Chloropicrin: US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine War

Context

The U.S. State Department in its factsheet accused Russia of having used  chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces which is a gross violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine

• Russia used chemical agent chloropicrin in Ukraine along with the “riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine.
• Sanctions: USA announced fresh sanctions against Moscow’s military and industrial capabilities which targets nearly 300 entities in Russia, China, and other countries

What is Chloropicrin?

• About: Chloropicrin is a C-nitro compound that is nitromethane in which all three hydrogens are replaced by chlorines.
  • It is a synthetic C-nitro, one-carbon, and organochlorine compound that is a strong lachrymator (tears-inducing agent,  popular examples: pepper spray, and bromoacetone).
• Common names: Nitrochloroform, Dolochlor,Picfume
• Appearance: Colorless to faintly yellow oily liquid.
• Composed of: It involves a chemical reaction between sodium hypochlorite ( bleach) and nitromethane (a common industrial solvent).
  • It can also be made by combining chloroform with nitric acid, which yields chloropicrin and water.

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• Application: 
  • Agriculture: It  is used in agriculture as a soil fumigant particularly for strawberry crops.
  • Antimicrobial agent: It is employed  as a herbicide and nematicide and has a role as a fumigant insecticide and an antifungal agrochemical. 
  • Chemical warfare agent: Chloropicrin is an irritant with characteristics of a tear gas having an intensely irritating odor, thus used as a riot control agent.
• As a weapon of warfare: It was first used as a poison gas in the First World War, by both the Allied and the Central Powers and was stockpiled during World War II. 
  • It induces vomiting, which prompts soldiers to remove their masks, when they would inhale more of the gas, or other gaseous agents dispersed in the air.
• Exposure: Chloropicrin can be absorbed systemically through inhalation, ingestion, and the skin. It is a severe irritant, and can cause immediate, severe inflammation of the eyes, nose and throat, and significant injuries to the upper and lower respiratory tract.
  • It  is also known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic.

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