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THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 42 nervous system to operate properly. The resulting accumulation of ACh profoundly interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses at cholinergic synapses. In cases of lethal intoxication, the immediate cause of death is asphyxiation, resulting from interference with the nervous control of the muscles of the diaphragm (U.S. Departments of the Army and Air Force, 1975). Mustard agents affect the eyes and lungs and blister the skin. They cause severe chemical burns and painful blisters, and are lethal at high dosages, especially if inhaled. Symptoms are generally delayed for several hours after exposure. Prolonged worker exposure in wartime mustard manufacturing facilities mused cancer in a significant percentage of those exposed (IARC, 1975; U.S. Department of the Army and Air Force, 1975). (See Chapter 4 for more detail on the toxicities and airborne exposure limits for both mustard and nerve agents.) More details on the medical, health, and physiological effects of exposure to agents and on treatment and therapy can be found in selected references (Compton, 1987; Goodman and Gilman, 1985; Namba, 1971; U.S. Departments of the Army and Air Force, 1975). DESCRIPTION OF THE MUNITIONS There are a number of munition types in the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. Some contain, in addition to chemical agent, propellant or explosive components, or both (see Figures 2-2 to 2-5 and Tables 2-2 and 2-3). These munitions include 105-ram, 155-mm, and 8-inch artillery projectiles, mortar cartridges, land mines, and M55 115-mm rockets. The 155-ram artillery projectiles, for example, are filled with mustard, GB, or VX, and the 8-inch artillery projectiles are filled with GB or VX. Some munitions, such as aircraft-delivered nerve agent bombs, are stockpiled without explosives.6 In addition, about two-thirds of the chemical stockpile is stored in bulk liquid form in steel ton containers, including GA, GB, VX, mustard, and Lewisite (PEIS, 1988). GA and Lewisite are stored only at Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) in relatively small quantities. Lewisite will have to be handled separately from other agents and is not a major consideration here. 6 These include the MC-1 750-1b Air Force bomb, the MK-94 500-lb Navy bomb, the MK-116 (''weteye'') 525-1b Navy bomb (all GB-filled), and the TMU-28/B aerial spray tanks filled with VX.
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 43 FIGURE 2-2 M55 rocket and M23 land mine. Source: USATHAMA (1982, 1983).
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 44 FIGURE 2-3 105-mm, 155-mm, 8-inch, and 4.2-inch projectiles. Source: USATHAMA (1982, 1983).
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 45 FIGURE 2-4 Bomb, spray tank, and ton container. Source: USATHAMA (1982, 1983).
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 46 FIGURE 2-5 Physical envelopes of chemical munitions. Source: General Atomics (1982).
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 47 TABLE 2-2 Composition of Munitions in the U.S. Chemical Stockpile Munition Type Agent Fuze Burster Propellant Dunnage M55 115-mm rocketsa GB, VX Yes Yes Yes Yes M23 land mines VX Yesb Yes No Yes 4.2-in. mortars Mustard Yes Yes Yes Yes 105-ram cartridges GB, mustard Yes Yes Yes Yes 105-ram projectiles GB, mustard Yesc Yesc No Yes 155-mm projectiles GB, VX, mustard No Yesc No Yes 8-in. projectiles GB, VX No Yesc No Yes Bombs (500-750 lb) GB No No No Yes Weteye bombs GB No No No No Spray tanks VX No No No No Ton containers GB, VX, GA, mustard, Lewisite No No No No a M55 rockets are processed in individual fiberglass shipping containers. b Fuze and land mines are stored together but not assembled. c Some projectiles have not been put into explosive configuration. Source: PEIS (1988).
THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE 48 TABLE 2-3 Composition of Selected Chemical Munition Types, by Weight Chemical Weight (lb) Munition Type Agent Agent Explosive Propellant Metal M55 rocket VX, GB 10.5 3.2 19.3 23.8 155-mm projectile VX, GB, HD 6.3 2.4 ---a 92.6 Ton container VX, GB, HD 1,600 ---a ---a 1,400 a Not applicable. Source: PEIS (1988). Many of the chemical munitions contain explosives in the form of fuzes and bursters, as well as propellants. Fuzes are mechanically activated detonation devices that set off the bursting charge of a projectile, rocket, or land mine. The bursters axe explosive charges that, on detonation, disperse agent and metal fragments into the surrounding area. Propellants axe energetic materials necessary for the propulsion of the rockets and 105-ram artillery cartridges. In the following discussion, explosives and propellants will be referred to collectively as energetics. These munition components incorporate a variety of chemical compounds that must also be destroyed as part of chemical weapons destruction.7 Disposal requires consideration of other chemical compounds and materials as well. For example, the fiberglass shipping and firing tubes for 7 Fuzes include cyclonite, lead styphnate, lead oxide, barium nitrate, antimony sulfide, tetracine, and potassium chlorate. Bursters include tetryl, tetrytol (tetryl plus trinitrotoluene [TNT]), or Composition B (cyclonite plus TNT). Propellants include nitrocellulose, dinitrotoluene, lead stearate, triacetin, dibutylphthalate, and diphenylamine.
