Use of Toxins and Other Lethal Chemicals in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan
SpecialnteUitencf Etllautf MMoorandom to Holden
CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGfi/ifd RELEASEf il TIZEQ
MEMORANDUM TO HOLDERS
USE OF TOXINS AND OTHER LETHAL CHEMICALS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN
u
.
THIS ESTIMATE IS ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE BOARD CONCURS. The following InleSgance orgoniiations participated In tlie preparation of Ihe Estimate:
Ihe Centrol iMtttoence Agency, Ihe Delenie Intelligence Agancy. the Notional Security Agency, and the iniefligence rxpanirotiori o< the Deporlmant of Side.
Alio Participoling:
Th* Atirtlarrf Om4Stall lor Inteb^mce. Deportment of lhe Army Iheol Novolo*nee. Deportment ol lh* Hcrey Ihe Aiiiilonlol Staff. InteCgeoce. Deportment olAlV Force The Director ol InlaKgenee, Heodouo'ieri, Marino Cor pi
KEY JUDGMENTS
In the year that has elapsed since the publication of, the use of chemical and toiin agents has continued and we have found nothing in the evidence acquired since (he beginning2 that would contradict our earlier findings on any of the countries wilh which we ire concerned. The evidence has continued to come from many different sources and has amplified our understanding of events of previous years as well as events occurring
In Afehanistan, the Soviets have continued to use chemical agents selectively, through at leastnalyses of physical samples have, for the first time, provided evidence of mycotoiins. Chemical agents other than toxins have abo been used, but wc have not yet been able to identify them through sample analysis.
In Laos, Vietnamese and Lao troops, under Soviet supervision, have continued to use lethal and incapacitating chemicals and toiins against the H'Mong resistance, through at least
In Kampuchea, the Vietnamese forces have continued to use lethal and incapacitating chemicals and toxins against the DK and KPNLF resistance forces, through, at least
fn Thailand,hai villages near the Kampuchean border for the first lime became targets of Vietnamese chemical attacks. Samples from these attacks have been analyzed and trichothecene mycotoiins have been identified.
Physical samples from both Laos and Kampuchea providelhat trichothecene mycotoiins are among the agentsearlier conclusions on this have been reinforced by muchdata and additional chemical analyses
Toxins have been found in urine, blood, and tissues oTvictirns of "yellow tain" attacks and In samples of material collected from attack sites
Soviet implication in the provision and use of theseto be supportedby reporting from
defectors, resistance groups, and refugees
ndependent Investigations conducted by othernotably tliosc of Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Westwell as by private groups, yielded evidence and analysis broadly supportive of US conclusions.
DISCUSSION
Evidence ot Chemicol Wor lore In Looi
2 the Vietnam-se and Lao con-:their policy of using leiha! monli and totim against villagers and resistance force in Ijov While ihc pattern of attacks remained conuvlail with that of previousthe number o( fatalities reported per attack decreased The decreasethat leu lethal chemical aicnti Of lower ccrsceMrations of the same agents haved The deer care could, however, aba be attributed to other factors.'
The H'Monc population had alreadr beenbv the high (alalitiea andod is caused bv eailier attack* dating back at leait6
Surviving H'Mong people remaining in Laoi were more wiry and quick lo take cover at the first indication of an attack.
The H'Mong lurvlvon were not taking lime to count victims This Is supported by the very few reports that cite precise numbers for casualties in specific chemical attack*.
2 Descriptions of the attacks have not changed significantly. The H'Mong typically describe aircraft or helicopters asellow rainlike material on village* and crops, causing In the human targets the lamiliat hemorrhaging symptom* characteristic ol in CCKheccne toxin poisoning, as set forth in detail in the SNIFLumber of cases, however, only abdominal pain and prolonged Anraa, and no bleeding, were reported. The divergence oflso observed in earlier years, suggests that Other agents or combina lions of agents are aho being used One likelyis that dilferent solvent] or carriers, eiposure levels, and routes ol absorption for the same agent* alter their eflicacv in individual attacks. Tlie situation ii further complicated by the (act lhat differentwomen, children, andeihibit different symptoms.
ho trichot heccne lotins thai have been iilrnii liod by the United Slate* are only one of the compo-
nents of "yellowhere Is much that we do not know about lhe total composition of the material sprayed or dropped from aircraft, or about other chemicals that may be in use. For eiatnpte. the K'Mors ecrrider the red smoke they have observed in rocket/artillery munitions as more toiic than the "yellowhey have also reported the usereen gas andhite sticky substance that driedowder and produced smallpoi-like rash and necrosis of tlie skin. These report* Indicate that several different types of agents have been used both lo inflict casualties on the resistance force* directly, and to drive the H'Mong from their vutages by contaminating the environment.
<acquired2 es-
tends and lupports our earlier judgment that the Soviet* aie directly involved In chemical warfare supporthis Involvement includes training, storage and inspection, and supervision of use of chemical agent* Conclusive proof of Soviet supply of the chemical agents is still lading Indeed, given the limited collection possibilities lnd opportunitiesto ul. inch proof is unlikely to be acquired.
