In World War I toxic gases were seen as a way to bring an end to the stalemate on the Western Front. The most commonly used chemical agents were mustard gas and chlorine gas. It is calculated that over 100,000 soldiers died and many thousands more injured and blinded in gas attacks on both sides.
Chlorine
One of the first poison gases used in the world, chlorine gas terrified the unprepared allies outside of Ypres, Belgium April 22, 1915. The 6000 steel cylinders let loose a 16 ton cloud of chlorine gas flying toward a 3.7 mile section of allied trenches. The result would be 1000 dead and 4000 injured. This was the first action of chemical warfare in history.
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"[I watched] figures running wildly in confusion over the fields. Greenish-gray clouds swept down upon them, turning yellow as they traveled over the country blasting everything they touched and shriveling up the vegetation. . . . Then there staggered into our midst French soldiers, blinded, coughing, chests heaving, faces an ugly purple color, lips speechless with agony, and behind them in the gas soaked trenches, we learned that they had left hundreds of dead and dying comrades."
- British Soldier after the event at Ypres.
- British Soldier after the event at Ypres.
Effects on the body:
- Airway irritation
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Chest tightness
- Eye irritation
- Skin irritation
Phosgene
Phosogene was produced to replace the ineffective chlorine. It was a colorless gas that smelled like musty hay, making it much more difficult to detect. The gas also leaked through British issued gas masks at the time it was first dropped.
Effects on the body:
- Coughing
- Burning sensation in the throat and eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin contact can result in lesions similar to those from frostbite or burns
- Following exposure to high concentrations of phosgene, a person may develop fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) within 2 to 6 hours.
- Exposure to phosgene may cause delayed effects that may not be apparent for up to 48 hours after exposure, even if the person feels better or appears well following removal from exposure. Therefore, people who have been exposed to phosgene should be monitored for 48 hours afterward. Delayed effects that can appear for up to 48 hours include the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up white to pink-tinged fluid (a sign of pulmonary edema)
- Low blood pressure
- Heart failure
Sulfur Mustard
More commonly known as mustard gas, sulfur mustard was the major killing gas in WWI. It was first shelled into British and French lines during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. The Burning and blistering effects that it had on skin caused British soldiers to call it Hot Stuff.
Effects on the body:
Ocurring within 3 to 12 hours and lasting ten days:
Ocurring within 3 to 12 hours:
Extensive exposure can lead to:
- Redness and itching of the skin may occur 2 to 48 hours after exposure and may eventually change to yellow blistering of the skin.
Ocurring within 3 to 12 hours and lasting ten days:
- light sensitivity
- severe pain
- blindness
Ocurring within 3 to 12 hours:
- irritated eyes
- painful eyes
- swollen eyes
- tearing
- runny nose,
- sneezing
- hoarseness
- bloody nose
- sinus pain
- shortness of breath
- cough within 12 to 24 hours of a mild exposure and within 2 to 4 hours of a severe exposure.
- Digestive tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- Bone marrow: decreased formation of blood cells (aplastic anemia) or decreased red or white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia) leading to weakness, bleeding and infections.
Extensive exposure can lead to:
- Second- and third- degree burns. Extensive skin burning can be fatal.
- Chronic respiratory disease, repeated respiratory infections, or death.
- Permanent blindness.
- Increase in a person’s risk for lung and respiratory cancer.
Delivery Meathods
- Wind
- Artillery
- Grenades
Protective Measures
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After the first gas attacks, both Central and Allied armies quickly adopted gas masks. These masks had to be updated with the new gas that were developed. Masks also were made for animals. These animals included pigeons, dogs, and horses.