Chemical Weapons Convention target chemicals

Statement by the Russian Federation at the First Session of the Conference to Review the Functioning of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The 1 per cent destruction represents the target for the first intermediate destruction deadline, which, according to Part IV(A) of the CWC s Verification Annex, should have been met three years after entry into force. Russia was granted an extension to this deadline by the Executive Council in 2000. 

Cholinesterases (ChE) are well-known targets for organophosphates (OPs), and RVX is no exception. Much less information is available about other enzymes that could be primary targets upon exposure to low doses of OP, and on biochemical markers of possible delayed effects of OP intoxication when the level of ChE activities is the same as the control. However, this problem is very important due to various reasons, among which is fulfillment of chemical weapon agents (CWAs) nonproliferation conventional programs and inherent possibility of accidental exposure of... 

Outside of military conflicts, exposure to sulfur mustard has occurred or may occur in work environments associated with chemical weapon materiel (e.g. storage depots, demilitarization facilities, research laboratories), during emergency response operations or remediation and decontamination activities, or during treaty verification activities in support of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Chemical weapons such as the vesicants are stiU considered potential military threats and terrorist targets. The most likely route of exposure to sulfur mustard is via aerosol/vapor exposure of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. 

It is not difficult to identify elements of our individual lifestyles as well as within our society at large that could be exploited, making us vulnerable to terrorist attack, whether with conventional weapons such as explosives or with biological or chemical weapons. Vulnerabilities do not necessarily indicate a threat, but for a threat to be viable it must exploit an existing vulnerability of the intended target. Falkenrath and others (2001) define vulnerability as a situation of being open to harm, while a threat is the known or suspected presence of an entity with the ability, will, and motive to inflict harm. 

Use of chemical weapons in an otherwise conventional warfare scenario will result in significant impact on the medical capability to treat and handle casualties. Many medical facilities might be located near chemical target areas and may be subject to contamination. 

It is arguable that the effectiveness of conventional munitions is such that the Russians would have no incentive to resort to chemical weapons which are likely to invite retaliation in kind or even a nuclear response. NATO, however, views the Soviet capability as a real threat and considers its use highly plausible. The DIA states The Soviets have developed the doctrine and plans for the use of chemical weapons including the targets to be attacked, and Soviet tacticians have standardized the procedures required . 

From 18 January to 28 February 1991, 39 Iraqi-modified SCUD missiles reached Israel.4 Although many were off target or malfunctioned, some of them landed in and around Tel Aviv. Approximately 1,000 people were treated as a result of missile attacks, but only 2 died. Anxiety was listed as the reason for admitting 544 patients and atropine overdose for hospitalization of 230 patients. Clearly, these conventionally armed SCUDs were not effective mass casualty weapons, yet they caused significant disruption to the population of Tel Aviv. Approximately 75% of the casualties resulted from inappropriate actions or reactions on the part of the victims. Had one of the warheads contained a chemical or biological agent that killed or intoxicated a few people, the terror effect would have been even greater. 

Human experience with nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) warfare has been limited by comparison with conventional forms of warfare. Our experience with nuclear warfare is confined to a period of less than one week during what turned out to be the end of World War II, when the United States successfully used two nuclear weapons (then popularly called atomic bombs ) against targets in Japan. The necessity for dropping of those weapons continues to be debated, although Japan s nearly immediate decision to surrender is certain to have limited the loss of life, other injuries, and the destruction of the landscape and infrastructure that would have accompanied a military invasion by conventional arms. 

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