Chemical warfare agents history

As explained in Chapter 1, the toxicity of natural xenobiotics has exerted a selection pressure upon living organisms since very early in evolutionary history. There is abundant evidence of compounds produced by plants and animals that are toxic to species other than their own and which are nsed as chemical warfare agents (Chapter 1). Also, as we have seen, wild animals can develop resistance mechanisms to the toxic componnds prodnced by plants. In Anstralia, for example, some marsupials have developed resistance to natnrally occnrring toxins produced by the plants upon which they feed (see Chapter 1, Section 1.2.2). 

History and Background Information Lewisite (also known as Agent L) is no longer considered a state-of-the-art chemical warfare agent (Franke, 1967 Goldman and Dacre, 1989). Lewisite is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce (Franke, 1967). 

Salem, H., Temay, A.L., Jr., Smart, J.K. (2008). Brief history and use of chemical warfare agents in warfare and terrorism. In Chemical Warfare Agents Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics (Romano, J.A., Jr., Lukey, B.J., Salem, H., eds), pp. 1-20. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 

Badawi, A.F.M., Hassan, A.H.B. (1995). Carbamates as chemical warfare agents a history review of toxicides and stmctures. ASA Newsletter 95-6(51) 10-11. 

Arsenic has a long history as a poison. Its applications include (or have included) antimicrobials, herbicides, insecticides and rodenticides (and homicides). Arsenicals (as well as antimony and bismuth compounds) have been used clinically in protozoal, venereal and neoplastic diseases. In World War I, arsenicals were used as chemical warfare agents (see References 1-21 and references cited therein). 

Sidell, F. R. (1996). A history of human studies with nerve agents by the UK and US A. In T. C. Marrs, R. L. Maynard, F. R. Sidell (Eds.), Chemical warfare agents Toxicology and treatment (pp. 115-137). Chichester, England Wiley. 

I Brief History and Use of Chemical Warfare Agents in Warfare and Terrorism... 

Lacrimatory and irritant compounds, with a history dating from World War I, have been used in riot-control and civil disturbances, military exercises and training, and as chemical warfare agents. A listing of these chemicals and their use application is... 

Fanaticism shown by Iranian Revolutionary Guard units may have precipitated Iraqi use of chemical warfare agents at the end of 1983. Throughout the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq generally used chemical weapons only when facing probable defeat with conventional weapons.39 History suggests... 

Black, R.M. (2010) History and perspectives of bioana-lytical methods for chemical warfare agent detection. Journal of Chromatography B, 878,1207-1215. 

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