What is a chemical weapon?

Learn what a chemical weapon is and what it isn't, according to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The OPCW is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. With 193 Member States and a Technical Secretariat, the OPCW is responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.

What's in this video:
00:00 - Intro - What is a chemical weapon?
00:10 - Definition according to the Chemical Weapons Convention
00:16 - Toxic chemicals and precursors
00:28 - Munitions or devices designed for the release of toxic chemicals
00:43 - Equipment designed for use with munitions or devices
00:50 - Four types of chemical agents
00:58 - Choking agents
01:14 - Blister agents
01:30 - Blood agents
01:43 - Nerve agents
02:00 - Chemical weapons ban
02:22 - General purpose criterion
02:42 - Purposes not prohibited
02:59 - When chemical is considered a chemical weapon
--------------------------------
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

What is a chemical weapon?

According to the Chemical Weapons Convention, a chemical weapon is:
- Any toxic chemical that can cause death or harm to humans or animals through its chemical action on life processes.
- Any chemical precursor used to produce a toxic chemical.
- Any munitions or devices designed to inflict harm or cause death through the release of toxic chemicals. This could include mortars, artillery shells, missiles, bombs, mines or spray tanks.
- Any equipment designed to be used with munitions and devices identified as chemical weapons.

There are four types of chemical agents used in chemical weapons and each one affects the body in a different way.

Choking agents mainly inflict injury on the respiratory tract, irritating the nose, throat and especially the lungs. When inhaled, these agents cause air sacs in the lungs to secrete fluid, essentially drowning those affected.

Blister agents are oily substances that act first as an irritant and then as a cell poison on skin and when inhaled. They cause life-threatening blisters, affecting the eyes, respiratory tract and skin. Although casualties are high, deaths represent a small percentage.

Blood agents inhibit the ability of cells to use oxygen, effectively causing the body to suffocate. They generally enter the body through inhalation and are distributed via the blood.

Nerve agents affect the peripheral and central nervous system leading to hyper-stimulation of muscles, glands and other nerves. They are highly toxic with rapid effects and act primarily by absorption through the skin and lungs.

The Chemical Weapons Convention bans the development, production, stockpiling transfer and use of chemical weapons. It is a total and comprehensive ban against an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.

But what about toxic chemicals and precursors that can be used for peaceful purposes, such as in pharmaceuticals or agriculture?

The Convention defines toxic or precursor chemicals as chemical weapons depending on their intended purpose. This is called the General Purpose Criterion.

The General Purpose Criterion gives Member States the right to produce and use chemicals for peaceful purposes and to acquire and retain conventional weapons and their delivery systems.

If a toxic chemical or precursor is used for ‘purposes not prohibited by the Convention’, in other words, if it is not used to cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals, then it is not considered a chemical weapon.

However, any chemical intended for chemical weapons purposes, regardless of whether it is specifically listed in the Convention or its Annexes, including the three schedules of chemicals, is considered a chemical weapon

#OPCW
#OPCWBasics
#chemicalweapons
#chemicalweaponsconvention