Suchergebnisse

&ldquo ; Novichoks&rdquo ; is the name given to the controversial chemical weapons supposedly developed in the former Soviet Union between the 1970s and the 1990s. Designed to be undetectable and untreatable, these chemicals became the most toxic of the nerve agents, being very attractive for both terrorist and chemical warfare purposes. However, very little information is available in the literature, and the Russian government did not acknowledge their development. The intent of this review is to provide the IJMS readers with a general overview on what is known about novichoks today. We briefly tell the story of the secret development of these agents, and discuss their synthesis, toxicity, physical-chemical properties, and possible ways of treatment and neutralization. In addition, we also wish to call the attention of the scientific community to the great risks still represented by nerve agents worldwide, and the need to keep constant investments in the development of antidotes and ways to protect against such deadly compounds.

"Novichoks" is the name given to the controversial chemical weapons supposedly developed in the former Soviet Union between the 1970s and the 1990s. Designed to be undetectable and untreatable, these chemicals became the most toxic of the nerve agents, being very attractive for both terrorist and chemical warfare purposes. However, very little information is available in the literature, and the Russian government did not acknowledge their development. The intent of this review is to provide the IJMS readers with a general overview on what is known about novichoks today. We briefly tell the story of the secret development of these agents, and discuss their synthesis, toxicity, physical-chemical properties, and possible ways of treatment and neutralization. In addition, we also wish to call the attention of the scientific community to the great risks still represented by nerve agents worldwide, and the need to keep constant investments in the development of antidotes and ways to protect against such deadly compounds.

This article presents a description of the modern nerve agents – Novichoks and carbamates – added to the Chemical Weapons Convention Schedules in 2019. The chemical structures of both groups of com-pounds are described, as well as their use cases and the regulations of the Organisation for the Prohibi-tion of Chemical Weapons on these compounds. Also, the ways of laboratory identification of the de-scribed compounds are presented, as well as the stationary and mobile analytical instruments used for this purpose.Keywords: Chemical Weapons Convention, chemical weapons, Chemical Warfare Agents, organo-phosphorus agents, Novichoks, carbamates

OBJECTIVES: Malicious incidents involving chemical agents sometimes trigger high public concern. We aimed to (1) identify levels of emotion, perceived risk and behaviour change with regard to visiting Salisbury, 1 month after three people were poisoned with a nerve agent; and (2) test whether factors including receipt of information, beliefs about personal exposure and trust in government were associated with these outcomes. DESIGN: A cross-sectional telephone survey of a random sample of Salisbury residents. SETTING: Conducted between 5 and 13 April 2018. PARTICIPANTS: 500 residents aged 18 or over. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported anxiety, anger, uncertainty, perceived risk to self and avoidance of Salisbury. RESULTS: Any degree of anxiety, anger and uncertainty was reported by 40.6%, 29.8% and 30.6% of participants, respectively. For the majority, the level of emotion reported was mild. Only 7.0% met the criteria for high anxiety and 5.2% reported feeling any risk to their health, whereas 18.6% reported avoiding Salisbury. Factors associated with avoidance of Salisbury included being female, unable to rule out exposure for oneself or of loved ones, believing the incident was targeted against the general public, and lower trust in the government and responding agencies. Hearing a lot or a little about the recovery support (eg, financial packages), as opposed to nothing at all, and being satisfied with this information were associated with reduced avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: Although the March 2018 Salisbury incident had a relatively modest impact on emotion and risk perception in the community, the number who reported avoiding the city was notable. In this, and in future incidents, assuring people that contamination resulted from a targeted, rather than indiscriminate, incident; demonstrating that contamination is contained within specific areas; improving communication about any financial support; and promoting trust in responding agencies should help provide additional reassurance to the community.

How the Kremlin deals with accusations that it is responsible for the Novichok attack on Alexei Navalny is a test case for Russia's role within the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). If Moscow changes its policy of deception and takes steps to come clean on its Novichok program, the West should proactively create the diplomatic elbow room necessary for Russia to realign itself with the CWC. In the end, the international community must receive verifiable assurances that the Russian Novichok program has been completely dismantled.