In Kampuchea
2 the Vietnamese demonstrated theirlo the international concern over the use of chemical watfare byumber of attack* near tlie Thai border (a! least sir occurred on Thai territory) and by continuing the attack* even while the UN investigating team was in Thailand Prorimrty and visibility of the attacks made collection of freshfor analyii* much easier than wa* lhe cue in Laos and Alghanistan That proxintily alao allowed other governments and international organ Ira lion* torecent victims and collect evidence '
6ampucheaider range of source* and kinds of information than In previous years. The earlier chemical attack* were conducted primarilythe Democratic Kampuchea (DK) troops, who served as the main source of Information At present,lso obtained from the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Thai and other government representatives. Vietnam, esc defectori. and international orgsniiations.
he number of deaths reported per attack abo decreased in Kampuchea. As In Lacs, the decrease may be captained bv Vietnamese use of less tone chemicals or less effective methods of dissemination or by improved counter measures taken by DK forces and
other intended victims As In previous yean, both Vietnamese and resistance forces claimed deaths and
casualties from poisoned food and water.
S. The combat situation in Kampuchea is much different' from thatos Therereaterof direct engagement of field combat forces, frequently involving eichanges of artillery fire.shells are often fiiod on opposing forces or theirestern Intelligence service has verified at least one such chemical attack Into Tltai reports, five Vietnamese also spreadalong traits and the border. As lo Laos, there are also confirmed reports of aircraft spraying "yellow rain."
first positive identification ofcame1imple collectedSince that time, samples ofsoil, and water, as well as human blood,autopsy tissue, have been collected andanalyses have been positive, showing thathave continued to use toiinssamples have continued to be negative.agents or combinations are also beingwe have not yet bean able to identifysample analysis.
In Afghanistan
The Soviets liave continued selective use of chemical agents throughout the past year against resistance forces and against villages that did not cooperate with the Afghan authorities Reports2 have amplified and added credibility to our earlier findings In Afghanistan there is no question that the Soviets themselves are using chernieal agents and possibly toiins In addition, we continue to receive reports that the Soviets have provided chemical agents to the Afghan loices for use against the Muiahedin
For the first time we have evidence of the presence of trichothecene mycotoiim in Afghanistan, through the discovery of toiin contaminationiece of Soviet protective equipment, laboratory
analysisoviet protective mask has revealed lhe presenceoiin (samplennci D.uantity oficrocram on the area ciamined (one-fourth of the mask) This finding was confirmed independently by three different'
Abo for the first time, the United Statesa largeets) of new (unused) Soviet gas masks, canisters, and complete protective suits capturedoviel convoy by Muiahedin forces ino information on the location of the attack or intended destination of the convoy isIt Is reasonable to hypothesiie that the Soviels would not provide such protective gear to their forces in Afghanistan unless theyeed forthat is. for use in connection with employment of CW agents and weapons. Comprehensive protective gear of this sort would not be required as protection against the kinds of nonlethal riot control chemicab that the Muiahedin have been accused of using.
Reporting from Afghanistan had long includeddescriptions of events similar loellow rain"
attacks reported from Southeast Asia. However,of the remoteness of attack sites and difficulties in sample collection, wc have been unable to obtain physical evidence of the presence of mycotoiins In Afghanistan until the recent confirmation ofn the Soviet gas mask. This now greatly strengthens our previous assessment that "toiinshave been used
The biggest mystery remains tlie identification ol the other agents being used. Some famuiar CW agents can be inferred from descriptions of signs and symptoms. For example, live medical effects resulting from some chemical attacks arc consistent with the use of the nerve agent tabun. (Reportedly, tabun is one of the agents present tn the CW stocks maintained bv Soviet forces inther reports indicate use of an incapacitating agent that causes unconscious-neu for several hours.
As early0 we began receiving reports of Soviet forces diopping or pumping one or more chemical agents inlo tunnels, caves, and underground waterways where resistance forces and their families take shelter. Reports of those incidents containof symptoms that have puzzled the experts Of particular concern arc reports of rapid blackening and decomposition ofescription thai fits none of the CW agents known to US Tlse frequency
SCOBOt-
consistency of (hue accounts from many different Iribal groups have led ui to conclude (hit (hey must be taken seriously and thai we may be dealingew class of chemical or loiin agent or with combinations not previously known to the West. In one ease. US intelligence officers interviewed eyewitnesses whothat gasoline and probably diese) fuel were poured into tunnels and Ignited with incendiaryand shells. The number of deaths and condition of the bodies were consistent with fire and asphyxiation.
has been no change in llse mannerof the chemical substances. Thedelivery system still appears to befiring CW rockets, droppingor canisters, or spraying chemicals directly.
.findings From Other Countries
rowing body of internationalthat supports the US findings ofuse. Non-US private experts andcollected and independently analyzedhave obtained testimony from witnesses offrom medicalew examples follow.
IS. Non-American physicians with good credentials In tropical medicine have testified that they have treated chemical warfare victims. Forrench physician has provided testimony on hitof victimsampuchean hospital. Similar testimony came fromSwedish international Red Cross worker Inew Zealand doctor and his British associate at the World Vision Hospital at Dan Vinai refugee camp are convinced that H'Mong srillagers are victims of repeated chemical warfare attacks in Laos. An Increasing number of thesehave made strong public statements and. to date, not one doctor who has examined victims claiming CW Injury has publicly or privately disputed his claims after examination
wo French physicians who worked Indescribed the unusual wounds caused by what they believe were poisoned bullets. French scientists have found trichothecenc toxins In sample) Irom Southeast Asia. Thai scientists have reported finding mycotoxins in their samples.
acquired
portions of gas masks from attack sites in ATghanislan
The tests conducted on them are as yet incomplete, bul early Indications and some signs and symptoms of persons handling the contaminated masks suggest that chemical agents were used in the attacks.
