be tempted, and to show them the destructive results that could result from their choices and actions.

Online erschienen: 2014-9-2
Erschienen im Druck: 2014-9-1

©2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

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  2. From the Editor
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  4. Treasurer’s Column
  5. A Time for Renewal
  6. Dr. Lynn Soby appointed IUPAC Executive Director
  7. Features
  8. Synthesis at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology
  9. Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize
  10. Multiple Uses of Chemicals
  11. IUPAC and OPCW Working Toward Responsible Science
  12. Chemical Weapons: The Human Toll
  13. Complementary OPCW Education and Outreach Resources
  14. IUPAC Wire
  15. IUPAC Elections for the 2016–2017 Term
  16. Winners of the 2014 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists
  17. Steven V. Ley wins 2014 IUPAC-ThalesNano Prize in Flow Chemistry
  18. The InChI Team presented with the 2014 Chemical Structure Association (CSA) Trust Mike Lynch Award
  19. Data Citation Principles
  20. 2015 Year of Soils and Year of Light
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  22. A critical review of the proposed definitions of fundamental chemical quantities and their impact on chemical communities
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  24. Basic Terminology of Crystal Engineering
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  31. IUPAC Empfehlungen
  32. Nomenclature and Graphic Representations for Chemically Modified Polymers
  33. Bookworm
  34. The Last Alchemist in Paris
  35. NOTeS
  36. On the Use of Italic and Roman Fonts for Symbols in Scientific Text*
  37. Conference Call
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https://doi.org/10.1515/ci-2014-0509

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Masthead - Full issue pdf
  2. From the Editor
  3. Contents
  4. Treasurer’s Column
  5. A Time for Renewal
  6. Dr. Lynn Soby appointed IUPAC Executive Director
  7. Features
  8. Synthesis at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology
  9. Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize
  10. Multiple Uses of Chemicals
  11. IUPAC and OPCW Working Toward Responsible Science
  12. Chemical Weapons: The Human Toll
  13. Complementary OPCW Education and Outreach Resources
  14. IUPAC Wire
  15. IUPAC Elections for the 2016–2017 Term
  16. Winners of the 2014 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists
  17. Steven V. Ley wins 2014 IUPAC-ThalesNano Prize in Flow Chemistry
  18. The InChI Team presented with the 2014 Chemical Structure Association (CSA) Trust Mike Lynch Award
  19. Data Citation Principles
  20. 2015 Year of Soils and Year of Light
  21. The Project Place
  22. A critical review of the proposed definitions of fundamental chemical quantities and their impact on chemical communities
  23. On the definition of the mole
  24. Basic Terminology of Crystal Engineering
  25. Implementation of InChI for chemically modified large biomolecules
  26. Toxicology in the Classroom II
  27. Making an imPACt
  28. Abbreviations of polymer names and guidelines for abbreviating polymer names (IUPAC Recommendations 2014)
  29. Toward a comprehensive definition of oxidation state (IUPAC Technical Report)
  30. Solubility of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Neat Organic Solvents and Organic Solvent Mixtures
  31. IUPAC Empfehlungen
  32. Nomenclature and Graphic Representations for Chemically Modified Polymers
  33. Bookworm
  34. The Last Alchemist in Paris
  35. NOTeS
  36. On the Use of Italic and Roman Fonts for Symbols in Scientific Text*
  37. Conference Call
  38. Radiochemistry
  39. POLYCHAR 22
  40. Global Experiments Spark International Years: Sharing Best Practices
  41. Stamps International
  42. Nickel Mining in Paradise
  43. Where 2B & Y
  44. Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
  45. Data Sharing and Integration for Global Sustainability
  46. Environmental Horizon
  47. Mark Your Calendar
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