Five of the Worst Chemical Weapons (We Know Of)
Their indiscriminate nature and unpredictability, coupled with the sometimes-gruesome effects they have make them effective weapons of fear.
Special mention: Riot control agents
While not strictly banned by the CWC (it doesn’t apply to domestic law enforcement), riot control agents have often been used with devastating effects. Their temporary effects include crying, uncontrollable blinking, burning in the throat, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and at times temporary blindness.
Dina Esfandiary is a research associate, Non-proliferation and Disarmament Programme, at The International Institute for Strategic Studies. Follow her on Twitter: @DEsfandiary.
This article first appeared in 2014. It is being republished due to reader interest.
Image: Reuters.