Several carefully done epidemiological studies have been prepared by Canadian governmental and academic Institutions. Their findings are consistent with ours on all but technically minor points.
The2 report of the UN Experts Croup provided as much support as the United States could reasonably expect fromultilateral entity. The document supported individual US claims in moreozen specific technical areas, faulted the Soviet "scientific explanation" in strong language, and declared other hypotheses (other than use of CW) to be remote and inconsistent with the humanand the laboratory data at hand. Its failure to support the US charges fully was attributed by most of the world press to theof the Experts Croup.
Implications for Intelligence
The fact that chemical and toxin agentsto be used in Laos. Kampuchea, and Afghanistanighly publicized UN Investigation,pressure on the Soviet, Vietnamese, and Lao Covcmmenls, and growing international acceptance ol the evidence suggests that the perpetratingdo not believe that their activities are as yet sufficiently damaging politically to warrant theirThis is not to say that Moscow. Hinoi. and Vientiane have ignored the charges being levied against them. But rather than stopping the illegal use of chemical and toxin agents, they haveajor propaganda counteroffcnsive.
In2 the Soviels submitted astudy to the UN blaming the toxin poisoning in Laos and Kampuchea on US use of herbicides during the Vietnam war. The Soviet study claims thaiuse of herbicides allowed toxin-producing fungi to flourish in Vietnam. Winds then allegedly blew the spores into Laos and Kampuchea, contaminating the environment. It is surprising that tlie Soviet Academy of Sciences would lend its name to the production ofcientifically indefensible paper. Nevertheless, the overall Soviet counter propaganda effort has not been without effect in diverting public attention away fiom the Soviel actions and focusing them on the
proposed US chemical warfare modernizationand on past US use of herbicides in Vietnam. An international scientific conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in3 to call attention to the long-term effecti of herbicide use on nature and man
he comprehensive assessment of the CWthat the United States has published and briefed worldwide in classified and unclassified form has helped to persuade many governments that lethal agents, including loiins. are being used and that the
Soviet Union is implicated. Thereeluctance on the part of most governments, however, to levy such charges publicly- Governments are loath toublic position on the issue because to acknowledge that the USSR has violated its internationalis to call Into question the trustworthiness of the USSRarty to arms (imitation agreements. Even the most conclusive and incontrovertible intelligence evidence is unlikely to galvanize other governments into forceful public positions on an issue that has such politically unpleasant implications.
6
ANNEX A
INCREMENTAL EVIDENCE
I. H'Monc refugees: colored1 (lie camps In Thailand every monlh Irom January thioughelling stories o( chemical attacks and exhibiting severe medical symptoms from exposure lo agents. They also brought more samples of material contaminated wilh the sticky yellow substance described as "yellowropped by aircralt and Iselicopters on their villages and crops. More st or tea ot families, animals, and vegetation being killed by Vietnameseoweapons have been addedist dating backe know that the "yellow rain" contains In-chothocene toains and perhaps other substances which cause vomiting, bleeding, and blistering. Doctors at the Ban Vuu: refugee camp observed victims2 with far worse skin lesions than the small blisters noted In previous years. Moreover, many more survivorsof latent illness long after the eiposureabulales the attacks foi this period.
edical personnel In Thai relugee camps were much better organized to screen for victims than in past years. This Is particularly true for the World Vision hospital In tlie Ban Vlnai refugee camp, where doctors now routinely use comprehensive question naires and conduct medical examinations, including some on-site preliminary blood analysis Skilledpersonnel alio oversee preparation of blood and scrum samples for chemical analysis in tlie United States or other countries Therefore, the US Embassy reports now Include far more detail than before The Canadian Government has widely disseminated photo graphs of victims with severe skin lesions Some patients with active and continuing symptoms arc being treated in Thai hospitals
3 We have noted differences in the symptom, described in reporting during Ihe past year aswith pieccding yeatt Sevete and prolonged vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and blistering are still commonly reported, while the dramatic descriptions of massive bleeding and aapld death have almost disappeared Another set of symptoms, cliatacicn/cd
bv incapacitation and uncorianousncss. but no blisters or bleeding and no deaths, his been noted in the past year Both general categories of injury can also be accompanied by long-term physical damage.
A number of biological samples have beenfrom Laos for analysis in Ihe United States. Simples include, lor eiample, blood specimens fromictims eiposed to six different CW attacks during the period January through Mayllwete drawn by medical personnel. Samples were refrigerated until analyzed In the United States.of these blood samples shows that trichothecenc mycotoxins continue to be used against H'Mong(See annex D,. lor details)
In addition to biological specimens from victims exposed to CW, six environmental and miscellaneous collections thatndividual samples were obtained. These Included residueyellow rain" attack, some vials of chemicals allegedly takenilitary warehouse in Vientiane and reportedly used to potion wells and small streams, and containers of environmental materials (such as leaves and pebbles! allegedly contaminated by CW agents. Analyses have indicated the pretence ol one or more trichothecenc! in several powders and vegetation samples In none o( the samples thus (ar analvred have we seen evidence ol traditional chemical watfaie (gents
fi. In some "yellow rain" samples, pollenefinite and discrete jiac range was found The pollen Claim rangod fromoicrons Iniic thatignificant inhalationoicrons has traditionally beenas optimum lor lung saturation and0icron particleseater total retcn tartn in the upper moratory tract (SO toercent, as compared wilhocroeot) The plaril sources ol most of the pollens were identified as flowers, and the pollens wete of types lhal are not windhocne TI--limttcd site range, concentration, and dissemination of this pollen led In the suggestion thai pollen mayomponent ol yellow ervingarrio
structurentroduce lhe trichoilioccncs lo thetract. Very lew simples have been ol sufficient quantity to check fo* the presence of pollens.
