Poison
gas has been used in warfare since ancient times, however World War One was the
first conflict where chemical warfare was deployed on a large scale. Chemical
warfare was especially devastating in World War I due to the use of trenches,
with trenches trapping poison gas. However, the use of poison gas was
hazardous, as the delivery of the gas was heavily dependent of the wind;
leakages or bad wind conditions often resulted in high casualties on the side
using the weapons. The name Poison Gas is often misleading as many of the
substances used were liquids that formed a vapour. The chemicals can be classified into 4 categories:
![Picture](/uploads/3/0/0/8/30088565/4852944.png?131)
Lachrymatory Agents / Tear Gases caused tears, eye pain and blindness.
![Picture](/uploads/3/0/0/8/30088565/5172761.jpg?131)
Blistering Agents / Vesicants / Mustard Gases caused severe blisters on the skin and in the lungs, and caused blindness.
![Picture](/uploads/3/0/0/8/30088565/2535386.jpg?121)
Pulmonary Agents / Choking Gases disolved lung tissue and any mucous membranes.
![Picture](/uploads/3/0/0/8/30088565/5242743.jpg?135)
Blood Agents prevented the blood from functioning normally.