chemical, radiological and nuclear weapons

Chemical, Radiological and Nuclear Weapons

Session 8 Pre-recorded

YSU – Weapons of Mass Destruction Course

This Session

• Chemical Weapons– Action on the Body– Comparison of Chemical Properties– Method of Treatment

• Radioactivity– What is it?– Types of radiation

This Session

• Radiological Dispersion Devices– How explosives work– Why radiological devices are a problem

• Nuclear Weapons– How they work– Practicality

Keep In Mind

• Chemical Differences in Agent– In standard conditions

• The Difficulty in Dissemination• How They Affect People• The Purpose of the Agent

Dissemination

• Aerosolized

• Pressurized Cylinder

• Heavy Spray

• Liquid Evaporative

• Surfaces and Foods

Group Name - Vesicants

• Mustard (H)

• Lewisite (L)

• Dichloroarsine (PD)

• Nitrogen Mustards (HN)

Latin vesica meaning bladder or vessel that holds liquid.

S, As and N-based blister agents.

Military classes C07, 08 and 09

Mustard

• C4-H8-C12-S• M.W. 159.08• Colorless to Yellow Oily Liquid• Garlic Odor• BP – 215C MP – 13C• High lipid solubility/low water .68mg/L• Vapor Density = 5.4• Vapor Pressure = 0.11 mm Hg

Action on The Body

• Some have chemotheraputic use

• Damage DNA (similar to radiation)

• Prevent cell division

• Edema of lungs, skin blisters

• Pain and swelling of mucosa

• 1-12 hrs for effect preceded by red skin

• Death from asphyxiation??

Vesicants – Typical Treatment

• Remove clothes – light bleach decon

• Arsenicals will decon in water

• Pain Management

• Intubation may be required

• No antidotes except British anti-Lewisite

Group Name – Nerve Agents

• Soman (GD)

• Tabun (GA)

• Sarin (GB)

• VX

• VX2

Similar to Nitrogen-Phosphorous Pesticides

Military agents C-01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06

VX

• Less than 1 drop of VX will cause death

• Persistent in soil for 2-6 days

VX

• C11-H26-N-O2-P-S

• MW – 267.37

• Odorless/Colorless to straw color

• BP – 298C MP – -51C• High lipid solubility/soluble in cool water 30 g/L

• Vapor Density = 9.2

• Vapor Pressure = 0.0007 mm Hg

Nerve Agents – Action on the Body

• Inhibition of cholinesterase• Pinpoint pupils• Profuse runny nose, sweating, nausea• Urination/defecation• Convulsions progress to paralysis• Vapors may cause chest discomforts• Pulmonary edema• Cessation of breathing from edema or

exhaustion/CA

Nerve Agents – Typical Treatment

• Atropine and 2 PAM Chloride may aid in airway restrictions and profuse fluids

• Diazepam anti-convulsant

• Remove clothing

• Decon with soap and water

• Decon with mild hypochlorite

Group Name - Asphyxiants

• Chloropicrin

• Chlorine

• Diphosgene

• Phosgene

Also called choking agents.

Military agents C14 and 15

Chlorine

• Cl2

• MW – 70.906

• Yellow Green-noxious odor gas

• BP – -34.04C MP – -105C

• Corrosive to plastics and rubber

• Vapor Density = 2.5

• Vapor Pressure = 5830 mm Hg

Asphyxiants – Action on the Body

• Displacement of oxygen

• At 1-3 ppm mild irritation of lungs

• At 30 ppm chest pain, cough, dyspnea

• At 40 ppm pneumonitis, edema

• At 430 ppm lethal over 30 minutes

• At 1000 ppm lethal in a few minutes

Asphyxiants – Typical Treatment

• ABCs (Airway, breathing, circulation)

• Oxygen therapy

• Halogens may produce chemical burns

• Flush skin with cool water

• Bandages may stick to skin

• Decon with water if necessary but most have high V.P.

Group Name – Blood Agents

• Arsine gas

• Cyanogen chloride

• Hydrogen cyanide

Military Classes C-12 and 13

May be Arsenic or Cyanide-based

Hydrogen Cyanide

• C-H-N• MW – 27.03• Sweet to bitter almond-like. May be

colorless to lt. blue liquid, gas above 78F• BP – 25C MP – -13.4C• Solubility 1,000,000 mg/L• Vapor Density = 0.94• Vapor Pressure = 742 mm Hg

Blood Agents – Action on the Body

• Inhibit the binding of oxygen or CO2/O2 exchange

• Palpitation cyanosis, dyspnea• Low doses may produce symptoms over

an hour• Anxiety, confusion, vertigo, numbness,

salivation, rapid, then slow irregular respiration, vomiting, giddiness

• BP rise, HR lower, Pink Skin (in some)

Blood Agents – Typical Treatment

• If arsenical agent a light vinegar solution may be used for decon otherwise water (but many have high V.P.)