Kampuchca
o dale the meat persuasive scientific evidence of mycotorin use hai come from Kampuchea Blood and other tissue taken from CW attack victim! have been found lo contain Irieotheccne toiins For exam-pie. analysis of blood and urine liken from two victirm withinoursW attick showed tracesndor detaiU of Ihii and other analyses, sec annex D.utopsy data now available also support tlie conclusion that mycotoiins have been employed offensively (see annei E)
In February andeveral attacks occurred rust across the Kampuchea" border InAnalysis of samples collected from the attacks was performed in Canada. Thailand, and the United States Although differing sampling techniques give rise to significant sampling error and lead to. slightly different analytical results, both the US and Thai analysts, using different analytical techniques, found trichothecene mrootoains In their samples' Theteam investigating these attacks hasetailed medical assessment of the victims* symptoms: it concluded that Illness had In fict occurred and was causedoiic agent, although preliminary tests for trichothecenes proved iDconclusivc in the Canadian in pic
Several Vietnamese militaiy defectors have pro vided information on tlie use ol cliemical weapons and the Vietnamese chemical warfare program. Thev state that the Vietnamese have used Soviet chemicalin Kampuchea and Laos. They have also stated that Soviet-supplied chemical munitions wereto Vietnamese forces to use against the Chinese
attacks were abo conductedhmerational Liberation Front.occasions that year, in lhe March-May period
' ItOmit* miiuM,iioiLn rettr-
d'op?e4 eneel *tartoufn
atOKtWdunndii US wopW lulrHi i'wIu Wiuun dm of ulIi *aitw TJjI MihiitHnliSi iiwatoncnl thai only
Hovrtn. TXai pft&iiU lal'r
Piled <bil lunhn ml-iii Iima ol IimI" indlK-
eirtier llciilli Mi*uli tutol em linompkte
tnwiliaitinn
and again in October, their camp at ana was hit
with chemical artillery shells and bombs. Samples of
contaminated vegetation and yellow residue from
2 attack have been partially analyzed and
several special analyses will be done on them when
t have been fully examined.
the October-November dry seasonevidence that the Vietnamese liad chemicaland were equipping their troops withequipment. It appeared that thewere prepared to increase their use ofagenls and other relativelyduring the dry season. Subsequentthat that Indeed had happened.
Afghanistan
evidence from Afghanistan isthat from Southeast Asia. It has .beenobtain fresh samples of any type. However,on chemical attacks comesider varietyand sensitive collection throughout theprovides evidence to corroborate HUMINT
I
Accordingormer Afghan Army officer, inoviet helicopterellow mist In Paktia Province (Sheik) that causedeaths. The survivors had bloody tears and noses: extensive bleeding was reported In those who died. The Afghan officerimilar attack in Nangarhar Province in the same month, in which four persons were killed.
Since0 we have had numerous reports of Soviet use of chemical agents on resistance forces and their families who were hiding in caves, tunnels, and undergroundUMINT source who has reported reliably In the past says that, on2 Soviet soldiers poisoned underground waterways in Lowgar Province south of Kabul where the Muiahedin wereujihcdin corrunandcr in Pakistanimilar event In the same province oneptember, which resulted In the deaths ofen andhildren. Both sourceshemical substance being pumpedose Irom an armored vehicle into the waterways. Furthermore, villagers who have witnessed Soviet operations against underground waterways havetestimony at international meetings describing in detail how the Soviets have used chemical agents and explosives in this way.uban emigre
I
-
In the use of Soviet chemical weapons hai previouslyissemination technique that involves pumping lethal catose
IS. In both of these September attacks, the victims' bodies reportedly decomposed rapidly, and the flesh peeled away when attempts were nude to move9 Muiahedin resistance leaden,Journalists, and Afghan defectors have described chemical attacks that caused almost identical Most reports have portrayed the skin as being blue-black after death Such symptoms seem bizarre, but the large number of reportsariety of sourcei suggests they cannot be dismissed as mere propaganda. For eiample. an Afghanospital In Kabul1ictim of what he believeshemical attack. The patient had blackened skin, which was very shiny csceptarge number of spots all over live body. He and other doctors were told they could not attend the patient. Moreoviet soldier who defected lo the Muiahedin saidress Interviewoviet CW agent calledhich0 percentauses the flesh to become very soft.
he defector also said that the Soviets had stores of "picricnd an Incapacitating agenl in Qotidui and Kabulubsequent Interview it was determined lhat the "picric acid" referred to was chloropicrin. an eitrernely strong irritating agent with an Inhalation lethality nine times greater than that of chlorine. The defector said that "smersh" was delivered by rockets firedelicopter and that chloropicrin and the Lacapacitating agent wereIn cylinders and releasedent in the aircraft. Several Mujihedin have described tanks or cylinders outside helicopters from which chemicals are sprayed.
