Chemical Weapons
Chemical weapons are built to use the "toxic properties of chemical[s]" against an enemy. Based on the type of chemical(s) used, such weapons may cause skin blistering, choking or nerve damage, or they may affect blood function.1 2
Fast Facts
- Can be traced back to the third century B.C2
- Modern chemical weapons developed around World War I1
- Chemicals used as weapons: Approximately 702
- Can be in liquid, solid or gas forms2
Chemical Weapons Background
The use of chemical weapons dates back to the third century B.C, but modern chemical weapons were first used during World War I.2 In 1925, the Geneva Protocol was introduced, which bans the use of chemical weapons.1 The Chemical Weapons Convention was developed in 1997 and prohibits the production, storage and transfer of chemical weapons. As of 2006, the Chemical Weapons Convention has been ratified by 179 countries.3
Examples of Chemical Weapons
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