Posted on 08/30/2007 9:26:05 AM PDT by farlander
Edited on 08/30/2007 9:46:09 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
United Nations weapons inspectors discovered six to eight vials of a dangerous nerve gas, phosgene, as they were cleaning out offices at a U.N. building in New York this morning, federal authorities tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
The federal authorities said the office, in a U.N. building near headquarters, was being evacuated and the White House had been notified at 10 a.m.
New York police and fire officials reported to the scene around 12:15 this afternoon.
A U.N. spokesperson said a statement would be issued shortly.
Authorities said the phosgene was believed to have been discovered in Iraq and manufactured prior to 1991.
Former U.N. weapons inspectors told ABCNews.com that vials of phosgene had also been used by inspectors in Iraq to help calibrate air sampling instruments.
Thank you. I thought that this was a BS claim - phosgene was a weapon in WW1, and it took the Germans until WW2 to invent (and use, on Jews and others) nerve gasses like Sarin.
I looked this up on Wikipedia in about 5 seconds - but I guess that my expectations are a bit too high that ABC or any other media outlet would actually get their facts right.
Reading up a bit on what it takes to produce mustard gas, I find no reference to combining pool acid (normally hydrochloric acid) and pool chlorine (normally a solid compound of chlorine).
It would, most likely, "just" release chlorine gas, which was also used as a chemical weapon in The Great War, and thus also undesirable.
btt
Mixing pool chlorine and acid will yield chlorine gas, not mustard. Mustard and phosgene are entirely different compounds. At room temperature, mustard is a liquid, phosgene is a vapor.
Related:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1639673/posts
U.N. “Disarming” Iraq from WMD while allowing them WMD???
Phosgene is on the list of Chemicals that was allowed by the UN to be imported by Saddam regime and these chemicals can be used for manufacturing Chemical Weapons.
Impossible. There are no Iraqi WMD. /s
Time for the US to kick the UN out now since we don’t know what other chemicals they have stored in there from Iraq and just a tiny bit of some agents can kill hundreds of people.
Didn’t Hans Brix die in the shark tank?
Gas chambers usually use hydrogen cyanide, which screws up the ability of cells to metabolize. Phosgene causes physical damage to the lungs so the victim suffocates.
(I'm probably going to end up on some Homeland Security list for this. My knowlege comes from reading a long article on chemical warfare in a wargaming magazine plus quick use of the web. Honest.)
Ha! Those wacky pranskters. Just fun loving kids, those weapons inspectors.
/bitter sarcasm
Phosgene is NOT a nerve gas. It's a slower acting poison that destroys the lungs
They are CLUELESS as to what WMD are.
“Nerve Gas Scare at U.N. Headquarters”
who’s scared?
Interesting.......
From the CDC website:
What phosgene is
Phosgene is a major industrial chemical used to make plastics and pesticides.
At room temperature (70°F), phosgene is a poisonous gas.
With cooling and pressure, phosgene gas can be converted into a liquid so that it can be shipped and stored. When liquid phosgene is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close to the ground and spreads rapidly.
Phosgene gas may appear colorless or as a white to pale yellow cloud. At low concentrations, it has a pleasant odor of newly mown hay or green corn, but its odor may not be noticed by all people exposed. At high concentrations, the odor may be strong and unpleasant.
Phosgene itself is nonflammable (not easily ignited and burned).
Phosgene is also known by its military designation, “CG.”
Where phosgene is found and how it is used
Phosgene was used extensively during World War I as a choking (pulmonary) agent. Among the chemicals used in the war, phosgene was responsible for the large majority of deaths.
Phosgene is not found naturally in the environment.
Phosgene is used in industry to produce many other chemicals such as pesticides.
Phosgene can be formed when chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds are exposed to high temperatures. Chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds are substances sometimes used or created in industry that contain the elements chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon.
The vapors of chlorinated solvents exposed to high temperatures have been known to produce phosgene.
Chlorinated solvents are chlorine-containing chemicals that are typically used in industrial processes to dissolve or clean other materials, such as in paint stripping, metal cleaning, and dry cleaning.
Phosgene gas is heavier than air, so it would be more likely found in low-lying areas.
How people are exposed to phosgene
People’s risk for exposure depends on how close they are to the place where the phosgene was released.
If phosgene gas is released into the air, people may be exposed through skin contact or eye contact. They may also be exposed by breathing air that contains phosgene.
If phosgene liquid is released into water, people may be exposed by touching or drinking water that contains phosgene.
If phosgene liquid comes into contact with food, people may be exposed by eating the contaminated food.
How phosgene works
Poisoning caused by phosgene depends on the amount of phosgene to which a person is exposed, the route of exposure, and the length of time that a person is exposed.
Phosgene gas and liquid are irritants that can damage the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
Immediate signs and symptoms of phosgene exposure
During or immediately after exposure to dangerous concentrations of phosgene, the following signs and symptoms may develop:
Coughing
Burning sensation in the throat and eyes
Watery eyes
Blurred vision
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting
Skin contact can result in lesions similar to those from frostbite or burns
Following exposure to high concentrations of phosgene, a person may develop fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) within 2 to 6 hours.
Exposure to phosgene may cause delayed effects that may not be apparent for up to 48 hours after exposure, even if the person feels better or appears well following removal from exposure. Therefore, people who have been exposed to phosgene should be monitored for 48 hours afterward.
Delayed effects that can appear for up to 48 hours include the following:
Difficulty breathing
Coughing up white to pink-tinged fluid (a sign of pulmonary edema)
Low blood pressure
Heart failure
Showing these signs or symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to phosgene.
What the long-term health effects are
Most people who recover after an exposure to phosgene make a complete recovery. However, chronic bronchitis and emphysema have been reported as a result of phosgene exposure.
How people can protect themselves and what they should do if they are exposed to phosgene
Leave the area where the phosgene was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing the possibility of death from exposure to phosgene.
If the phosgene release was outdoors, move away from the area where the phosgene was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because phosgene is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
If the phosgene release was indoors, get out of the building.
If you think you may have been exposed, remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
Removing and disposing of clothing:
Quickly take off clothing that has liquid phosgene on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
If you placed your clothes in plastic bags, inform either the local or state health department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags.
If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
Washing the body:
As quickly as possible, wash your entire body with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
If you have ingested (swallowed) phosgene, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
How phosgene exposure is treated
Treatment for phosgene exposure consists of removing phosgene from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care in a hospital setting. No antidote exists for phosgene. Exposed people should be observed for up to 48 hours, because it may take that long for symptoms to develop or reoccur.
How people can get more information about phosgene
People can contact one of the following:
Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Response Hotline (CDC)
800-CDC-INFO
888-232-6348 (TTY)
E-mail inquiries: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0504.html)
Supposedly mustard gas is synthesized from ethelyene glycol and dry hydrogen chloride, but you won’t get it from pool chemicals - Chlorine maybe. That would be bad enough.
MSNBC just said it was from ‘96 and according to a Russian Chemical Expert (LOL) it posed no risk.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.