urther, the defector reported that chemical agents had been used in2ighway between Termei and the Salang Pass north of Kabul. He slated that the Soviets have been preoccupied with protecting the roads and that chemicals were (prayed by pUnes along the ireai adjacent lo highwaysgrenades reportedly have been used. We suggest that the grenades contain toiic smokes, but the data
U <h* ua*aWecorvJI. uM
ihM WW douVnt-oiwd iKn. fWS.Mf hour
are inadequate to allow us to hypothcsltc about the contents beyond that.
he British sournalbi who interviewed thedefector cited above alto reported on two attacks he had heard about Irom other sources. One was an attack in the spring2 on Kaiba, where Soviet soldiers shot victims rendered unconsciousas. Tbe other was near Herat in the summer2 when Soviets reportedly loaded tlie bodies ot victimsai attackruck and look them away, possibly for autopsy.
n Afghan physician based in Quclta, Pakistan, told US officials2 that he had treatedujahedin tor red skin lesions which he uid were caused by Soviet CW attacks in Qandahar Province in May or2 The Mujahedift chimed that Soviet helicopters fired rockets which emitted gases onyellow, and white in color. Threedied withinours of one attack. In the general area of Maharijat south of Qandahar. The physician said that tlse victims did not respond to antibiotics or topical treatment and his Mood analysis was inconclusive.
earlyIgroup of ISescape to Pakistan were attacked byusingthat killed four or five ofand oldest) and rendered the restfor five or sir. hours. The attack occultedkilometers northwest of Jalalabad.
Afghan iliport officialat Qandahar Airport that were paintedand browns Tlse containers generallynches high and abouloivcltcs(This size generally matches thai ofknown to be used by the Soviets to store CWtheir chemicalriend of the official atsaid that the containers held chemicalsthe Afghan resistance. He describedOne caused burning in the throat andone caused what looked like imallpoi andand the third made victims lired and sleepyIhey could not run or fight. Further, thelhat the containers are put into specialare dropped Irom aircraft and ciplode ona large cloud of smoke, usually yellow,other colors
u)jhcdm sources described tanks firingIn1 in Che Arghandab Valley whichoggy mist thai renderedembers ol the resistance loco unconscious Tlie Soviets carried their lifeless-appearing bodies aIn armorrd veh* ctea
nformation received this year revealedoviet adviser who. Inas inspecting sites for Quartering Soviet contingency Iroops, before the invasion, indicated that Soviet chemical defense forces entering the country would bring stores of tosic materials. The adviser indicatedroposednear Kabul would be inappropriate for Ihe Soviet
chemical unit because the materials it transported would devastate the cily if an accidenthemical defense unit posseiaes decon-taminants that require care in handling, they are not toxic enough toreat numlier of casualties. The statement therefore suggests that chemicalunits, at least during contingency or wartime conditions, are responsible for offensive chemicalmaterials. This fa supportedormer Soviel soldier stationed In the Baltic Military District in the- He said that the chemical defense battalion of his division was responsible for maintaining the chemical warheads for the division's FROC-7i
A *
gtenet
ANNEX B
COMPOSITION OF "YELLOW RAIN"
euci composition ol tlie material known as "yellow rain" has nol boon determined. We arc certain that one oi mare trlcliothccene (oilns arc included. These may, be responsible in whole or in part lot the symptom* reported bv victiim of the attacks. These victim) experience icvere and .prolonged vomit-inc. nausea, and bleeding and often die (sometimesometimes days,ew cases the victims have survived with only skin lesions. These who have entered an atea after an attack andthe dry. line powder developed ikin rashes If thev inhaled the powder, they developed abdominal pain, and various decrees of nausea, vomiting,and other minor symptoms Still others develop medical ptobletnt (and sometimes die) from intestine contaminated food and/or water.
The descriptions of "yellow rain"et. sticky substance when disseminated and at leaving aresidue afterward suggests that some type of liquid it present. If present, it may serve to facilitate dissemination, as from the Iptay tanks of airplanes. It may also serve to facilitate ikin penetration of the toxins. There is also the possibility thatierol-cal, if used, is itself toxic, and it tcsponslble lor some of th- central nervous system elloctt which have been reported and which cannot lie explained by the pres. ence of trichothecenes alone Preliminaryof such material has been made through sample analysis
3 Pollenefinite site range has been foundew "yellow rain" samples by US. British, and Australian personnel The pollen grains wereoicrons inie range that poses ainhalation haiard and which it significantly narrower than would be expectedandom sample Plani sources of moil ol the pollens were identified asoweri Tbe pollens wereype that is not generally windbornc. laeal rather it collected by insects This type of pnllrn can be commercially collected llic limited nirr range, concentration, and dissemtna lion of this pollen have led us to suspect that pollen mayoiiinoneul of lhe "yellow rain" mixture, possibly servinganter to Introduce trichothe-cencs into the respiratory tract In only one sample thus far have pollens and trichotheeciiei born linked.
Too few samples have been analysed for tlie presence of pollen to conclude with certainty that ftsual constituent ol "yellowe continue tothe possibility.
