Iraq: Pesticides, Nerve Agents and the ISG

Good point.......but I believe the pesticides you're refering to are generally in the catagory of cholinesterase inhibitors which is more a function of having effects on the nervous system which in turn can affect the muscles.

Pesticides or chemicals which are cholinesterase inhibtors are in two catagories....reversable and not.

An overdose/exposure of the organophosphates you spoke of creates all kinds of malfunctions in the body and could, in my opinion, be very effective on the battle field where a person must be absolutely alert.

I've been wondering why nobody broached the question of pesticides found in Iraq being used for more nefarious perposes?

Some of the older pesticides, pretty much outlawed in most countries, are coumpounds of a organic-cholorine combination (example; Chlordane). Heating these to a temp of about 500 degrees can create the highly toxic phosgene gas.

Keep in mind too, pesticides encompasses a variety of coumpounds. Loosely speaking a pesticide is any chemical that creates a hostile environment for living organisms, prevents the growth of living organisms or kills living organisms.

Hence, pesticides include fungicides, herbicides/weed killers, insecticides, rodenticides, not to mention disinfectants, biocides, sanitizers, slimacides, ect.

I worked for a chemical company for almost 30 years and at one time held a private applicators license.....it's been a while so I don't claim the above is absolutely correct....but y'all get the idea. Somebody should have held the found pesticides up to a greater scrutiny.

The pesticides TEPP, parathion, malathion, and a host of other organophosphate insecticides are all, like CW nerve agent irreversible cholinesterase agonists. As I pointed out the Canadian intelligence service, in publicly available documents, expressed the view that TEPP and parathion were almost as deadly as 'their military counterparts' (meaning, I think sarin and tabun, since, VX is much more toxic). Other sources, as I pointed out estimate the toxicity of skin exposure to TEPP as being essentially the same as for sarin.

We're both scratching our memory tables but you're correct on the inhibitors. I was taught at chem school atropine mixed with pan2chloride as a catalyst at a 2mg dosage for Sarin, GD, and VX.

Phosgene you're just out of luck if you inhale a big enough dose. Blister agents inhaled you can live through but don't really want to it make emphysema look desirable.

In chem school we got to work with live nerve, choking, and blister agents just to gain a confidence in our protective gear, decon procedures and the antidotes.

Here's my list, such as it is--

2 trailers deemed biological arms labs ^

CIA convinced truck-trailers held bioweapons labs ^

IRAQ: WMD source 'was senior Iraqi officer'
FAS (Fed Am Scientist) Report: Iraqi Precursor Chemicals Stored Separately for Weapon-side Mixing

THE ROAD ENDS FOR WMD ON WHEELS

Coalition forces enter possible WMD site

Initial tests suggest WMD "cocktail" found in Iraq (**Of special note--post #58, by Archy)

U.S. finds new evidence of Iraqi WMD (NBC training school, antidotes)

Chem-weapons lab believed discovered

BRITS' CHILLING CHEM-NUKE FIND

CAPTURED FOES FOUND WITH CHEM-WAR GEAR

EUPHRATES 'POISONED'

MSNBC - Cyanide & Mustard Agents Found in Euphrates River

Is the Activity at Al Qaim Related to Nuclear Efforts?

U.S. probing nuclear facility (Al Tuwaitha Follow Up)

Team Inspects suspected plutonium site (update by the journalist who broke original story, NEW info)

Underground Nuclear Facility Found in Iraq

Marines hold Iraqi nuclear site built by French

U.S. Marines Guard Secret Iraqi City with Very Hot Nuclear Radiation Levels

And from Freeper "HatSteel":

Terrorist devices, chemical weapons found in Iraq

Suspicious Iraqi Drums - UPDATE

Suspected bioweapons labs found

Searching for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Larry Elder

Iraq's Weapons and the Road to War

Iraqi Scientist Links Weapons to 'Dual Use' Facilities, White House Says

IRAQ: U.S. Analysts Link Iraq Labs to Germ Arms

Illicit Arms Kept Till Eve of War, an Iraqi Scientist Is Said to Assert

Herald Sun: Soldiers find Iraqi chemical 'dump'

***Germany's leading role in arming Iraq

*Germany intercepts (30 tonnes) chemicals (may be used to make nerve gas) for N Korea

New DOD team to hunt for intel as well as weapons

***Chemical Weapons Programs

Capture of chemical expert could help U.S. weapons hunt in Iraq (Emad Husayn Abdulla al-Ani)

Belgium Finds Nerve Gas Ingredient in Letters

Banned missile programme found in Iraq

Administration to Announce 'Rollback' Strategy for WMD

Suspicious Iraqi Drums Preliminary Testing Suggests Chemical Agents; More Testing Needed

2 trailers deemed biological arms labs

***Table 2: Characteristics of Chemical Warfare Agents: Commercial Uses of Chemicals or Precursor Chemicals ******CENTAF IRAQ'S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.