What is Chloropicrin, the banned chemical gas Russia is accused of using in Ukraine? How harmful can it be?

As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict gets uglier, the United States accused Russia of using chemical weapons, including poisonous gas, chloropicrin. The State Department made allegations on Wednesday that Russia used chloropicrin, a “choking agent” against Ukrainian troops.

Chloropicrin was once widely used during World War I and has been banned since the culmination of war, under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which is an arms control treaty ratified by more than 150 countries, including Russia.

The State Department also said in its official statement that use of such chemicals by Russia is not an isolated incident and it had been using the gas to gain tactical gains over Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.

Also Read |Ex-UK PM Boris Johnson becomes victim of his own voting rule. Here's how

This year we saw Russiapushing through several Ukrainian defences in the east by steadily capturing towns and villages.

Meanwhile, Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov called these accusations “odious and unsubstantiated” in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

What is Chloropicrin? How harmful it can be?

Chloropicrin, also known as nitrochloroform, is a chemical compound made with the reaction of sodium hypochlorite and picric acid. It was first discovered in 1844 by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse through an experiment.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has classified chloropicrin as a banned choking agent.

One of the earliest instances of the use of this banned chemical weapon was during World War I when German forces fired it against Allied troops.

US accuses Russia of using banned chemical weapon 'Chloropicrin'

The Kremlin has denied the accusation.

Is the #RussiaUkraineWar turning deadlier? @ShivanChanana and @SaroyaHem bring you this report

Watch more on https://t.co/dm7SyC01cG#UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/7sQXmEOYyW — WION (@WIONews) May 3, 2024

Initially, it was used as an herbicide, insecticide and nematicide in agriculture to fumigate the soil before planting a crop. Even the US allows the restricted use of chloropicrin as a pesticide. But, because of its toxicity and carcinogenicity, distribution and use of chloropicrin is available only to licensed professionals and specially certified growers who are trained in its proper and safe use.

Also Read |E. coli risk prompts recall of 16,000 pounds of ground beef sold at Walmart

When it comes to humans, chloropicrin can be very dangerous. It can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion and even through the skin. At high concentrations, it is severely irritating to the lungs, eyes and skin.

In World War I, German forces used concentrated chloropicrin against Allied forces as a tear gas. While it is not as lethal as other chemical weapons, but chloropicrin induced vomiting and forced Allied soldiers to remove their masks to vomit, exposing them to more toxic gases used as weapons during the war.

Also Read |Big Nude Boat: A nude experience to set sail from Miami

In February 2024 as well, Ukrainian armed forces claimed Russia was using chloropicrin in K-51 grenades.

Some earlier evidence also shows that this choking agent and its derivative phosgene oxime have even damaged or compromised older versions of personal protective equipment. Some of the soldiers attacked mentioned a white smoke emerging from their gas masks.

(With inputs from agencies)