The VX Nerve Agent: Understanding the risks of a deadly threat

摘要

If the VX nerve agent is much more dangerous and toxic than its cousins―"G" agents tabun and sarin, which dissipate quickly and have only short-term effects―why hasn't it received greater attention in recent years? U.S. armed forces are currently searching for VX and other agents in Iraq, yet the media has not described its deadly properties in detail. How many Americans are aware that it is present in missiles at seven army depots or arsenals in the U.S., and is stored in ton containers at Tooele Army Depot, Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean, and Newport Chemical Activity in Newport, IN? In addition, eight nonstockpile sites are located in six states ("Chemical Weapons"). Some of this indifference may be because VX has yet to be used to its fullest potential for local attacks. That raises the obvious question: Why hasn't VX been used as a massive killer to date? One reason may be the way it must be disseminated to produce the greatest harm. If VX is released high into the atmosphere with a bomb or some type of spraying device, it is possible that the wind could shift, blowing the agent right back into the attacker's face. A nuclear counterattack may also be the ultimate deterrent.