See also: Mustard

The mustard gas is a chemical Composé which was particularly used like Chemical weapon during the First World War.

In its pure form and with Room temperature, it is a Liquide viscous colorless and without odor which causes blisters on the Peau. It also attacks the eyes and the Poumons.
Son name comes from the impure shape of the mustard gas whose odor resembled that of the mustard, of garlic or horseradish. Sometimes it is also named yperite (derivative of the name of the town of Ypres (Ieper) in Belgium where it for the first time was used with the combat on July 11th, 1917, mustard with sulfur, Kampfstoff LOST, or gas LOST. It can be Létal but its first function is to be very strongly stun.

Origin

Its first known synthesis goes up with 1860 and was carried out by Frederick Guthrie, but it is possible that its first developments go up with César Despretz in the neighborhoods of 1822.

V. Meyer published an article in 1886 explaining a synthesis producing a good output.

The German abbreviation LOST comes from the combination of the names of LO mel and ST einkopf which developed a process of mass production for the military use whereas they worked for the German company Bayer AG.

In urgency, the allies discovered that the Chlorure of sulfur, being fixed under pressure on the ethylene, allowed a manufacture thirty times faster than that of the German process. It was a crucial factor to gain the Second battle of the Marne.

Protests and pollution

As testifies some the call to the Red Cross launched to the belligerents against the use of poisonous gas of February 6th, 1918, whereas the factories of ammunition start to increase the manufacture of chemical weapons to reach approximately 1/3 of manufacture at the end of the autumn 1918, the use of the gases " vénéneux" will cause the indignation of many groups and personalities in all the camps, nevertheless in the arms race in a continuous and massive production of chemical weapons until the end of the Cold war will result. They are only 70 years later that important decisions aiming at the prohibition and the destruction of these weapons will be made. Meanwhile, of the hundreds of thousands of tons of ammunition were immersed at sea, including shells with yperite become durable source of Risque for the man and the ecosystem S.

Tests

Extract of a letter of June 11th, 1917 of the soldier Raymond Lefebvre to his wife (respected C-W communication):

With 4:00. drudgery of dogs. Thus one names the drudgery which consists in leading to the field of fire of the dogs for the asphixier with shell asphixiants. Thus with 4:00. we 17 types will seek 34 dogs to the kennels (2 dogs each one). There were 3 of very smart especially a spaniel. We lead them in the car to the field of fire.

There let us attach we them in two distant trenches of 20 Mr. after the location and the adjustment by some blows. The ready dogs, ten automobile trucks and cars arrive charged officers since the generals to the second lieutenant. When everyone went away to 50 and 20 Mr. in height, the shootings start. Then the 75 begin dry blows. One draws approximately 100 from them.

All the dogs did not die partly. Still a score of barkings. At this point in time the 155 start to draw. A long whistle then a strong bursting. After 55 fired shells, the shootings are finished and not being very far I arrive one of the first. They had 5 survivors and 2 there who had succeeded in being run away during the shooting. What was impressing it is that the generals to the second lieutenant addressed the word to us as I speak to you. The gases have a strong Kirsch odor.

Use in other conflicts

• 1918, by the Germans with Verdun and in the Marne
• 1919, by the British in Afghanistan
• 1925, by Great Britain, on the population, with the Kurdistan, under the orders of Winston Churchill
• 1925, by Spain and the France with the Morocco
• 1934-35, by the Italy during its occupation of the Ethiopia
• 1934-44, by the Japan against the China
• 1963-67, the Egypt uses it with the Yemen
• 1983-1988, the mode of Saddam Hussein uses it against the populations Kurdish S in the north of the Iraq. The gas was also deployed during the war opposing Iraq to the Iran.

After the war of the Gulf, several hundred tons of mustard gas is eliminated in Iraq by UNSCOM.

Chemistry

Chemically, the mustard gas belongs to the family of the Thioéther S and has as a formula: C H Cl S. Its chemical denomination is Sulfure of 2,2 ' - dichlorodiéthyle. Certain additives make it possible to make it gas.

Several alternatives were born:

• H , HS or mustard of Levinstein : manufactured thanks to the reaction under control between ethylene and Monochlorure of sulfur. Without distillation, the result contains 20 to 30% of impurities with the result that it does not condition as well as the version HD .
• HD , named Pyro by the British. Distilled and pure mustard gas with approximately 96%. The term of mustard gas generally refers to this alternative.
• HT , named Runcol by the British. This alternative was obtained by the reaction between Thiodiglycol and Chlorure of sulfur.
• HL , a mixture between the alternative HD and the Lewisite ( L ), the gas was tested in the Années 1920.
• HQ , a mixture enters the alternative HD and the Sesquimoutarde ( Q ). This last formula is due to Gates and Moore in 1946.

Effects

Yperite is powerful a Vésicant. In the form of vapors, it tackles the respiratory tracts. The eyes are reached with a temporary blindness and the skin in contact with the product becomes inflammée. The moist zones of the skin are touched, as well as the sensitive mucous membranes. The cutaneous reaction evolves/moves in blisters filled with liquids at the end of 4 to 8 a.m. if no treatment is managed. Dispersed in the form of particles, the gas is introduced into the respiratory system and destroyed the mucous membranes with a respiratory distress. The lungs are reached with Emphysème S and consecutive edema S with the presence of fluids which can result in a death similar to the drowning if the amount is very strong.

In the long term, the patient presents an anemia, a fall of immunizing resistance and develops a predisposition to cancers. Yperite is indeed a mutagen agent and this even with weak concentrations. The lesions of fabrics put much time to cure and are connected with severe burns. In the event of contaminated food ingestion, one attends an important weight loss and digestive disorders. In liquid form, yperite can contaminate zones in a durable way what increases the risk of contamination by ingestion or contact with soiled objects. It remains durably active safe from the air, and in the air in lower parts of 6 °C.

Testimony of Kurdish, concerning an attack of the Iraqi army, in the Years 1980: “ an odor of garlic and fruits rotted initially put to me in alarm, then people whom I crossed felt sorry for to more be able to breathe, they had violent coughing fits and burns with the eyes. ”

“Peaceful” uses

The nitrogenized Moutardes are used in the treatment of the Cancer S, while entering the composition of some Chimiothérapie known as cytotoxic. Their medical properties were shortly after discovered the end of the First World War.

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