History

Poisonous gases are highly toxic and volatile (liquid or gases) chemical compounds that were used in chemical warfare especially in World War 1.For instance they include chlorine, mustard, phosgene, hydrogen chloride, and nitrogen oxide gases among others. Although Germans were are accused of being the first ones to use poisonous gas in World War 1, documented studies reveals that French to have first used it in August 1914. French used tear gas containing xylyl bromide- to prevent German troops from making advances into North-Eastern France and Belgium. Accordingly, later in October of the same year at Neuve Chapelle, the Germans fired gas shells against the French to incapacitate their enemy and make more advances (Haber, 1986).

Subsequently, in 2nd April 1915 at Ypres, Germans made more progress by using Chlorine gas yellow green in color- against the French which was pumped from highly pressurized gas cylinders located at their frontline (between SteenStraat and Langemarck). This came to be referred to as trench warfare. Other countries, embraced the use of poison gas during war in the pretext that it would be perceived as Germany affair. For instance, in September 1915 at Loos, Britain used poison gas they referred to as accessory- against the Germans to facilitate more infantry attacks. They relied on wind to spread the gas into enemys frontline but this proved tricky as wind could change direction and affect them too (Ibid, 1986).

More developments in the chemical warfare emerged with the use of phosgene and mustard gases. Phosgene gas was known to make serious infections to the respiratory system within 48hrs. Germans are known to have used mustard gas against the Russians in 1917.This gas caused blisters all over besides damaging the respiratory system. At the time of the chemical warfare, sophisticated gas masks were yet to be developed and troops used clothes soaked in urine to protect their faces. Haber (1986) notes that there were around 1,250,000 causalities and 91,000 fatalities in World War 1 and Russian experienced more that 50 of those fatalities.