See Also
The Gunnery Pocket Book - Part 2Metallic Smell on Body or Breath: Causes & TreatmentSenses of the Civil War: SmellNon-powder & Toy GunsChemical weapons are toxic chemicals deliberately used to cause chaos or fear or to harm people. While biological weapons are viruses or bacteria ("germs") that cause a person to become sick and possibly spread their illness to other people, chemical weapons are simply poisons. If chemical weapons were to be used, the most likely method of attack would be the release of a vapor or liquid into a public space. While some chemical agents have a distinct color or smell, most are impossible to detect without sophisticated equipment.
See Also
Unauthorized Request BlockedSome examples of chemical weapons are:
- Nerve agents(such as sarin, which was used in the Tokyo subway attacks in 1995) work by causing the paralysis of muscles.
- Mustard gas, which was used in World War I, causes irritation of the eyes, skin and the respiratory system if inhaled. It may smell like mustard, garlic, onions or horseradish; it is yellow-brown in color.
- Cyanide causes confusion, drowsinessand shortness of breath if inhaled. It also affects the central nervous system. Cyanide has the odor of bitter almonds. However, half the population is incapable of detecting the smell.
- Phosgene can cause severe breathing problems and fatal lung congestion. It has a characteristic sweet smell of newly mown hay or grass.
- Ricin(a toxin from the castor bean), can cause weakness, fever, cough or respiratory distress, and the buildup of liquid around the heart when inhaled.
Chemical Emergencies Fact Sheets
- Chemical Emergencies: Facts about Evacuation
- Chemical Emergencies: Facts about Evacuation – Spanish
- Chemical Emergencies: Facts About Sheltering in Place
- Chemical Emergencies: Facts About Sheltering in Place – Spanish
- Facts about Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing
- Facts about Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing – Spanish
- Riot Control Agents: Facts
Chemical Weapons Fact Sheets
- Abrin: Facts
- Ammonia: Facts
- Arsenic: Facts
- Arsine: Facts
- Benzene: Facts
- Chlorine: Facts
- Cyanide: Facts
- Ethylene Glycol: Facts
- Hydrofluoric Acid: Facts
- Lewisite: Facts
- Mercury: Facts
- Nitrogen Mustard: Facts
- Paraquat: Facts
- Phosgene: Facts
- Phosgene Oxime: Facts
- Phosphorus: Facts
- Ricin: Facts
- Sarin: Facts
- Sodium Azide: Facts
- Soman: Facts
- Strychnine: Facts
- Sulfur Mustard: Facts
- Tabun: Facts
- Thallium: Facts
- VX: Facts