The final, lantabring possibility is that aflatoainart of lhe mixture. The evidence for thts is tenuous at bat. but still worth considering. As noted in annex F, aflaloxln Bl was found in autopsy tissuesyellow rain" attack victim- This certainly could be the result of Ingestion of naturally conUmfnaled food sources; it also could have been acquired at tlie time of lhe attack. Tlie second piece ol relevant data is the finding In one residue sampleomponent of purified aflatoiin from laboratory cultures of aflatoiin Bl. The presence of this ceaatponent suggests strongly that not all ol the matcrial-in the residue was present naturally. Note, however, that no aflatoiin Bl has yet been identified in residue samples, but the number of analyses for that particular toxin have been few. We know that aflatoxin research has been conducted in the USSR and that the toxin is lilted in the East German military manualsarfare agent. Wc abo have (hauled) intelligence reporting that the Soviets have conducted research oo toxic extracts of mixed lungal cultures, although the strains of fungi were nor specified Finally, we know that tlie trichot hecenes and aflatoiin act synergistically Tint aflatoiin mayomponent ol "yellow rain" is al presentypothesis, but the bits of data aie suggestive ol this and we continue to look for evidence, lo prove Ot disprove the hypothesis.
Certainly the variation in symptoms reported after "yellow rain" attacks can be explained in part by the differences In physical condition, age. scr. and degree of exposure of victims. Some of the differences In severity of symptoms could also perhaps beby the thassible admixture in "yellow rain" of other tubstaneei acting synergist tea llv with live loiiris
learly we are not yet certain ot the composition of "yellow rain" beyond knowing that trichot hecenes arc present. As indicated above, however, theevidence allows us some woiking hypotheses thai may help us define the materials in the miiture moie IHOciscly.
SfCRCt
m 4
ummary of Cfacmical Warfare
Due of Altvck
of
Method
ol Cbemk*.
Kited
Xtiua It
Jin
efv
fun
LI *
n
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Pko* Bu
fit*
vu
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iortr
Feb
BU
Den
Virj.
powder
Feb
Bu
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Mm
Mir
riim.
Sin Viral
ipn*
raUi"
6u
rata"
Uu
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to Apt
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0 Apr
thw
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kn Vlnii
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aircraft
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Talile 02
Kampuchea: Summary of Chemical Warfare Attacks,
Date of Attack
IrJcrEmfiAn
MctKod
of ClteiTi.oJi
Killed
TiVtrn If)
Feb
mi
tilery itteftt
IWiutrtcd)
Feb
in
(powdcf
blown over bor*
Mar
7 Mir
j retail fpray. irtilery
powder
Mm
Sano
fpciy.
rtlllery
nibtlacvc
Mar
PiHvi^ce
Mir
irtilkry
Mir
OPwdcr
Mar
wiier
Apr
Chan (neif
Thai border)
mortir
cloud
Apr
irjf *v
Hew cowri^f
iy
offccial
iprav
PiWhce
commander
food ino*
one
QlJQ
round}
cloud
Ux-det
fv-jr
iCiimpuclieift
t-xdrr
ipfon troand
62
Trial
new iOmpoefce- bec der
rpny
Scp
Qua
Oct
droplets
DjcieVum
rfielk
2 Nov
Nov
v
artillery
Nov
weapon*
Nov
W
droptei
No-
Nov
fimiiitt
(tULlufti)
Nov
FVovince
(ivitfin Ivimr*
J
C'3
continued)
Himjidira. Summary ol Chemical Warfare3
f
Met tod
-.1
hi
oidn
.oid
(rxmr.li Inlo
il- Votm
Dec
Trent Rivet
lorrad
alent rite.
.
Ore -
Prali VlWa. Pio-inc*
Dec
Baa
at Ilea Iota
ol
IM
t wcond
Hon Cnant
pubBA iu on
edceelluiitle.round
l-ni.li o. pi.mi ri-poaedtell*t third
hetlaec
Route
oil
3
eMlte.ce
c--
ii-
inTrOi
Speu Province
Kampuchea
iprir
Feb
Ta/Ui
T-UcC4
AffJltJiiltan:f Chemical Warfare1
of
MtrUd
Mled
T.lca lit
Pfonw
Feb
of
cutTim*
ivbr-aAca
Fab
tubai net
em
Prorirxr
rrtodtxina
bomU<bljC
Province
iftdou
Mir fUCi
laa
Pronrw
aiile
acur^a. So*4afj
rtWmicaU or. Wiea klllad in artioo
Province
torn**
ren
bco-oa
%+lie, black tuei
Ktbvl and Trrmea
c-ka CSoviH de.eclor)
r*CM far
Pin rid |
aai"
pumped from armored wh.cV
MiSaJio
Sop
iKJOktpod from
aeklcvr
Sep-
early Oct
PraMoxa
- _
bamfa
Kabul
rr So**rJ toad-en
Nov
in
raw Vi Iir y
bomb*d on
3
Provi*ve
mthtaiy
office.
