The History of Chemical Warfare and Its Effect on the Environment

There are so many issues facing the world today that it is sometimes hard to understand why they occur and what they affect. Today it is apparent that many people take the environment of the earth for granted. Pollution, energy, and natural resources are all seen as an environmental element that can threaten our future and destroy the environment. But there is another threat to the environment that is certainly overlooked by today's society and was overlooked by many in the past. This element is the act of war. There are many different aspects of war that can affect the environment and the people of our world, but there is one specific facet of war that could be considered most detrimental… chemical warfare. "Chemical warfare is warfare (and associated military operations) using the toxic properties of chemical substances to kill, injure or incapacitate the enemy" (Chemical Warfare). But not only does it leave its mark on society and the people of the world, chemical warfare can destroy the unique qualities of nature as well. The practice of chemical warfare dates back to 1000 B.C and is still used today (Smart). Its impact is nearly everlasting, but still so many people are uneducated on its effects. This is why many have gathered to form organizations in order to eliminate the use of chemical weapons and reduce the destruction that is causes. Chemical warfare is a critical issue of today's society and needs to be dealt with because of its severe impact on our environment and the people of the world. Before indulging on the effects of chemical warfare, one must understand what a chemical weapon is and why its effects are so detrimental. A chemical used in warfare is called a chemical warfare agent (CWA), and is usually gaseous at room temperature or is a liquid that evaporates quickly. Such liquids are said to be volatile or have a high vapor pressure. The resulting fumes are toxic, hence the phrase "poison gas" used to describe a chemical weapon

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