Spring 2019 PHYS1018 Homework 6: Weapons of Mass Destruction Analysis

This homework assignment for PHYS1018, focusing on Weapons of Mass Destruction, delves into various aspects of radiation, chemical, and biological weapons. It begins with summaries of scientific news articles on jellyfish antidotes and energy conversion. The assignment then presents short a...Read More

A. BEST SCIENCE NEWS
Australian researchers find an antidote to a Jellyfish sting
A team of researchers from the University of Sydney who were working on a jellyfish
antidote project noted that the venom requires cholesterol to damage human
tissues. As a result, they chose one drug that is usually used to reduce cholesterol
and it worked amazingly. They tested using human cells and mice. Box Jellyfish is
the world most poisonous creature and it is estimated that one drop of its venom
can kill up to 60 people.
References.
News Wires, Australian scientists find antidote for deadly box jellyfish sting, May
2019, https://www.france24.com/en/20190501-australian-scientists-find-antidote-
deadly-box-jellyfish-sting. France 24, 1st May, (Accessed on: on3/05/2019).
B. MOST INTERESTING PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS
Transforming waste heat into clean energy
The university of Texas students were investigating the Spin Hall Effect mechanism.
They were able to prove that from the spin difference in population of spin a voltage
can be generated. These students suggested that the warmth that comes out of a
cell phone can be harnessed to get a voltage. Even the heat lost by engines.
References.
May, Transforming waste heat into clean energy,
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190501131342.htm. 2019, Science
Daily, 1st May, (Accessed on 13/03/2019).
SHORT ANSWERS QUESTIONS.
1. (5 pts) What is special about iodine-131, as a radioactive isotope that
can harm humans? And what is the simple way to defend oneself
against the effects of exposure to this substance?
It is from uranium and plutonium that we get iodine 131. This isotope is readily
absorbed by cells of the body. The atoms when absorbed undergoes two steps
radioactive decay process releasing electromagnetic radiation (gamma rays) and
also high energy electron energy radiation. Iodine 131 decays by first order
process (concentration of iodine 131 is directly proportional to the rate of iodine)
into xenon 131.

(Khan Academy, 2019)
The high energy electron waves produced causes damage to tissues within
2mm from emission source. As a result of its mode of decay, I-131 causes
mutation or even death in cells that it penetrates and the neighboring cells.
In the body, it is absorbed by thyroid gland and can cause cancer to the
gland. Exposure can cause burns to the eyes or skin when externally
exposed. When released into the atmosphere, it can get in to water. Human
and animals who drink this water or even grass get contaminated with I-131.
The meat and milk are also contaminated.
The simple way of keeping one from iodine 131 contamination is by keeping
away from it. Washing hands before meals prevents internal contamination.
One should change clothes immediately he or she is handles this substance.
References:
Khan Academy, The radioactivity of iodine- 131, 2019,
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/physical-sciences-practice/physical-
sciences-practice-tut/e/the-radioactivity-of-iodine-131. 2019, Khan University,
(Accessed: 13/05/2019).
Wikipedia, Iodine-131, May 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine-131.
(Accessed: 13/05/2019).
Emergency preparedness and response,
https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/iodine.asp. 2019, Centers for disease
control and prevention, (Accessed: 13/05/2019).

2. (5 pts) What is meant by ionizing radiation, and what is the basic
process by which this type of radiation can do damage to living cells?
Simply, these are radiations that can ionize atoms. It is a type of energy in the
form of particles and/ or electromagnetic waves that is released by radioactive
atoms. These radiations are commonly in the form of gamma rays, X-rays, high
speed electrons (beta) or alphas. These radiations carrying more than 10 eV. 10
eV is enough to ionize molecules and atoms and break chemical bonds of
substances. When in contact to living cells, they can damage the DNA by
ionization thus they cause mutation which can lead to cancers of the tissues.
Exposure to high dosage leads to ARS (acute radiation syndrome). This is a
syndrome characterized by loss of hair,
References:
World Health Organization, Ionizing radiation, health effects and protective
measures, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ionizing-radiation-
health-effects-and-protective-measures. April 2019, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).
Wikipedia, Radiation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation. April 2019, (Accessed
on 13/05/2019).
3. (5 pts) What is the conceptual difference between two units commonly
used to describe radiation and its effects on living tissue --- namely,
rads and rems? (I'm asking you to say how these units are related, and
thus what is different about them.)
The measure of how much a radioactive substance is called radioactivity. Earlier
days, a unit called roentgen was used to measure the actual radiation by
measuring how much ionization does the radiation cause in the air. Nowadays,
radiation is measured by how much energy deposition in a unit mass is caused
by the radiation (absorbed dose). A SI unit called gray (joule per kilogram) and
rad (1 erg per gram) are used to measure the absorbed dose. 1 rad equal to
0.01 gray. Absorbed dose is just a measure of energy deposited.
To determine the biological damage caused to tissues, we determine the
equivalent dose. The equivalent dose is a product of absorbed dose and the
quality factor (radiation weighting factor). Sieverts is the SI unit for measuring
equivalent dose. Rem is a US standard for measuring equivalent dose. 1 rem
equals 0.01 sievert.
References:
Stephen Frantz, Can you explain rads, roentgens, curies and other units of
radioactivity in a straightforward way?, https://www.quora.com/Can-you-explain-
rads-roentgens-curies-and-other-units-of-radioactivity-in-a-straightforward-way.
2019, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).

