Chemical analysis of environmental samples collected in Iraq: Analysis for the presence of chemical warfare agents

Abstract

Nineteen samples from the United Nations Special Commission 65 on Iraq (UNSCOM 65) were analyzed for chemical warfare (CW) related compounds using a variety of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques including multinuclear NMR, GC (phosphorus, sulfur and atomic emission detection), GC/MS (electron impact and chemical ionization), tandem MS, HPLC/ion chromatography, HPLC/thermospray/MS, FTIR, ICP and GFAA. The samples consisted of one piece of cloth, one piece of wood, six waters, six soils, two vegetation samples and two mortar shell crosscut sections. No intact CW agents were detected; however, diethyl phosphoric acid was unambiguously identified in three of the water samples and ethyl phosphoric acid was tentatively identified, at lower levels, in one of the water samples. Diethyl phosphoric acid and ethyl phosphoric acid are degradation products of munitions-grade Tabun (GA), an organophosphorus nerve agent. However, these compounds are also degradation products of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) scheduled compound Amiton as well as many commercially available pesticides.

Reversed phase ion-pairing HPLC-ICP-MS for analysis of organophosphorus chemical warfare agent degradation products

“…As a result of the Chemical Weapons Conventions (CWC), which banned the production, acquisition, retention, and direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons, destruction of all chemical weapons held in reserve was mandated. 1,2 These chemicals, which include nerve and vesicant agents, pose a deadly threat not only to the human population but also to vital aqueous and agricultural resources (Table 1.). 1,[3][4][5][6] Based on these facts the development of a sensitive and selective analytical technique for the analysis of CWA and their degradation products is of high importance to ensure homeland security.…”

Meerwein reaction of phosphonium ions with epoxides and thioepoxides in the gas phase

“…Since false positives must be avoided, the requirement of very high selectivity is usually met using tandem mass spectrometry (MS 2 ), which allows short analysis times in combination with low-level detection. Gas-phase reactions in a mass spectrometric environment have proven to be an excellent method of rapid, sensitive, and particularly selective chemical analysis for warfare agents [3,4]. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) remains, however, by far the most common method of implementing the change in mass/charge ratio needed to perform an MS 2 experiment, and thus, to improve selectivity.…”