Chemical risk and chemical warfare agents: science and technology against humankind

Abstract

After one century from the beginning of World War I, the threat of a possible usage of chemical warfare agents is back again. However, in our time, the potential targets of an attack with non-conventional toxic chemicals are civilian populations in a terrorist attack, rather than equipped and well-trained military troops in battlefields. Chemical weapons indeed are able to inflict not only material damages, but also noteworthy psychological consequences on the public opinion. An analysis of the most common misconceptions and a summary of the main advantages and disadvantages linked to the use of chemical weapons, in warfare actions or in terrorist attack, are discussed here.

Tungsten oxide: a catalyst worth studying for the abatement and decontamination of chemical warfare agents

“…The IR analysis was performed in liquid phase by collecting small amounts of the reaction medium. The IR spectra collected over the time showed a progressive reduction of the intensity of the broad band in the 3400-3100 cm −1 range, which was attributed to the stretching modes of the silanol groups of the partially condensed POSS (Carniato et al, 2007). This absorption disappeared almost completely within 4.5 h, thus indicating the closure of the POSS cage promoted by the reaction of the partially condensed POSS and the metal precursor.…”

“…Chemical warfare agents, CWAs are typically classified according to their physiopathological effects on organisms (Guidotti & Trifirò, 2015). Among these toxic chemicals, it is possible to recall widely known blistering agents, such as sulfur mustard or yperite (bis-(2-chloroethyl)sulfide) and lewisite (2-chloroethenylarsonous dichloride), as well as the neurotoxic agents sarin (propan-2-yl methylphosphonofluoridate) and soman (3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl methylphosphonofluoridate) (McCauley, 2015;Szinicz, 2005).…”

Porphyrins in troubled times: a spotlight on porphyrins and their metal complexes for explosives testing and CBRN defense

“…As an infamous class of neurotoxic and pesticidal agents, organophosphates and derivatives, 191 e.g., sarin 17, and VX 18 pose a significant threat as CWAs 192 and environmental toxins. On the other hand, vesicants, including mustard gas 19/sulfur mustards and nitrogen mustards, are cytotoxic and cause the formation of harmful blisters on exposed skin and in the lungs (Fig.…”