• Remove from scene + O2 therapy

• Blood transfusion may be necessary

Group Name - Urticants

• Agent CX

• Phosgene Oxime

• T-2 Mycotoxin

Military class C-11

T-2 toxin is also classified as C-23 dermal biotoxin

From Latin urtica which is a stinging nettle plant.

Latin urticare means itching or stinging.

Trichothecene (T-2)

• C24-H34-O9

• MW – 466.53

• MP – 150C

• White crystalline solid

• Solubility - most common solvent

Urticants – Action on Body

• Airborne – pulmonary hemorrhage

• Ingest – hempoietic difficulties

• DNA damage, protein synthesis inhibitor

• Extreme itching to excruciating dermal pain

• Ocular pain, gastrointestinal bleeding

• Hypotension

Urticants – Typical Treatment

• Remove clothing

• Irrigate eyes and skin with water

• Decon with soap and water

• Move to fresh air

• Inhaled bronchiodialator

• Dopamine or norepi for hypotension

• Platelets or plasma may be necessary

Group Name - RCAs

• Bromobenzylcyanide

• Chloroacetophenone

• Pepper Spray

• Agent OC

Military classes C-17, 18 and 19. Class C-16 are incapacitating agents that may be RCAs as well

Chloroacetophenone

• C8-H7-Cl-O

• MW – 154.6

• Colorless to white crystalline solid

• BP – 244C MP – 58C

• Solubility: insol. in water – sol. in alcohol

• Vapor Density = 5.32

• Vapor Pressure = .0054 mm Hg

What is Radioactivity?

• Elements have atomic mass numbers

• Mass is the number (weight) of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus

• Some elements can have different forms– Uranium 233, 235, 238 all have 92 protons

Atom

Protons

+ Neutrons

= AM Number

92 Protons + 146 Neutrons = Uranium 238

Radioactivity

• Most elements are very stable

• Radioactive elements want to change

• They can lose parts of themselves spontaneously. This is called decay.– Alpha particles– Beta particles– Gamma rays

Decay Products

• Alpha Particle– Helium 4 nucleus is given off– High energy– Cannot penetrate a sheet of paper– Will travel up to 10 cm– Can be carried into the air– Ionizing

Decay Products

• Beta Particle– High speed electron– Ionizing– Can penetrate human skin, wood,

clothes– Emits x-rays as it slows– Travels up to 9 meters– Can cause skin burns

Decay Products

• Gamma Rays– Very high energy– Short wavelength– Travels at speed of light– Penetrates steel– Not particles - photons

Concern with Radiation

Some radioactive elements have a very long half-life. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for the element to become half as radioactive as it was at the starting point. This can be days to thousands of years depending on the element.

Radiological Dispersion Device

• Dirty Bomb

• Traditional explosive device core

• Radioactive elemental inner shell

• Intended to scatter debris and particles

Waste nuclear material can come from chem labs, from old equipment, RIA clinical procedures, nuclear medicine waste and power plant rods.

Health Effects

• Cell damage

• Chromosomal changes

• Free ions destroy tissue

• Damage bone marrow and lymphatics

• Immune changes

TIME DISTANCE SHIELDING

Standard Explosive Devices

• Exothermic Process– Add NaOH to Water– Burn Gasoline

• Endothermic Process– Ice Melting

Explosive Process

• Chemicals are elements + bonds

• Certain combinations store high energy

• Trinitrotoluene, Ammonium picrate

• Primary Explosive (detonator)– Very sensitive to heat, shock, spark etc.

• Secondary Charge– Packs punch

• Main Charge

Nuclear Reaction

• Fission Device– If you can split the nucleus of a radioactive

element, you can release very high energy– Weapons and powerplants– Bombardment of neutrons– When a nucleus is struck it gives off avg. of

2.4 neutrons.– If atoms are not compact, the reaction will not

continue

Nuclear Reaction

• If the mass is more dense the fission can become a chain reaction because the free neutrons can strike more nuclei

• The amount of an element necessary to carry on this chain is called critical mass.

• For a weapon, a supercritical mass is used producing a devastating chain reaction and an enormous exothermic reaction.

Our Fortune

• Nature only allows us to accomplish this with a few radioactive materials.

• It is difficult to refine these elements into weapons-grade material

• 100 pounds of element will probably yield less than a few ounces of weapons-grade element.

Up and Coming

• Special exercise Monday and Wednesday

• Simulated incident

• Mod. 3 papers due on March 1 at 11PM

• Please turn in your short answer question before 11:00 PM on Friday.