Chemical Weapons (Including Consulting Opportunities for Destruction, Neutralization, Conversion)

“There is a great need for international agencies and environmental groups to locate, destroy, neutralize, or convert these chemical weapons into value added materials. In closing we will look at opportunities for consultants by reviewing a list of agencies to contact.”

John Brennan

The evolution of chemical weapons dates back to ancient times beginning around 1400BC with the use of “Scorpion Bombs” and “Greek Fire” or crude “Napalm” and slowing around 1200AD at the time of the Inquisition. Development accelerated during the WWI, and WWII, concurrently along with the increased interest in chemical research, development, and production for a multiplicity of applications. 

Gases used in WWI were Chlorine, Phosgene, Mustards, and Lewisite; between WWI and WWII a great deal of interest was directed toward the synthesis and development of organophosphate insecticides (OP’s) by Dr. Schrader in Germany at IG Farben company. Subsequently, Dr. Kuhn, a Noble prize winner, elucidated the mode of action of these OP’s using guinea pigs, primates, and prisoners and found that the OP’s had a significant effect on acetylcholine. 

Some of these profound physiological changes in these species will be discussed. Some of the most prominent compounds such as Tuban, Sarin and Soman will be discussed along with the production and industrial hygiene challenges posed by these highly toxic materials. These discoveries brought about the Chemical Arms Race and the development of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). 

The chemical weapons legacy left to the world has created an international crisis since the rise of Al-Qaeda and the breakup of the Soviet Union. An environmental nightmare is looming in the oceans, seas, and buried in various parts of the globe for future generations. There is a great need for international agencies and environmental groups to locate, destroy, neutralize, or convert these chemical weapons into value added materials. In closing we will look at opportunities for consultants by reviewing a list of agencies to contact.

Biography

John J. Brennan is a resident of Hilltown Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania he earned his Master of Science degree in Chemistry from St. Joseph’s University, under the direction of Dr. George Nelson and Dr. George Beichl. In 1968 he joined the Research Division of Rohm and Haas in the Agrochemical Research department. He joined the Health Products department developing and filing an NDA for an antipsychotic drug for the treatment of schizophrenia in 1973. The Employee Health department eventually evolved into the Corporate Environmental in 1990 where he managed the implementation of a computer based plant integrated information management system. He left in 1995 after 27 years to become an independent chemical professional working as a consultant for such companies as ConEdison and other local environmental firms. In 1998 he joined the Porter Instrument Company as the chemical health and safety manager. The company was sold to Parker Hannifin Corporation in 2005. He left left Parker-Hannifin in 2008 and returned to independent consulting with InfoChem Systems, LLC.