C-v
ANNEX D
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS AND TOXINS
Identification of (lie specific chemical agents being used in conflict areas (such t'< Ltoi, Kampuchea, and Afghanistan) depends on collection and analysis ol al lea it one ol (he folio wine environmental samples contaminated with acent. the munitioni used Ioagents, or biological ipecimem from attack victim*
Obtaining contaminated samples lhat will yield positive traces of specific chemical ic-nts is dependentumber of factors These Include the persistency of Ihe chemical, lhe ambient temperature, rainfall, and wind conditions; the media on which (he chemical was deposited; and ibe time, care, and packaging of the sample (torn collectionnalysisaboratory. Manv standard chemical warfare accrtu are nonpet-sislcnl and disappear fiom Ihc environmentew minutes to several hours alter being dispersed These include, (or ciimple, the nerve agents sarin and tabun. the blood ate rut hydrogen cyanide and cya no-ten chloride, (he choline agents phosgene and diphov gene. and lhe blistering acent (urt-caat) phosgeneOther slandard CWat the nerve agent* VX and thickened soman, and lhe Mistering agents sulfur mustard, mitogen muslard, andpersist for several days to weeks depending on weather conditions The Iricholheccne toxins are persistent bul may be diluted to below delectable concent rat tons by adverse weather conditionshe triclvollvocenrt are quite stable underlaboratory conditions, in the iidd they may be subject to microbial degradation
To mnimiie Ihe chances o( identificaiion and detection, sample Elections should be made as rapid ly as possiblehemieal assault, and wilh roamisnula lo hours Under thectrcum Uancc* ol Soulheaut Alia and Afgrunistan this has simply not been poasible, nor hat therespecifically developed and dissemlnalcd to these areas to aid colleclion of perishable samnlcs. While nuiuer nus samples have lieen collected, few of ihem held
realistic proipect for yielding positive resultsrandom samples arc collected, even under ideal conditions, thereide variability In (he corycentra-lion of agents detected in the samples This Is not surprising when one considers the many (actors lhat can affect sampling.
ama have been collected Irom Southeast Asia iincend from Afghanistan sinceo date,ndividual samplesgreatly vatying types and usefulness for analyticalhave been collected and analyzed for the presence of traditional CW agents, none of which have been detected On (he basis of rccoromctvia tionsed-cal and loiicological eiperts and of findings bv the US Army Chemical Systems Laboratoryany of the samples have been analysed for (hegroup of mventolins. Detaib concerning tbe samples, including the circumstances of theirand results of (heir analysis, are provided in, and D4
5 All environmental and riocsbiologioal samples: nutted lo USACSL for cceripeeoemiee analysis fnr unknowns, to include traditionally recognized chemi cal warfare agents and otherak materiab Tissue specimens and body fluids from victims of CW attacks are inbuilt ted to ihc Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (AFMIQ..as known as tlie US Army Medical Inlclllcenoe and Information Aeencynalyses of biologi cal samples for trichothecene and olhei mycofozins arc conducted under the sponsorship ol AFMlCby Or Oaesiet Miiocha,of Miaaacaota. Orv Rosen. Hutgers University, and Dr Tun Phillips. TexasUnivrntt* The US Food and Drug Ad miion has alsu assisted in analysis, asollen eapen Irom ihc Smithsonian Institute.
Unlets uttier-lw indicated, all human (issue andseenliiied in ibr umple lei taUe* were, relriecrited (IS der'minime ol collmv.ni until the. were
Hip in
Laos: Sample Collection and Analysis for Prcjcncc of Cliemical Warfare Agenls
Sample
Collected in9teoii-cl mikIi on IIMonj .libit HWonr
icf UCMtil Thail.
lain passedtmillS ofliciiU
IO! analysis.
Analytical fiesulii
Thai (Xtlmioiir analysts Miaifd tbe pre-eneeesicant fetbterinr.Anslvsb bv in indeoondenl US Iiboraio ry found no evidence ol vesicant or any other CW.
powder latdve on bimbo tbatchine from roof ti huL
Human (issue sample! (rainon* reportedly erposed lo a
act and hospiulHtd In
nly urine,lond, andputum samplesndays wereSamples Irom H'htonr. refucees aot aturted -ilb chemicalweie used as
control*.
re powder fiom cliemical alticl In victnliv of
Trllaw powder residue scriped
anana leaf in vlclnUv ol
Ban Deal
ooved'. air-et.il In Flu Mil Villie* InS) AO animal. Ind^d. Al leanpoor* died afla vomUla* bfcod, oouthinc vr> Wood, and suffer-incnosebleed, blurred vision, and difficult brracUna, Dried yellow spoil on bamboo thalcblna were aim* Jfl BiilbiHien In dijmetel- Sample fjven lo OS Amy medical team Innalysed by US Amy Chemical Systems Laboratory
Samples were laiei In0 fromud beenW attica. Anitywd forie. CoM.ol sample*on* ref-Moet not aaiwdW-ere.nalvred Sample, bein, retained it USACSLfor posstbfe addilawal inal-yns
r
HJjonr reuiajux liebi-Jindayof aiiact1SW Tlftily of ICO oosiJe became ill. none dWd. Given can El1 lo medical officer of Wee national oiianiiatWu. -ho Uanrieered
ii to US custody. Sample aenl to United
States1 Container wai no. opened unlil received al USACSL
: -v M.hi, refiireeT"
I atU-Tt on nonlrslde of moumatn near Dan Don
Samnlr .reeivedrom anlemilionit orfaiuutioo tl
1 and In US tKnaciiiel On 30
A1ot
until iocel-wl al USACSU
Total sample nf yellow material onitliirims No evidence offiie aaxoU waiyl .IcaWded^li-es.ossible rorfacunt or weiiimt aaenl lor inrcadmi otherdelected.
activity detennlnaUOni in the blood of etposed Individual* were nor stenllKiixly different from eonoat/un-enposcd personi Cholineslerise ictivUy wai very lo- In both lest and conuol subjects. No evidencen any of iheiamplea.