The following briefing note is developed by academics researching the use of chemical and biological weapons during the 2011-present war in Syria. The note reflects work in progress. However, the substantive questions raised need answering, especially given the seriousness of the political situation in the Middle East and UK-Russian relations. We welcome comments and corrections.

In security policy, nerve agents are a relevant threat in chemical warfare, but also for attacks on individuals. The aim of this introduction is to provide basic historical, legal, medical and chemical knowledge of this complex matter for everyone who is interested in security policy and chemical warfare and to increase awareness. In the previous decade, attacks with the nerve agents sarin, VX and Novichok were reported. The weaponized nerve agents belong to the chemical group of organophosphates with four generations which block the enzyme acetylcholinesterase leading to a large variety of symptoms: The G-series, the V-series, the A-series (Novichoks) and the carbamates which are however currently not weaponized. The first chapter explains the mode of action and biochemical properties, then the history and the legal framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Thereafter, the symptoms and countermeasures are presented. The course of the resulting disease depends on the type of agent, the extent of exposure and the speed of therapeutic intervention. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are needed to limit damage and to prevent death, but also due to a chemical 'aging' process of the affected enzyme. The medical treatment of nerve agents is embedded into other measures like physical protection, decontamination and triage and includes the imminent pre-hospital and the hospital treatment phases. The treatment is based on anticholinergics (atropine), acetylcholinesterase reactivation by oximes, anticonvulsive therapy with benzodiazepines and respiratory support to prevent respiratory failure as primary cause of death. New therapeutic concepts like bioscavengers are briefly discussed and summarized.

the Skripal case embodies all the seasonings of a diplomatic and consular war unprecedented since the Cold War. The West friends (US, NATO and EU) harsh against Russia for the poisoning of the former Russian dual agent (Russian military intelligence officer and ex-spyy from British secret service MI6) Serguei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which took place on 4 March near a shopping centre in Salisbury south of British territory. In a hasty and clearly defamatory decision, the United Kingdom declared Russia responsible and culpable for the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter without conclusive evidence of direct participation in the case. British Prime Minister Theresa May based her allegations on the use of nervous agent Novichok, a military-grade neurotoxic developed by the USSR in the 70s. Department of International Security and Defence. Institute for International Relations ; El caso Skripal encarna todos los condimentos de una guerra diplomática y consular sin precedentes desde la guerra fría. Los amigos de Occidente (EEUU, OTAN y UE) arremetieron duramente contra Rusia por el envenenamiento del ex doble agente ruso (oficial de inteligencia militar rusa y ex espía del servicio secreto británico MI6) Serguei Skripal y su hija Yulia, ocurrido el pasado 4 de marzo cerca de un centro comercial en la localidad de Salisbury, al sur del territorio británico. En una decisión apresurada y claramente difamatoria, el Reino Unido declaró responsable y culpable a Rusia por el envenenamiento de Skripal y su hija sin pruebas fehacientes que acrediten la participación directa en el caso. La primera ministra británica, Theresa May, sustentó sus acusaciones en base a la utilización del agente nervioso Novichok, un neurotóxico de grado militar desarrollado por la URSS en la década del '70. Departamento de Seguridad Internacional y Defensa. Instituto de Relaciones Internacionales

Nerve agents are the world's deadliest means of chemical warfare. Nazi Germany developed the first military-grade nerve agents and massive industry for their manufacture—yet, strangely, the Third Reich never used them. At the end of the Second World War, the Allies were stunned to discover this advanced and extensive programme. The Soviets and Western powers embarked on a new arms race, amassing huge chemical arsenals. From their Nazi invention to the 2018 Novichok attack in Britain, Dan Kaszeta uncovers nerve agents' gradual spread across the world, despite international arms control efforts. They've been deployed in the Iran–Iraq War, by terrorists in Japan, in the Syrian Civil War, and by assassins in Malaysia and Salisbury—always with bitter consequences. Toxic recounts the grisly history of these weapons of mass destruction: a deadly suite of invisible, odourless killers.