CRJ 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Chemical Weapon, Organophosphate, Phosgene
Document Summary
Chem/bio weapons are called poor man"s atomic bombs . Migration of technology has increased the risk of an attack. Commonly, the term chemical warfare agents refers to materials that kill or incapacitate those exposed to them. There are two parts to chemical weapons: the chemical warfare agent, a means of delivering the chemical warfare agent to its target. A chemical warfare agent is made by combining chemicals. Agent"s can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. 3 classes of chemical agents: casualty agents, riot-control agents. (tear/vomiting, psychochemicals (lsd) 4 subgroups of casualty agents: nerve agents (attack the nervous system) Interfere with the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vx - pin head/ canister death: blister and choking agents (attack the lungs) Most obvious feature is that they produce blisters on their victims. Also known as vesicants (meaning blister producing) Examples: lewisite, sulfur/nitrogen mustard: blood agents (attack oxygen/energy processes) Interfere with the use of oxygen in cells.
