Cyclosarin+-+Caley+and+CJ

=Cyclosarin, aka Nerve Agent GF= toc media type="custom" key="6290359" width="189" height="270"

Background
Chemical warfare involves the using of toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. Together with nuclear and biological warfare, these weapons make up the three tenets of NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical), which are classified by the United Nations (UN) as weapons of mass destruction. Chemical munitions, unlike biological or nuclear arsenals do not depend upon large explosions to cause damage, but rather the properties of chemicals inside the weapon to eliminate the threat at hand. Throughout history, chemical weapons have been used as area denial weapons, direct combat munitions, and in the case of the Holocaust and the 1988 chemical attacks on the Kurdish people of Iraq by Saddam Hussein, genocidal weaponry. During World War I, German scientists were searching for a stronger and more effective insecticide to keep the mosquitoes and flies off the troops in the trenches. Simply due to accident, and as some would call it, luck, the German scientists found a much better use for the brand new insecticide they created - chemical warfare. Soon the Germans were placing these newly found chemicals in aerial bombs, artillery shells, mortar rounds and even hand grenades. Over time, specific brands of chemical weapons were discovered, with one of the most deadly of them being nerve agents. Nerve agents, also referred to as nerve gas, though these chemicals are liquid at room temperature, are a class of phosphorus-containing organic chemicals (organophospates ) that disrupt the mechanism by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by blocking acetyl-cholinesterase, an enzyme that normally relaxes the activity of acetyl-choline, a neurotransmitter. The nerve agent cyclosarin, or GF as it is called by the UN, falls underneath this category. ]]

Chemistry
At room temperature cyclosarin is a colorless liquid with a sweet musty odor. It has a very low vapor pressure so it evaporates slowly. It is also flammable with a flash point of 94 degrees celcius. cyclosarin is classified as a organophosphate nerve agent meaning that it is an organic compound containg phosphates. When Cyclosarin breaks down in the body, the chemicals coat the nerve endings in the body making it impossible to send or recieve messages from the brain. This makes it so movement and simple life functions like breathing and keeping a beating heart impossible.

Characteristics

 * Chemical Name: Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate
 * Molecular Formula: CH3PO(F)OC6H11
 * Molecular Weight: 180.14
 * Boiling Point: 239°C
 * Freezing Point: -30°

History and Deployment of Cyclosarin
First synthesized during World War II as part of Germany's chemical weapons research on organophosphate compounds after their military potential was discovered, cyclosarin was also studied later in the United States and Great Britain in the early 1950's as part of a systematic study of potential nerve agents. However, cyclosarin was never selected for mass production due to its having more expensive precursors than other G-series nerve agents such as sarin. To date Iraq is the only nation known to have manufactured significant quantities of cyclosarin for use as a chemical agent and to actually deploy it in battle. During the Iran-Iraq War (1986-1988) the Iraqis used sarin and cyclosarin together as a mixture. This was likely done to obtain a more persistent chemical agent as well as in response to an existing embargo placed on alcohol precursors for sarin.

Jonathan Tucker, author of //War of Nerves: Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda,// speaks to National Public Radio on the use and history of chemical weapons. In this he describes the need for both the destruction of these weapons of mass destruction, and the necessity of them in our modern world today. If we take away the area-denial factors that chemical weapons bring, then more inhumane area-denial weapons, such as mines, pitfalls and barbed wire will become more and more common. Cyclosarin is a chemical weapon that can be washed away by water, and therefore, overtime will dissipate in a given area. Mines and barbed wire however, will stay for much longer, causing the maiming and deaths of innocent civilians long after wars have been fought. Feel free to listen to his full interview on National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation: media type="custom" key="6290445" width="140" height="140"

Effects of Cyclosarin
Poisoning by cyclosarin leads to contraction of pupils, profuse salivation, convulsions, involuntary urination and defecation and eventual death by asphyxiation as control is lost over respiratory muscles. Cyclosarin is readily vaporized or aerosolized and the primary portal of entry into the body is the respiratory system. Cyclosarin can also be absorbed through the skin, requiring that those likely to be subjected to such agents wear a full body suit in addition to a respirator.

media type="youtube" key="ZgVKCpdzZwc" height="385" width="480" The video above shows the effects of a nerve agent on a soldier who has failed to put on a chemical protection suit and administer himself an antidote. The symptoms include running mucus and saliva, difficulty breathing, chest pains, severe muscle contractions, constricted pupils, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, involuntary urination and defecation, and eventual death by asphyxiation. With a proper antidote and chemical and biological proof suit, these symptoms are easily combated. Unfortunately for the soldier in the video however, neither of these are administered.

media type="youtube" key="U0ODgYxZP20" height="385" width="480" This video above shows the effects of nerve agent VX, on a goat. Nerve agent VX is similar to Cyclosarin in every respect other than nerve agent VX is a persistent agent, meaning that it is not easily washed away. The physical effects on an animal are however, the same. Cyclosarin, also called GF is part of the G-series of nerve agents. This family includes cyclosarin's predecessor, sarin, the cheaper and much more widely used nerve agent. Cyclosarin is very expensive to create, and that is why many countries, like the United States of America and the Russian Federation have chosen to keep their stockpiles of the weapons limited. Cyclosarin, like the nerve agent VX in the video, can be inhaled, ingested, or contacted by any part of the skin or outer extremities (the eyes as one can see in this video) and have the same powerful effect each time.

This image highlights the spinal cord, which houses the central nervous system , one of the main areas of the body that is attacked by cyclosarin, or any nerve agent. The nerve endings are covered by the nerve agent, allowing the powerful chemicals within the weapon to take their respective toll on the body without any major distractions. The control of the nerve endings by the nerve agent is also what causes the tremors and shaking of the body by those infected. Eventually the body will contract one last time, all the muscles contracting as hard as they can, when the heart of the organism plagued with cyclosarin eventually gives out, and the victim either dies of cardiac arrest or asphyxiation.

Known Antidotes
Known antidotes to cyclosarin include atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime chloride , all of which are taken with an auto injector to the body, so that the antidote can be delivered right to the bloodstream and immediately take effect. If taken in the correct amount at the right time, with the right conditions and a chemical suit on, a living person, while it may not be comfortable, can live thanks to the help of these drugs. The drugs render the nerve agent useless by covering and cleaning the nerve endings in a living being so that the nerve agent can do no immediate harm.

media type="youtube" key="JrGFAc3x7Eo" height="385" width="480" The video above shows the use of the drug Duodote, a drug that combines atropine and pralidoxime chloride to combat the effects of a nerve agent. The combination of atropine and pralidoxime chloride allows the drug to deny the nerve agent any further access to the nerve endings, and to begin to "clean" or take off the nerve agent from the affected nerves, allowing the toxins to be flushed out the body. The drugs also help counter the severe tremors and shakes that are common in a nerve gas attack.

Importance in Our World Today
Even though cyclosarin is a devastating weapon that can kill many people it is important to have today in case of an attack. Even if we ourselves don't have the weapon it is important for us to understand the affects and the antidotes in case of attack. Cyclosarin is an effective gas to use becasue it doesn't leave longterm affects such as radiation like a nuclear bomb would. If people are not prepared for a gas attack it is very deadly. It is also a way to control the enemy without putting American troops in harm. The gas can be dropped from a plane or helicopter and rigged to disperse on impact with the ground. This could greatly eliminate the number of American casualties.

Current information on NBC weapons:
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