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[b.2.]
SUBJECT:  IIR 2 340 0317 90/IRAQI USE OF A NEW BLISTER AGENT IN IRAN-IRAQ WAR
WARNING:  THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DOI:  860717
[b.2.]
[b.1. sec. 1.5.c.]
					WITNESSED A CHEMICAL ATTACK AND WAS IN 
CONTACT WITH CHEMICAL CASUALTIES.
SUMMARY:      THIS REPORT FORWARDS INFORMATION REGARDING USE AND EFFECTS 
OF A BLISTER AGENT BY IRAQ DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR.
TEXT:     1.       SYMPTOMS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE -- WATERY EYES 
(IMMEDIATE REACTION), AFFECTED AREA TURNED WHITE (30 SECONDS), RED 
CIRCLE AROUND WHITE AREA, SWELLING OF AFFECTED AREA, WHITE AREA TURNED 
BROWN (20-24 HOURS), BROWN AREA TURNED INTO AN OPEN WOUND (ONE WEEK).  
(FLD CMT  --   [b.1. sec. 1.5.c.] REFERRED TO THE AGENT AS PHOSGENE.  
HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED MATCH THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF 
PHOSGENE OXIME (CX)  [b.2.]
2.       USAGE  --  [b. 1. sec. 1.5.c.]    STATED THAT PHOSGENE 
WAS ONLY USED BY IRAQ A FEW TIMES.   [b.1. sec. 1.5.c.]  FELT THAT 
IRAQ'S EMPLOYMENT OF PHOSGENE WAS FOR TESTING PURPOSES.
3.       PENETRATION  --  [b.1. sec 1.5.c.]  STATED THAT PHOSGENE 
COULD PENETRATE THE M-17 PROTECTIVE MASK, AND AN U/I WEST GERMAN 
PROTECTIVE MASK.  (FLD CMT -- IRANIAN TROOPS HAD TROUBLE WITH FITTING 
MASKS PROPERLY BECAUSE MANY IRANIANS WERE BEARDED.   [b.1. sec. 1.5.c.]  
STATED THAT MANY OF THE IRANIAN TROOPS WERE ILL-DISCIPLINED IN THEIR 
USE OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.)
4.       COMPOSITION --  [b.1. sec. 1.5.c.]      STATED THAT PHOSGENE 
TURNED FROM A PASTE TO AN OILY LIQUID AT 20 DEGREES CENTIGRADE.   
[b.1. sec. 1.5.c.]  ALSO STATED THAT PHOSGENE WOULD TURN GASEOUS AT
 VERY HIGH AIR TEMPATURES, SIMILAR TO THOSE IN SAUDI ARABIA.
[b.1. sec. 1.5.c]
[b.2.]