Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
(CBS) Over the last seven years, Iraq has acknowledged
producing a wide array of deadly nerve gases, bacteria and
other biological and chemical agents. Iraq says its entire
stockpile has been destroyed, a claim U.N. investigators say
Iraq has failed to prove.
Following is a look at some of the biological and chemical
agents in Iraq's arsenal and the amounts that Iraq declared
were produced:
AFLAXTOXIN
Type: Biological agent
Description: A toxic mold that grows on nuts and other
crops and contaminates food.
Effects: A carcinogenic linked to liver cancer and jaundice.
Background: Believed to be responsible for a high incidence
of liver cancer among people in tropical regions in Africa
who
consume moldy grains and other foods contaminated with
food molds.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing 581 gallons.
ANTHRAX
Type: Biological agent.
Description: A bacterial disease that primarily affects
cattle
and sheep. Spores can remain active in soil and water for
many years.
Effects: Produces a deadly infection that kills its victim
within
days to weeks after exposure.; 10,000 spores, the size of a
speck of dust, is considered a lethal dose.
Background: During World War II, the Allies manufactured
bombs filled with anthrax and developed plans to drop them
on Germany, but never did. In April 1979, anthrax was
accidentally released into the air from a Soviet military
facility
at Sverlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) in the former Soviet
Union. In 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin
acknowledged that the accident occurred, killing at least 66
people. During the Gulf War, U.S. and British forces were
immunized against anthrax.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing 2,245 gallons.
U.N. investigators suspect Iraq produced three times that
amount.
BOTULINUM TOXIN
Type: Biological agent
Description: Toxic substance produced by a microbe
known as Clostridium botulinum, normally acquired by eating
improperly canned food. Considered one of the most
powerful poisons known to man.
Effects: Produces acute muscular paralysis resulting in
death.
Symptoms appear within 12-72 hours. Death is within 2-3
days.
Background: The Allies produced botulinum toxin during
World War II but did not use it.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing 5,125 gallons.
U.N. investigators estimate Iraq's production was double
that
amount.
RICIN
Type: Biological agent
Description: Protein toxin derived from castor bean plants.
Effects: Produces a severe breakdown of lung tissue when
inhaled, resulting in pneumonia and death. Symptoms within
18-24 hours.
Background: Used in the assassination of a Bulgarian exile
named Georgi Markov in London in 1978. Markov was
attacked with a device disguised as an umbrella that
injected
a tiny pellet filled with ricin toxin into his leg and died
several
days later. Authorities suspect the communist Bulgarian
government was behind the attack.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing 2.7 gallons.
SARIN
Type: Chemical agent
Description: A colorless, odorless nerve gas.
Effects: Causes difficulty breathing, convulsions and coma.
Can kill in minutes after skin or eye contact, or inhalation
of
vapor.
Background: Developed in Germany in the late 1930s along
with other nerve gases. Used in a Tokyo subway attack on
March 20, 1995, by a terrorist group, killing 12 people and
injuring 5,500.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing 100-150 tons.
U.N. investigators believe Iraq produced more than 200
tons.
VX
Type: Chemical agent
Description: Colorless and odorless nerve gas.
Effects:M Causes paralysis by poisoning the body's nervous
system. A drop on the skin can kill within minutes.
Background: Developed in 1950s during research for
pesticides. Accidental release in Utah in 1968 caused the
death of thousands of sheep.
Production: Iraq has disclosed producing four tons. U.N.
investigators say Iraq obtained enough chemicals used to
make more than 400 tons of VX.
OTHER
Iraq also admits conducting research on the following
biological agents:
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS:A gas gangrene that
causes flesh to rot. Iraq has disclosed producing 900
gallons.
TRICOTHECENE MYCOTOXINS: Toxins that produce
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin irritation.
WHEAT COVER SMUT: A contaminant that produces a
black fungal growth on food grains.
HEMORRHAGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS: A virus that
causes extreme pain and temporary blindness.
ROTAVIRUS: A virus that causes acute diarrhea that can
result in death.
CAMEL POX VIRUS: A virus that causes fever and skin
rashes in camels.
--
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