An online event titled “Chemical Weapon Threats and Protection Methods” was organized by the Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) Occupational Health and Safety Department, within the scope of the University Culture course. Dr. Ozan Yağmuroğlu, Lecturer at MSÜ Air Force Academy, participated in the event, which attracted significant interest. Yağmuroğlu, stating that chemicals are substances that threaten living life when taken into the metabolism, pointed out that chemical weapons become poison when their dosage increases.
The event took place under the moderation of Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım, Head of Emergency and Disaster Management Program, and Lecturer Dilek Aker, Head of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Safety Program.
“A drug is poison when it exceeds its dosage”
Dr. Ozan Yağmuroğlu, Lecturer at MSÜ Air Force Academy, stated that a chemical becomes a chemical weapon even if used in small doses; “What we call a chemical is a substance that threatens living life when a certain amount is taken into the living metabolism, irrespective of its chemical nature. It is always said: A drug is poison when it exceeds its dosage. This applies to all chemicals. If a chemical, even when used in small doses, has the power to kill a living being and is a weapon to be used in a wartime environment, we call it a chemical weapon. In other words, the fundamental logic of creating chemicals as a separate category comes from this,” he said.
Chemical Weapons Have a Psychological Impact in Wars…
Yağmuroğlu noted that chemical weapons have a psychological impact on the civilian population in a wartime environment; “When we look at it, the idea behind manufacturing chemical weapons in a wartime environment between World War I and World War II was the psychological effect it created on the enemy. It is the chemical weapon that creates this effect. Those who understood this effect initiated efforts towards chemical weapons during the period between the First World War and the Second World War,” he said.
One of the Most Toxic Chemical Weapons Known: VX Nerve Agent
Yağmuroğlu, mentioning that VX Nerve Agent shows persistence without losing its properties even in cold places during periods of prolonged use; “VX is a nerve agent synthesized by Britain during the Second World War. Currently, there are some problems in taking precautions against VX, because it is a very potent nerve agent. Its ability to remain unfrozen in cold climates is a very important feature for us; this signifies persistence. For us, when used for a long time, it can persist without losing its properties even in extreme weather conditions, independent of weather, in cold places. It is not greatly affected by meteorological conditions. This is another reason why it is dangerous. To give an example, the North Korean leader has a half-brother. After their father's death, there was a power struggle between them. One day, while the half-brother was at the airport, two women approached him and held a cloth containing VX gas to his face for 5 seconds. The man was bewildered and fell ill after 15-20 seconds. Unfortunately, he passed away before reaching the emergency room. It is a chemical that causes death in a short time,” he stated.
“Chemical Weapons Cannot Be Used in Public Events...”
Yağmuroğlu, noting that according to the Chemical Weapons Convention, chemicals used in public events are prohibited from being used in war; “Chemicals such as pepper spray and tear gas are not used in wartime. According to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the use of these chemicals, which are used in public events, is prohibited in war. The reason is this: if you use tear gas or a similar chemical in a wartime environment, and its smoke is perceived by the enemy as a chemical weapon having been used, they might attempt to use chemical weapons against you. For this reason, the use of such chemicals in a wartime environment is undesirable and is prohibited by international regulations,” he stated.
The online event concluded after participants' questions were answered.