Similarities

of Nuclear Weapons & Chemical Weapons

IntroductionChemical warfare agents use poisons that kill, injure, or

incapacitate. CW agents can be gases or liquids or, more commonly, dispersed as aerosols.

Nuclear weapons derive their destructive force from nuclear reactions of fusion or fission. As a result, even a nuclear weapon with a small yield is significantly more powerful than the largest conventional explosive, and a single weapon is capable of destroying an entire city.

Chemical weapons status2005

Nuclear weapons status2006

Classes of CW agents Lethal Nerve agents Blood agents Blister agents Pulmonary agents

Non lethal Incapacitating agents Riot control agents

Classes of NWs The atom bomb; energy is released by

fission of large atomic nuclei. The hydrogen bomb; energy is released by

fusion of small atomic nuclei.

Introduction

The 3 schedule of controlled substances

Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Schedule 3

Fission reactions

Releases energy as: Heat Blast Radiation Uranium-235 Plutonium-239

Effects of Nuclear Explosions

Low Yield (<100 kt) High Yield (>1 Mt) Thermal Radiation 35% 45% Blast Wave 60% 50%Ionizing Radiatio 5% 5% (80% gamma, 20% neutrons)

Overview of Immediate Effects NW

The three categories of immediate effects are: blast, thermal radiation (heat), and prompt ionizing or nuclear radiation. Their relative importance varies with the yield of the bomb. At low yields, all three can be significant sources of injury. With an explosive yield of about 2.5 kt, the three effects are roughly equal. All are capable of inflicting fatal injuries at a range of 1 km.

Overview of Delayed Effects NW

Radioactive Contamination Effects on the Atmosphere and Climate Harm to the Ozone Layer Nuclear Winter

The nuclear chain health effects Mining Processing and Enrichment Nuclear power Waste Health effects on workers Health effects on neighbours Community health effects

The Heat• Direct effect: Flashburns on exposed skin from erythema to total nihilation Keloide scars• Indirect effect:Massfires causing”ordinary” burns

Blastwave

• Direct impact:

Fractures, crushing of internal

organs, skinwounds, damage to the

inner ear

• Indirect:

Flying debris (glass) and buildings

collapsing

Radiation

• Damages DNA directly: chain braking, base deletion indirectly; free radicals an genomic instability

• Activation of protooncogens and inactivation of cellrepair system→ abnorm cellgrowth (cancer) or celldeath

Initial effects of RadiationTissues with high cell turnover are most affected

Radiation Sickness:

2-6 Gy: Blood producing organs

Anemia, bleeding and prone to infections

6-20 Gy: The gastrointestinal system

Nausea, diarrhoea and dehydration

20 Gy: The central nervous system

ataxia, seizures, coma and death

Effects of Radiation• EpilationLoss of hair

• PurpuraSkin bleeding

• Ulcerationin oral cavity andthroat

Radioactive fallout

Long-term effects of radiation

Radiation is transferred to other materials Strontium-90: Resembles Ca2+ deposited

in bone and teeth Cesium-137: Resembles K+, deposited in

cells and tissues Iodine-131 deposited in thyroidea

Long term effects Increased likelihood of cancer Birth defects including long limbs, brain

damage, conjoint stillborn twins, Reduced immunity Genetic damage PTSD and depression

Damages in pregnancy NW

Increase of: Neonatal death Accidental abortions Microcephali Mental retardation Cataract of the eye The fetus is most vulnerable

in the 8th to 15th week

Cancer NW

• Increased risk of almost all types of cancer

• Especially cancers of the thyroid,breast, lung, stomach and large bowel

• Age at exponation very important for increase in risk

Plants Lack of chlorophyl Deformed leaf pattern Thick, flat, hollow stems Missing reproductive parts Abnormally large

Animals Many insects disapeared

for years

Risk of terrorism(new challenge to industry)

Transportation risks Uranium oxide spills Fuel rod spills Radioactive waste risks

Triage in the area Amount of wounded and casualties Communication Radiation zone Resources: equipment, medicines,

personal Clean Water Supplies

Introduction

Means of delivery

The CWs can be used through different means of delivery:

Bomb Rocket Missile Artillery Mortar and mine

Roots of entry for CW agents Inhalation through lungs Ingestion by mouth Injection through punctured wound Absorption on skin

The effects of CW Most nerve agents have fatal

consequences (due to severe poisoning) and cause short term damage to the environment and human body, but there is no evidence of long term consequences (but may cause neurotoxicity).

The effects of CW Due to the effect that Mustard gas has on

DNA, long-term health problems appear in: Respiratory organs Eyes Skin (immune system disorders, psychological

disorders, genetic disorders, cancers and psychological effects )

Clinical effects of exposure to nerve agents

It occurs in 3 stages Acute cholinergic phase The intermediate syndrome Delayed poluneuropathy( other effects: genotoxic and carcinogenic,

mutagenicity, teratogeniciyy, pregnancy, immune system, metabolic function, cardiac events)

Clinical effects of exposure to mustard gas

20-60 min post exposure: Nausea, retching, vomiting, smarting of the eyes 2-6h:

nausea, fatigue, headache, inflammation of the eye

6-48h:

erythema of the skin, itching

Clinical effects of exposure to mustard gas

Psychological Nervous system Local effects Permanent blindness Visual impairment Scarring of the skin Respiratory disorders Sensitivity to MG Carcinogenic effects

Psychological impact of CWs Many survivors are suffering from

significant psychological disorders including PTSD. Contributing factors to this effect may be related to the horrendous deaths experienced by victims heavily exposed to CWs.

CWs and environment

Mustard in munitions often had toxic additives to:

Raise the viscosity Reduce the freezing point Increase the toxicity

And the toxic wastes last for many years!!

CWs and environment Nerve agents Mustard gas