What is the difference between chlorine gas and mustard gas

Deadlier gasses and more reliable delivery systems were introduced later in the war. By , chemical shells, projectors, and mortars could deposit dense gas barrages on enemy lines, or behind them on supply routes, reserve trenches, or gun batteries. Phosgene, introduced in late , was nearly invisible and much more lethal than chlorine. The Germans unleashed mustard gas in the summer of It attacked the skin and blinded its victims, thereby defeating existing gas masks and respirators.

By the Armistice, chemical shells made up 35 percent of French and German ammunition supplies, 25 percent British and 20 percent American. In the last year of the war, soldiers of all armies struggled across battlefields often choked with gas. None of the British soldiers at Ypres had gas masks, resulting in 7, injuries and more than 1, deaths from chlorine gas asphyxiation.

Many of the deaths occurred when panicked victims rushed to drink water for relief from the burning gas, which only made the chemical reaction worse, flooding their throats and lungs with hydrochloric acid. But did they violate the spirit of the ban? Before British troops received proper gas masks with rubber seals called box respirators, they were equipped with stop-gap solutions, like thick gauze pads that were strapped tightly over the mouth.

A stretcher bearer at Ypres named William Collins described the pads as more suffocating than the gas:. And could only put the thing back again for very short periods. It was not a practical proposition at all. If the Germans were going to sink as low as to use gas, then why should the Allies take the high ground? He founded Porton Down , a research facility in the English countryside dedicated to defending Allied troops against gas attacks and stockpiling their own gas weaponry for use against the Germans.

In late September , the British tried to give the Germans a dose of their own medicine at the Battle of Loos, with little success. German soldiers loading gas canisters onto military aircrafts during World War I, c.

While chlorine gas could kill in concentrated amounts, it was more or less neutralized with the widespread deployment of gas masks by By that point, however, both sides had discovered far more fatal and crueler chemicals: phosgene and mustard gas. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

If you placed your clothes in plastic bags, inform either the local or state health department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible. Washing the body: As quickly as possible, wash your entire body with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.

If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. You should dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water.

You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them. If you have swallowed ingested chlorine, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids. Seek medical attention right away. Consider dialing and explaining what has happened. How chlorine exposure is treated No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.