4. (5 pts) List at least two practices that were quite common early in the
last centuries that led to serious adverse effects, in large numbers of
people, from uses of radium.
Radium is only radioactive alkaline earth metal and the heaviest. It is a luminous
material. Particles released by radium are;
 Alpha
 Beta rays
 Gamma rays
References.
Wikipedia, Radioluminescence, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioluminescence.
April 2019, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).
5. (10 pts) Why the U.S. canceled its Biological Weapons Program? Was it
a reasonable decision in retrospects?
The ban on chemical and biological weapon happened after world war I. The ban
was reinforced in 1972 and 1993. Reason being “barbarous intervention”. A
poisonous gas was used during World war I that led to huge loss. This led to first
agreement in 1925 the (Geneva Protocol).
The end of the program started when President Richard M. Nixon issued a
statement to the Chemical and Biological Defense Policies and programs in 25th
November 1969. President Nixon saw two reasons to terminate the BW program.
One was to deflect growing prospects over Vietnam. The program was cancelled
due to the dangers that could have confront the US from its enemies. The
second factor was because a budgetary reason. At that time when the President
Nixon read his statement, the budget was $300 million which was vey high at
that time.
References:
Wikipedia, Statement on Chemical and Biological Defense Policies and Programs,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statement_on_Chemical_and_Biological_Defense_Polici
es_and_Programs. April 2019, Accessed: 13/05/2019
Chemical and Biological weapons, https://www.icrc.org/en/document/chemical-
biological-weapons. April 2013, International committee of red cross, (Accessed:
13/05/2019).
6. (5 pts) Describe the role of Fritz Haber on WWI, chemical warfare and
our food supply.
Haber was able to synthesize ammonia from Hydrogen and Nitrogen (the Haber
Process). This made him to earn a Nobel prize in 1918. During WWI, he
developed poison gas and supervised its development and production in 1915.

It was with this process that mass production of agricultural fertilizers was
done leading to a huge increase in crops production thus plenty of food
especially during that time of the war.
References:
Fritz Haber, https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/fritz-haber. Science
History Institute, (Accessed: 13/05/2019).
7. (5 pts) List the location, nature, and size of known or suspected
repositories of chemical and biological warfare agents.
a) PRE 20TH CENTURY:
i. 1347. Repositories: Mongol forces. “the black death”.
Location: Black sea, port of Caffa (Feodosiya, Ukraine). “the
black death”.
Agent: plague infested bodies.
Casualties: 25 million people dead. (1/3 of world population by
then).
ii. 1710. Repositories: Russia against Sweden
Location: Reval, (Now Tallin, Estonia).
Casualties: unknown
iii. 1763. Repositories: British troops against Indians. (Poritias rebellion)
Location: Fort Pitt (Now Pittsburg)
Agent: smallpox,
b) 20TH CENTURY
i. 1914-18. World war I
Repositories: Germany versus Eastern and Western troops.
(Clandestine Program)
Agent: plague infested bodies.
ii. 1937. Repositories: Japan against China
Location: china
Agent: smallpox, cholera, antrax.
Casualties: 3000
c) TERRORISM
i. 1984. Location: Ranjeesh, US.
751 people dead.
ii. 1990- 1995. Japan.
Repositories: AUM Shinrikyo
Agent: anthrax
iii. 2001-02. AlQaeda. (anthrax – laden letters).
Location: New York, US.
Casualties, 5 dead, 22 Hospitalized.
iv. 2012-18. Syrian military. Produced at Darmascus.
 17 October 2012. Location: Salqin
 23 December 2012. Location AlBayadad

 21 August 2013. Location: Tarma.
Casualties: 734 civilians dead
 2 August 2013. Location: Muadamiy alSham
Casualties: 103 dead
 4 April 2017. Khan Shaykhan
Casualties: 100+ dead
 28 November 2018. Location: Aleppo
Casuaties: 107 dead
References.
Barry R, Biological Weapon, https://www.britannica.com/technology/biological-
weapon#ref272094, 2019, Encyclopedia Britannica, (Accessed: 13/05/2019).
Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil war,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_chemical_weapons_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War.
May 2019, Wikipedia, (Accessed: 13/05/2019).
8. (5pts) What are the ways sophisticated countries could conceivably still
test aspects of nuclear explosions that can lead to new and improved
designs of nuclear weapons? What about biological and chemical
weapons?
Sophisticated counties can test nuclear weapons in the atmosphere using air
ballons, on towers, dropping from planes, and on islands.
Testing can also be done in the underground (underground testing). However,
this caused earthquakes.
Underwater. Usually can be done to test to evaluate effects on military ships.
Exoatmospheric. Tests could be done above the atmosphere.
9. (10 pts) Analyze whether chemical weapons provided any unusual gains
for their users in WWI, WWII, and between them. Why?
The French army used tear gas against Germany in WWI in August 1914. French
won. There was no way the French could have won that war that year since
Germany was very strong but they won.
The German forces used Poison gas against British at Neuve Chapelle. British
forces were easily defeated.
The German forces used a lethal gas (chlorine) against Russia defending Fortress
of Osoweic in August 1915. At this time, Russia was still strong. 9000 Russian
troops died 1000 more Germans. Germany won.
So, it is evident that whoever uses these weapons always won. However, there
are casualties both sides.

