Chemical Warfare
In this essay I will be discussing about Chemical warfare. Chemical warfare is warfare using deadly
toxic chemical agents to kill, injure or incapacitate the enemy. This method of using chemicals as a
weapon was first used thousands of years ago. Many ancient armies used poisoned arrows, boiling
tar, arsenic smoke, noxious fumes, etc… to fight their enemies. But in modern day, it was first
introduced by the French during WWI. On November 1914, the French first used tear gas, chlorine,
and phosgene gas to fight off the Germans. Chemicals were a popular weapon during the First World
War, and are still to this day. Chemicals were put into artillery shells, mortar projectiles, aerial
bombs, spray tanks and landmines. There are two main technological approaches to the destruction
of chemical agents: the direct incineration of the agents and neutralization by means of various
chemical reactions. This type of warfare has changed the way war is fought. Today, the UN is trying
to stop many counties from developing chemical weapons of mass destruction, due to the incredible
amount of damage it can potentially cause. The problem with chemical warfare is that it exposes
deadly toxins which contaminates people and radiates the land. It permanently affects people who
were exposed to the toxins. Not only can it kill you, but it could cause mutation or deformity.
Chemical warfare is a global concern because it has the potential power of eliminating the entire
human race. Mr. Ban, the Secretary-General of the UN said “The overall threat remains a serious
global concern.” Three quarters of the world is part of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
which aims to stop and eliminate the use of chemical warfare. Nations that possess toxic weapons
have the power to put the whole world in danger. It could permanently radiate the earths land and
water as well as eliminate the human race. This is why it is important to stop the use of chemical
warfare.
Chemical warfare (CW) agents are chemical substances that have a direct toxic effect on plants,
animals and humans. Classified according to their physiological effects, agents effective against
humans include nerve agents, blistering agents (vesicants), blood agents, choking agents and toxins.
Most of today’s modern chemical weapons include either choking agents like phosgene and chlorine,
Blister Agents like Nitrogen Mustard and Lewisite, or Nerve Agents like Tabun, Sarin, or VX. These
specific agents have the greatest effect on humans. For example, Nerve gas shuts down the
transmission of nerve impulses. Nerve cells require an electric pulse to make a chemical
transmission. But if you inhale the toxic nerve gas the toxins will destroy the transmission, causing
the entire body to shut down.
The scientific benefit of solving the issue with chemical warfare; is that scientists can discover and
invent new harmful and safe/useful chemicals. Historically we have expanded the knowledge of the
human race and can find which chemicals are safe and harmful. By understanding what certain
chemicals do, we could use that to our advantage. Every chemical has different effects. Some are
only harmful to plants and animals instead of humans. For example, a choking agent like chlorine is a
poisonous gas that could destroy the respiratory system if exposed for too long. Chlorine in a liquid
or solid form are powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agents. Small amounts do not harm
the human body; therefor it’s used to disinfect drinking water and pools. Chemical warfare is also
the cheapest and most efficient way to win a fight.
Some limitations of solving chemical warfare are the whole idea of killing thousands of people using
toxic chemicals. Many people have died because of the different effects chemicals produce. People
have been permanently mutated and deformed. Pregnant women that were exposed to the toxins
have given their spouses birth deformity. This is how scientists have discovered the different effects
of harmful chemicals. The development of chemical weapons changed the way war was fought.
Scientists have created weapons of mass destruction which was used to eliminate large areas (like a
large city or small country). It can also radiate land, water, and air which are the requirements for
human survival. It’s a very inconvenient way to fight because the explosion would destroy the
construction (buildings, bridges, roads, etc…) on the land, radiate all the water, and kill the
plantation. If we were to have a nuclear world war, all of the earth’s land, water, and air would be
unable to obtain life. This power eventually fell into the wrong hands. Throughout history, Dictators
have used chemical weapons of mass destruction to threaten other counties. This is still an issue
today.
Chemical warfare is an economical, environmental, Moral, and political issue. The effects of chemical
warfare can destroy economical production. By affecting one country or city may disrupt
productivity and trade throughout the world. The biggest factor issue is environmental. Chemical
toxins can permanently infect a whole environment causing all the plantation and fertilizer to be
wasted. Construction in cities will be ruined and people will die. The whole environment will be
permanently destroyed. This is also a big moral issue. Almost all societies look down upon using
chemical weapons to kill people and agree that it’s wrong and inhumane. On July 8, 1996 the United
Nations International Court of Justice, gave an Advisory Opinion about the Legality of the threat or
use of nuclear weapons. It has been officially declared a global crime. Today the UN sends officials to
inspect countries for any nuclear chemical weapons of mass destruction. This brings me to another
factor. Politically, the government controls the production and use of chemical weapons. The UN
proclaimed that all governments must ban the production and stockpiling of chemical and biological
weapons to complement the ban on use in the 1925 Geneva Protocol. This shows how the UN wants
to help and promote order throughout all of the governments in the world. 2/3 of the world’s
governments have cooperated with the UN’s international law.
Work cited:
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