Devices that use different chemicals, such as chlorine, to harm people are called chemical weapons (UN, 2020). Chemical weapons were used during different wars such as World War One and the Cold War. However, in 1925, they carried out the Geneva Protocol, this is because they were considered wrong and caused unnecessary pain to the survivors of each side. Even though the weapons were banned, there have been cases where Russia is still using them (NTI, 2020). As an example, they have very recently used a nerve agent against former spies. Nerve agents are used to prevent the victim from being able to control their body and the way it moves. (BBC, 2020)
One example of a nerve agent is Novichok. It can come in three forms, a liquid, a fine powder or a gas (CI, 2020) – all three can be used but it is dependent on the situation, for example in a recent case, it was used as a liquid in a perfume bottle. There are three types of Novichok, these are A230, A232 and A234. A230’s (N-(1-(diethylamino)ethylidene)-P-methylphosphonamidic fluoride) chemical formula is thought to be C7H16FN2OP. It is a carboxamidine in which hydrogen has been replaced by a toxic nerve agent (PubChem, 2020). The actual chemical structure of Novichok remains unknown – it was produced by Russia meaning that they can control who knows about it; only a few potential structures are known that were exposed by Vil Mirzayanov, a Russian chemical scientist (CI, 2020).
Normally, to move, your sensory neurons release a chemical into your muscles. As this happens, an enzyme is also released into your muscles which breaks down the chemical allowing you to control your movement. Novichok works by binding to the enzyme, preventing the breakdown of the chemical (BBC, 2020). Overall, this prevents you from being able to control your movement leading to paralysis. Paralysis occurs rapidly (BBC, 2020) – this makes it harder for the person to talk and let people know which stops them from getting to the hospital in time. The symptoms of Novichok are, contraction of pupils; excessive volumes of liquids e.g. mucus, tears, saliva and sweat; nausea and vomiting; chest tightness; spasms and loss of bowel control; and in the worst case, it can even lead to a coma and eventual death if not treated immediately and correctly (PubChem, 2020). Usually Novichok is treated with atropine or pralidoxime which, similarly to the enzyme, break down the movement chemical (Drugs.com, 2020).
Recent use of Novichok against a former Russian military officer Sergei Skripal caused a huge political argument between multiple countries (mainly the UK and Russia). As soon as the UK were aware that it was a nerve agent attack, they immediately blamed Russia and quickly punished by the expulsion of 23 diplomats. As well as this many other countries and organisations investigated the attack; eventually concluding that Russia was behind it leading to the expulsion of 150 diplomats. According to the BBC, it was “the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history” (May, 2018).
In conclusion, Novichok is a very dangerous chemical weapon that is sadly still being used today by Russia, it is probably used because it works fast (from minutes to even seconds) so the person doesn’t have long to get to a hospital by the time they notice their symptoms. It can also be used in different forms making it easy to hide from the victim(s). For example, in the Sergei Skripal case, it was concealed inside a perfume bottle making it completely undetectable to the eye. The fact that it was originally produced by Russia allows them to keep as much information about it confidential which is why the actual structure is still unknown. Overall, evidence suggests that Russia still uses chemical weapons; generally at the moment only for assassinations.
References
United Nations, 2020., UN, viewed 13th April 2020, <https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/chemical/>
Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2014, NTI, viewed 13th April 2020, <https://media.nti.org/pdfs/russia_chemical_table1.pdf>
Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2020, NTI, viewed 13th April 2020, <https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/russia/chemical/>
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 2018, RFERL, viewed 13th April 2020,
Carnegie Council, 2020, CC, viewed 13th April 2020, <https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/articles_papers_reports/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-chemical-weapons>
Deutsche Welle, 2020, DW, viewed 13th April 2020, <https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-cold-war-chemical-weapons-military-planned-to-stockpile-arsenal-in-1960s/a-43609555>
Live Science, 2013, viewed 21st April 2020, <https://www.livescience.com/39248-what-is-mustard-gas.html>
The Guardian, 2018, viewed 21st April 2020, <https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/07/what-do-nerve-agents-do-and-how-hard-are-they-to-make-sergei-skripal>
National Centre for Biotechnology Information, 2018, NCIB, viewed 21st April 2020, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30003185>
Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020, Chemistry World, viewed 21st April 2020, <https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/novichok-poisoning-breakthrough-as-original-container-found/3009269.article>
Reuters, 2020, viewed 22nd April 2020, <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-novichok-idUSKCN1L91CY>
Compound Interest, 2020, CI, viewed 28th April 2020, <https://www.compoundchem.com/>
May P., 2018, viewed 28th April 2020, <http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/novichok/novichokh.htm>
Drugs.com, 2020, viewed 28th April 2020, <https://www.drugs.com/ppa/atropine-and-pralidoxime.html>
PubChem, 2020, viewed 28th April 2020, <https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/132472359#section=NORMAN-Suspect-List-Exchange-Classification>
BBC, 2020, Viewed 28th April 2020, <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44778697>
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