References:
Chemical weapons in WWI,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_weapons_in_World_War_I. May 2019,
Wikipedia, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).
10. (10 pts) Some argue that a small dose of radiation is acceptable
while others argue that no dose is safe. Analyze the arguments of both
sides and decide who is right in your opinion.
Various concentrations levels cause various effects. Below is a summary of the
effects of radiations to human beings at various concentration.
Concentrati
on
mSv
Exposure
period
effects
0 - 50 Long period No observable effects
50 - 100 long period Results non existent or too small to
observe
100 -500 long period Increases chances of cancers. Red
blood cells decrease.
500 - 1000 short period Chances of getting cancer increases.
Changes in red blood cells
1000 - 2000 Short period
Long period
Nausea and fatigue.
Chances of getting cancer are increased
2000 - 3000 Short period
Long period
Nausea and vomiting
Fatal. Medical attention recommended.
3000 - 5000 Short period Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss,
medical attention required. Half of the
people exposed die.
5000 - 12000 Short period Death in a few days
More than
100000
Short period Death within hours
From the table we see that at concentrations between 0 and 100 mSv, the
risk of getting cancer is small and too small to have impact to a population.
High concentrations even when exposed for a short time are very fatal and
can cause death within hours.
References.

Effects of radiation, https://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-and-me/effects-of-
radiation.html. Radiation and Me, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).
11. (10 pts) Analyze the differences between a hypothetical terrorist
attack on a major city contrasting the realistic effects of possible
chemical, biological, and dirty bomb attack.
There are various hypothetical differences that should be noted on weapons of
mass production.
First, location of attack. For biological and chemical attacks, the targeted places
would be highly congested streets, halls such as churches. For nuclear attack,
important installations in a city are targeted. Examples landmarks, railway
stations, tall buildings, airports, and monuments. Effects. The effects of a
chemical and biological weapons are slower as compared to those of a dirty
bomb. Some of the biological attacks takes time to be noticed. The effects of a
chemical attack can affect people who are very far from the place of attack since
most of those diseases are communicable. A bomb attack majorly affects those
within the locality. However, radiations from nuclear bombs causes mutations
which can be passed to future generations. Mostly a small-scale bomb attack will
only disrupt day operations of the affected building. People will continue their
day to day activities in other parts of the cities. When a chemical or biological
weapon attack happens almost all operations in the city stops as people are
evacuated from the city.
12. (10 pts) How to distinguish between the seismic signature of a small
nuclear device and a large traditional chemical explosion (assume
identical kT yield).
Chemical explosions have a lower magnitude as compared to nuclear explosions.
The characteristics of the seismic waves (P waves) depend on the amount of the
chemical gas produced into the cavities created by the blast. The P waves
produced are affected by the gas produced. This produces high frequency
waves. High frequency waves are weakened faster than low frequencies. As a
result, the waves are absorbed by ground noise and the waves do not travel far
distance.
On the other hand, nuclear bombs cause waves of low frequencies. As a result,
they are bigger in magnitude and more fatal. The waves are detected long
distances away.
References.
Seismic signature of small underground chemical blasts linked to gas released in
explosion, https://phys.org/news/2015-09-seismic-signature-small-underground-
chemical.html. Seismological society of America, September 2015, (Accessed on
13/05/2019).

13. (5 pts) Describe how the chemical weapons of Syria were destroyed
and argue whether it was the right way or not.
Chemical weapons were destroyed according to the Chemical Weapons
Convention (CWC). Traditionally, the chemicals were burnt in a furnace at very
high temperatures (27000 C). however, not all the gas is burnt since some of the
gas escapes and can lead to pollution. In Syria, chemical weapons were
destroyed by neutralization. Hot water and sodium hydroxide were used to
neutralize mustard gas. BLU – 119/B crashpad, thermite and phosphorous are
other reagents used to neutralize sarin gas.
References.
Hambling. D,These Are Syria's Chemical Weapons. Here's How To Destroy Them,
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a19804988/how-to-destroy-
syrias-chemical-weapons/, April 2018, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).
14. (10 pts) What are the chemical and biological weapons stockpiles of
the countries of the word Today? Try to assemble an inventory for at
least 3 countries. Please provide solid references.
a) Albania. Chemical weapon. The country was never cleared by OPCW.
b) China. Biological weapons. A 2010 report of the US State Department does
not show Chinas efforts to comply with BWC.
c) US. Biological weapon. Still does research in the name of biodefense
program.
References.
Chemical and biological weapons status at a glance. Accessed from:
https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cbwprolif. June 2018, Arms control
Association, (Accessed on 13/05/2019).