Anonymous Coward
User ID: 63673069
 United States
12/29/2015 08:13 AM
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Report Copyright Violation | According to the US Government, Sarin nerve gas breaks down and becomes harmless in a few months from manufacture Presented for the purpose of promoting reality based news reporting. Sarin
Sarin is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a nerve agent. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations according to UN Resolution 687, and its production and stockpiling was outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993. Sarin can be used as a binary chemical weapon, meaning two different substances which are easier and/or safer to store independently, then can be mixed immediately before use to create the desired chemical.
Sarin is similar in structure and biological activity to some commonly used insecticides. At room temperature, sarin is a colorless, odorless liquid. Its vapor is also colorless and odorless. It has a relatively short shelf life, and will degrade after a period of several weeks to several months.
Timely decontamination is imperative. Contaminated equipment should be cleaned using household bleach, caustic soda, dilute alkali solutions, or hot, soapy water. When equipment is located in a confined area, steam and ammonia or hot, soapy water may be used. Sodium hydroxide, an all-purpose decontaminant, also works well on sarin.The National Counterterrorism Center [ link to www.nctc.gov] |
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 69935032
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12/29/2015 08:27 AM
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Report Copyright Violation | Re: According to the US Government, Sarin nerve gas breaks down and becomes harmless in a few months from manufacture The binary components are stockpiled since they have a much longer shelf life. The two parts would be mixed at the time it is needed to insure maximum lethality. |
