scholarly journals Evidence of VX nerve agent use from contaminated white mustard plants

2014 ◽  
Vol 470 (2168) ◽  
pp. 20140076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Gravett ◽  
Farrha B. Hopkins ◽  
Adam J. Self ◽  
Andrew J. Webb ◽  
Christopher M. Timperley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Degradation Products ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Methylphosphonic Acid ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
White Mustard ◽  
Chemical Weapons Convention ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Polluted Sites ◽  
Ethanol Extracts

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by Member States. Verification of compliance and investigations into allegations of use require accurate detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their degradation products. Detection of CWAs such as organophosphorus nerve agents in the environment relies mainly upon the analysis of soil. We now present a method for the detection of the nerve agent VX and its hydrolysis products by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry of ethanol extracts of contaminated white mustard plants ( Sinapis alba ) which retained the compounds of interest for up to 45 days. VX is hydrolysed by the plants to ethyl methylphosphonic acid and then to methylphosphonic acid. The utility of white mustard as a nerve agent detector and remediator of nerve agent-polluted sites is discussed. The work described will help deter the employment of VX in conflict.

Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention: Mass Spectrometry of Alkyl Methylphosphonofluoridates

1994 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2065 ◽  
Author(s):  
VT Borrett ◽  
RJ Mathews ◽  
ER Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Data ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Chemical Weapons Convention ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Related Compounds

Under the provisions of the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), certain parts of chemical industry will be monitored to verify compliance with the Convention. This will include analysis of samples from industrial sites to check for the presence or absence of chemical warfare related compounds. One of the problems in screening the chemicals to be monitored under the CWC is that certain classes of chemical warfare agents are represented as families of chemicals, with many of the individual chemicals having no analytical data available. One example is the alkyl methylphosphonofluoridate family with an alkyl ester substituent from CH3 to C10H21. In this work, the mass spectra of 60 alkyl methylphosphonofluoridate family members have been studied to enable the development of rapid on-site screening methods for this family of chemicals.

Conventional analytical methods for chemical warfare agents

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2281-2291 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Hill ◽  
S. J. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Ion Mobility ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Field Verification ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Chemical Weapons Convention ◽  
Warfare Agents

Analytical methods that are currently used for the detection and identification of chemical warfare agents are reviewed and classified by the number of dimensions of information they provide. Single dimensional sensors target specific compounds or classes of compounds. Although they can be less expensive and more portable than multidimensional sensors, multidimensional sensors detect a broader threat spectrum with greater precision and accuracy. The recommendation for analytical field verification during inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is to use simple two-dimensional analytical methods, such as gas chromatography (GC) or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), for on-site screening of chemical weapons (CW) agents or to fully equip a modern, mobile analytical laboratory located in an airplane, which can be moved rapidly throughout the world to each inspection site and provide high-quality analytical data on-site.

scholarly journals Novel analytical approaches to determination of chemical warfare agents and related compounds for verification of nonproliferation of chemical weapons

2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1491-1503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor V. Rybalchenko ◽  
Igor A. Rodin ◽  
Timur M. Baygildiev ◽  
Andrey N. Stavrianidi ◽  
Arcady V. Braun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Sulfur Mustard ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Mass Spectral ◽  
Fast Screening ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Analytical Approaches

AbstractIn this paper a summary of the author’s approaches for investigation of the mass spectral behavior of some chemical warfare agents (CWAs), their degradation products and metabolites, as well as the results of development of analytical methods for confirmation of nerve and blister agents application are presented. Hydrolysis and oxidation metabolites of nerve agents, sulfur mustard and lewisite were used as biomarkers of the exposure. Sensitive analytical methods have been developed for their detection, based mainly on tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography. Several techniques for fast screening of CWAs degradation products based on capillary electrophoresis were also proposed. Some of developed approaches were successfully applied in the frame of the proficiency testing system of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Mass spectral studies of N-oxides of chemical weapons convention-related aminoethanols by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after silylation

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 442-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Sony ◽  
L Sridhar ◽  
L Sai Sachin ◽  
VVS Lakshmi ◽  
S Prabhakar
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Fragment Ions ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chemical Weapons Convention ◽  
Warfare Agents

N-Alkylaminoethanols, N,N′-dialkylaminoethanols, and triethanolamine are the hydrolyzed products or precursors of V-agents/nitrogen mustards. These compounds are prone to undergo oxidation in environmental matrices. Detection of the oxidized products provides a clue for the presence of parent amine compounds and it is an important task in the verification process of chemical weapons convention. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the technique of choice for the detection of most of the chemical warfare agents; however, it is ideal to develop gas chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques for all the possible degradation products of chemical warfare agents as well. In general, the N-oxides of amines are expected to be thermally unstable; hence, the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the N-oxides of triethanolamine, N-alkyldiethanolamines and N,N′-dialkylaminoethanols is not explored. In this study, the N-oxides of chemical weapons convention-related aminoethanols (13 compounds) were successfully silylated and then analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry under electron ionization and chemical ionization techniques. The electron ionization mass spectra showed abundant molecular ions and structure indicative fragment ions including [M-(O+CH2CH2OH)]+. The alkyl groups attached to nitrogen resulted in structure-specific fragment ions that enable differentiation of isomeric compounds. The methane/chemical ionization spectra showed considerably abundant [M+H]+ (>10%) and the expected adduct ions. The retention indices of all the compounds were calculated using Van den Dool's formula. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data together with retention index values could be used for unambiguous identification of the N-oxides of aminoethanols during off-site analysis or proficiency tests.

