SPECIAL REPORT Chemical Warfare

"Tiny Amounts Can Kill Thousands"

Anthrax

A microscopic view of anthrax bacteria, which live in soil and infect animals more often than people. (James Webb/PNI) How it works: The airborne anthrax spores are inhaled and lodge in the lungs. There, they quickly multiply and produce toxins that spread through the body via the bloodstream.

Deadly Amount: One billionth of a gram can kill one person.

Previous Uses: The Japanese experimented with anthrax on the Chinese during World War II.

Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, high fever and then the body goes into shock.

Delivery: Custom-made missiles, spray tanks attached to low-flying airplanes.

Prevention: Gas mask, vaccine.

Botulinal Toxins

A close-up of clusters of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which produce a potent neurotoxin. (CNRI/PNI) How it works: The victim inhales the airborne toxins into the lungs. The toxins fill the body with poison. Eventually, complete paralysis and cardiac arrest occur.

Deadly Amount: One billionth of a gram can kill one person.

Previous Uses: No known previous uses on man.

Symptoms: Causes dizziness, sore throat and dry mouth.

Delivery: Custom-made missiles, spray tanks attached to low-flying airplanes.

Prevention: Gas mask, vaccine.

Sarin

A victim of the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack is treated in a hospital on March 20, 1995 (Chiaki Tsukumo/AP Photo) How it works: Sarin is inhaled and paralyzes the nerve that makes the diaphragm expand and contract. Eventually, the victim dies of suffocation.

Deadly Amount: One milligram can kill one person.

Previous Uses: Saddam Hussein is said to have used sarin on the Kurds in his own country in the 1980s. Also, a Japanese cult released sarin in a Tokyo subway in 1995, killing 12 and injuring 5,500.

Symptoms: In low doses, it causes severe headaches and coughing. In higher doses, it causes increased perspiration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and difficulty breathing.

Delivery: Artillery shells, bombs, land mines.

Prevention: Gas mask.

VX Nerve Gas

1,269 steel containers of VX gas sit at the Newport Chemical Depot in western Indiana. (Chuck Robinson/AP Photo) How it works: Similar to sarin, it disrupts the functioning of nerves that control breathing. The victim dies of suffocation when the diaphragm fails to expand and contract. Unlike any other biological or chemical weapons, VX can kill simply by touching the skin.

Deadly Amount: One milligram can kill a person

Previous Uses: Never been used before, except on research animals.

Symptoms: Increased salivation, coughing, runny nose, headache and nausea.

Delivery: Artillery shells, bombs and land mines.

Prevention: Gas masks, skin covered by thick clot