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Chemical Warfare and Terrorism
| Content Provider | Scilit |
|---|---|
| Author | Matar, Hazem Chilcott, Robert P. |
| Copyright Year | 2021 |
| Description | The study of toxicology and the development of chemical warfare agents are intertwined, as one would not exist without the other. The use of chemicals in war dates back millennia, with the first agents being derived from natural sources such as plants and animals. The discovery and synthesis of modern chemical warfare agents were generally serendipitous rather than planned. However, the inherent toxicity of these chemicals has since been used to instil fear and cause chaos among both military and civilian populations. This prompted the implementation of international agreements and corresponding bodies, which culminated in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). However, given the relative ease with which some chemical weapons can be synthesised and their “dual use” functionality, they remain a threat. Due to the potent toxicity exerted by chemical weapons, the maxim “sola dosis facit venenum” (only the dose makes the poison; Paracelsus, 1493–1541) is often (incorrectly) overlooked. Furthermore, although toxic industrial chemicals are generally less potent than chemical warfare agents, their abundance and availability present a continuing threat to society. This chapter provides a brief history of the development and use of chemical warfare agents. It explains the mechanisms of toxicity for certain classes of chemical warfare agents and details some of the current countermeasures, including an outline of the practical elements of responding to and managing contaminated casualties. Book Name: Toxicology for the Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Related Links | https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/chapters/edit/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.1201/9780203730584-25&type=chapterpdf |
| Ending Page | 463 |
| Page Count | 15 |
| Starting Page | 449 |
| DOI | 10.1201/9780203730584-25 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| Publisher Date | 2021-11-15 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Book Name: Toxicology for the Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chemical Warfare Agents Weapons Use of Chemical Contaminated Functionality Toxicity |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Chapter |