Central Nervous System-acting chemicals and the Chemical Weapons Convention: A former Scientific Adviser’s perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1559-1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Chemical Weapons Convention ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Constructive Discussion ◽  
Riot Control

AbstractThe term Incapacitating Chemical Agents (or Incapacitants) was chosen to describe different classes of chemical warfare agents that were being developed in the 1950s. This article considers some of the types of chemicals and their properties that have been discussed more recently under the terminology of Incapacitating Chemical Agents, including opioids of the fentanyl class, and how these psychochemicals are relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This article argues that the term Incapacitating Chemical Agents is inaccurate and misleading and will be a potential cause of confusion when Member States of the Chemical Weapons Convention are discussing the types of toxic chemicals which are permitted for use for various law enforcement purposes including domestic riot control. This article then argues that the term Central Nervous System-acting chemicals is a more accurate and appropriate description of psychochemicals such as the fentanyls, and use of this term will hopefully facilitate a more constructive discussion within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In other words, it is important to ‘get the science clearly understood first’, to enable a more constructive discussion by policy-makers, lawyers and military experts.

Mass spectrometric study of selected precursors and degradation products of chemical warfare agents

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1550-1561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbora Papoušková ◽  
Petr Bednář ◽  
Iveta Fryšová ◽  
Jakub Stýskala ◽  
Jan Hlaváč ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Degradation Products ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Mass Spectrometric Study ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Mass Spectrometric ◽  
Spectrometric Study ◽  
Warfare Agents

Detecting explosives and chemical weapons: a review of recent developments

Sensor Review ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Electrochemical Techniques ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Optical Methods ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Warfare Agents

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in sensors for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this paper first discusses a selection of new sensing techniques aimed at detecting explosives and explosive devices. It then considers new developments in sensors for detecting chemical warfare agents. Brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings – This paper shows that a diversity of sensor technologies is being investigated, including various advanced optical methods, nanomaterials, microelectromechanical system, electronic noses, biosensors and electrochemical techniques, several of which offer levels of sensitivity in the parts-per-trillion region. These not only have the potential to yield improved devices for detecting explosives and chemical weapons but may also play a role in health care, environmental monitoring, drug detection and industrial health and safety. Originality/value – In an era of escalating terrorism and military conflicts, this provides a timely review of new technologies for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.

Analysis of degradation products of chemical warfare agents using capillary electrophoresis

The Analyst ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 136 (20) ◽  
pp. 4103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana S. Aleksenko ◽  
Pierre Gareil ◽  
Andrei R. Timerbaev
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Electrophoresis ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Warfare Agents

scholarly journals The Identification of Seven Chemical Warfare Mimics Using a Colorimetric Array

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 4291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kangas ◽  
Adreanna Ernest ◽  
Rachel Lukowicz ◽  
Andres Mora ◽  
Anais Quossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Colorimetric Detection ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Methylphosphonic Acid ◽  
Mustard Gas ◽  
Sensor Performance ◽  
Warfare Agents

Chemical warfare agents pose significant threats in the 21st century, especially for armed forces. A colorimetric detection array was developed to identify warfare mimics, including mustard gas and nerve agents. In total, 188 sensors were screened to determine the best sensor performance, in order to identify warfare mimics 2-chloro ethyl ethylsulfide, 2-2′-thiodiethanol, trifluoroacetic acid, methylphosphonic acid, dimethylphosphite, diethylcyanophosphonate, and diethyl (methylthiomethyl)phosphonate. The highest loadings in the principle component analysis (PCA) plots were used to identify the sensors that were most effective in analyzing the RGB data to classify the warfare mimics. The dataset was reduced to only twelve sensors, and PCA results gave comparable results as the large data did, demonstrating that only twelve sensors are needed to classify the warfare mimics.

Dispersion of Passive Tracers in the Baltic Sea Deep Water as Applied to Dumped Chemical Weapons

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Zhurbas ◽  
Vadim Paka
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Dump Site ◽  
Continuous Release ◽  
Sediment Redistribution ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Passive Tracers ◽  
The Baltic

AbstractResults of modeling of the migration of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their decay products from the initial chemical weapons dump site are presented. The aim was to find idealized sediment redistribution schemes in deep basins of the Baltic Sea corresponding to different wind conditions and to model the concentration of dissolved CWA in a continuous release scenario in the Bornholm dump site corresponding to real wind statistics.

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