GeekWithGun
New member
Chemical Biological Attack - Yikes. Not that it wasn't expected or anything, but it is shocking to hear that the suspected terrorists who had a hand in the Sept. 11th crashes were looking into crop dusters. Crop dusters don't make big boom-booms when they collide with buildings so the logical view of it is that they intended to release chemical or biological agents into populated areas. Lets look at some of the possible weapons they might have and still may use on us.
Chemical -
VX
What is it? VX, considered one of the most lethal chemical weapons, is a colorless and odorless liquid that turns into a gas on contact with oxygen.
How it works: VX is primarily toxic through the skin, but can also prove fatal when inhaled. VX is fast-moving, virtually undetectable, and can spread through air as well as water. In its liquid state it is roughly the same density as water. It blocks the transmission of impulses along the central nervous system, causing convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and death.
Lethal amount: 10 mg (just a drop)
Symptoms: Increased salivation, coughing, runny nose, headache and nausea. :barf:
Prevention: Gas mask, protective clothing
MUSTARD GAS
What is it? Mustard gas is in its pure state a colorless, odorless liquid, but when mixed with other chemicals, it looks brown and has a garlic-like smell.
How it works: Inhaling the vapors causes painful, long-lasting blisters all over the body.
Symptoms: Itchy skin, watery eyes and burning sensation in lungs. The long-term effects on an individual may include chronic lung impairment, chest pain and cancer of the mouth, throat, respiratory tract, and skin. It has been linked to causing leukemia and birth defects.
Prevention: Gas mask
SARIN
What is it? Sarin is a highly toxic gas which attacks the central nervous system.
How it works: It is chiefly absorbed through the respiratory tract; can be absorbed through the skin at higher environmental temperatures. Depending upon concentration of Sarin, toxicity can occur within minutes.
Lethal amount: 100 milligrams
Symptoms: In low levels, it causes severe headaches, increased salivation and constrict air passages to the lungs. In higher doses, it causes coughing, increased perspiration, nausea, :barf: vomiting, diarrhea and breathing difficulties. Death can follow due to suffocation.
Biological -
ANTHRAX
What is it? Bacteria with spore-forming rods; likes to live in the soil
How it works: Humans become infected by coming into contact with spores, either by touch or inhalation. The spore then produces a toxin that can be fatal. The incubation period for inhalational anthrax is 1-6 days.
Lethal amount: One billionth of a gram (the size of a speck of dust)
How long can it survive? Tends to degrade rapidly in sunlight; if kept in the right environmental conditions, anthrax can survive for years.
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, high fever, fatigue and cough. Shock and death can occur within 24-36 hours of the onset of severe symptoms.
Treatment: Antibiotics, including penicillin
Prevention: Vaccine
BOTULINUM TOXIN
What is it? Bacterium that develops only in the absence of oxygen.
How it works: By inhalation. Botulinum neurotoxins generally kill by the relatively slow onset (hours to days) of respiratory failure. The individual may not show signs of disease for 24-72 hours. The toxin blocks biochemical action in the nerves that activate the muscles necessary for respiration, causing suffocation.
Lethal amount: One billionth of a gram
How long can it survive? Relatively short life after it's released
Symptoms: Dizziness, dry throat, blurred vision.
Treatment: Anti-toxins can be injected soon after exposure to a lethal dose of toxin
Prevention: Gas mask, protective clothing
Chemical -
VX
What is it? VX, considered one of the most lethal chemical weapons, is a colorless and odorless liquid that turns into a gas on contact with oxygen.
How it works: VX is primarily toxic through the skin, but can also prove fatal when inhaled. VX is fast-moving, virtually undetectable, and can spread through air as well as water. In its liquid state it is roughly the same density as water. It blocks the transmission of impulses along the central nervous system, causing convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and death.
Lethal amount: 10 mg (just a drop)
Symptoms: Increased salivation, coughing, runny nose, headache and nausea. :barf:
Prevention: Gas mask, protective clothing
MUSTARD GAS
What is it? Mustard gas is in its pure state a colorless, odorless liquid, but when mixed with other chemicals, it looks brown and has a garlic-like smell.
How it works: Inhaling the vapors causes painful, long-lasting blisters all over the body.
Symptoms: Itchy skin, watery eyes and burning sensation in lungs. The long-term effects on an individual may include chronic lung impairment, chest pain and cancer of the mouth, throat, respiratory tract, and skin. It has been linked to causing leukemia and birth defects.
Prevention: Gas mask
SARIN
What is it? Sarin is a highly toxic gas which attacks the central nervous system.
How it works: It is chiefly absorbed through the respiratory tract; can be absorbed through the skin at higher environmental temperatures. Depending upon concentration of Sarin, toxicity can occur within minutes.
Lethal amount: 100 milligrams
Symptoms: In low levels, it causes severe headaches, increased salivation and constrict air passages to the lungs. In higher doses, it causes coughing, increased perspiration, nausea, :barf: vomiting, diarrhea and breathing difficulties. Death can follow due to suffocation.
Biological -
ANTHRAX
What is it? Bacteria with spore-forming rods; likes to live in the soil
How it works: Humans become infected by coming into contact with spores, either by touch or inhalation. The spore then produces a toxin that can be fatal. The incubation period for inhalational anthrax is 1-6 days.
Lethal amount: One billionth of a gram (the size of a speck of dust)
How long can it survive? Tends to degrade rapidly in sunlight; if kept in the right environmental conditions, anthrax can survive for years.
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, high fever, fatigue and cough. Shock and death can occur within 24-36 hours of the onset of severe symptoms.
Treatment: Antibiotics, including penicillin
Prevention: Vaccine
BOTULINUM TOXIN
What is it? Bacterium that develops only in the absence of oxygen.
How it works: By inhalation. Botulinum neurotoxins generally kill by the relatively slow onset (hours to days) of respiratory failure. The individual may not show signs of disease for 24-72 hours. The toxin blocks biochemical action in the nerves that activate the muscles necessary for respiration, causing suffocation.
Lethal amount: One billionth of a gram
How long can it survive? Relatively short life after it's released
Symptoms: Dizziness, dry throat, blurred vision.
Treatment: Anti-toxins can be injected soon after exposure to a lethal dose of toxin
Prevention: Gas mask, protective clothing
