Abstract: This chapter discusses the use of chemical agents in war. Chemical warfare is the use of chemical agents as a means of injuring the enemy in an armed conflict. Such agents are chemical substances, whether gaseous, liquid or solid, which might be employed because of their direct toxic effects on men, animals or plants. The use of poisonous fumes is an old means of warfare. Modern chemical weapons in various forms were used on a large scale during World War I. Since that war, there have been only a few instances of the use or alleged use of chemical weapons. Chemical weapons such as tear-gas and herbicides were used by the United States, Australia and South Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict. Most recently it has been reported that the Soviet Union used tear-gas in Afghanistan. The prohibition of the use of chemical weapons needs to be supplemented by arms control and disarmament measures.
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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