No evident* ol anyW arcul (Sample containedilLarimt ofot analyatd for (rkholhe tene toaini Teniaiively Weni.ltdwi
oolierpene. -W> has aHm.ln
to thai of tbe trtchodieeenc. Atso lovndyinooe and aroanalic hyiUoeai bons and oarbsByk
No evidente of anyW aceni SampSr contiinodo tol oo-der- Noi analyied I"
eeoc toiim Analysts did detoct aoauite-pene and cartpooyl aniuns. -bid. could be indicaterkbolWew
Si it pie Ducriptioa
YelTaw powderniHi-fiinu) from vlllaic of Muonc
Chi vi ihe rtnH Uii
HUlOlY of Sarnt*
H'Monceotleetedrom Cecil and lira .IterIS1 attackIh*of
MuoniTh>i.. S31 .ndMmplehai imIIcc .iiil-wltlea. -tio lomcd. to US Embus, efheer. Simple lor-.rclcd to US ouWIlorW .sects al USACSL An laWerced tolaboratory foi Ufchlheernp
Anita-cal fiewltt
ede.-vee of .no-o
mil* liyd'ociLooi and carboiiyli wrtc
uAlePortion ol sample uulfiod foi mvcotoi ini oflwtheceneo.in .ndwen
fc*eh ol ISO .ndox. per million eeipeerivdy- Nivatawl-ere pot detected Soreadnii of umple.orin levelpm .nd OAS atppm N* nl-lc-ol or doo..ni..Uool -i> detected.ls
loi iflaloiin -ll ollen -ll
imal amount. Ins than ralUiriim of solidlllil.it n
of valutvOIL
Five blood simples
rn old
vceet.Uon. Rem and
haves
bottle contalnictf five maples, three of leaver and (wa of nowdei.
ftetlduc
Firfleo brH'Meevj from liteW .tuck lhat occucred1w Tkone Hatvfcfims died. Sample'ven tolemmitut, who Iraiuferred ito ort wu ti*en loUeournt-h- to USACSL ooample transferred to US Aim* Medicaland iMelliecnee Aiencilot arulni.cfcothceeoe lodm
Second sinula.m same ehsn-
19SI.
Simples were clotted. Sent loenoor tr-motrvfeeno torim planned Symptom, doeribed br victim. Uvii
etc that the chemicalwu CS or
other riot eonliol mWerul
Sample of .eaidjeee$1 CWt Moor* Fhoo, tO tihimeteu -eat of. Victim, wfferod from Uaodr, dealhi Hlfoaai carriod lb. uople. MJUwBDf eembec Iflaif"
Tocetiedcocml^ .nd pTo-kled umptrf USACSLMt One-fourth of .ample civw lo UK lo.ne-foortb umple to USAMIlA to.
trichothecene analerti.
lex*edWon* rout-ance hade, im.nedl.lel. "It"
1 CW .tucl. Vfllagen
lufleied bloodr diarihca, Bene deaihi Simplelo EroUanr2 .nd Irandened to UK Olllcllll on lhat dale. Senl lo Lo-idon ooaewiK tin .nil,li.
SampV I. No ciieiKe of .nvW Menu Solvent wu, elvalenol. or doo.yaJvakool -liTen naraeraeu of dUoctoivsclr-penolone trichatheeent -tie present In the umple. Tie mull sampleprecludedanalysis lor Mho IriAothecen* lo.unannot bo dotenoined If thtr were present ot
no!
Simplendications ofiiooid -tier, could be indicativechotheccne No evidence of known CW sainti.
No eiploiut tonhis time
dencf.genu. Analytiiuvcocoplelc
rhate ofW
Utear.ene. -hi*erichothecene. Aoalvril fo. tricholh;-
ccnoon.liven UK
looe^ pollen, fiom pUnt Indajenou. In
Soulhc'H Au. No tcchofhnxnc tarin)
lound
Pollen.u.mold
No triel^hecene leim.Tcuotenic
imin ipcc-eilound
l
0.1
Si mill- No
Minor,ofc
Aftyricil Kuulii
M
Tablc Ul (renlinucd) Laos: Sample Collection and Analyst lot Presence ol Chemical Wnrlarc AgcnK
Simple had< dence ol traditional Cw incorncA-tc
Sample Description
I'tend-ieof (llv lull
7 Did residm sample
Irom Liix mil picridcdhai mlioeul -ho had been liven tho samplen Iho Lin roUXance force, Beiklue wuo a
CW1 tb. end o! Febni.r.
en .
mull, unidentified aircraft. Fourlive individual, tn the area suffered te-er oo ibe lint day. lotlo-ed bvol blood on second and third diy. below do.lh Oule allctodj*
onielBin-C
t.xc-Ctlllr,
died wilhin innio theSACSL.
vub of -hirealleeedlv lilenilitarv
in Vlenii.no mod to .lore
equipment, incl-dini mu-itions.
Fo-ilen .epotledlr -ere uxd lo poi-kHi -rib .nd uii.llSamples
Four tube, of Wood Iwo heea-
riniiod (h) .ndaonheparinfnh] specimen]ui
ami
Specimen
ao who had .cco5 .nd (iven to Thaiho Lined It over toIPS ciiitea. Samples pouched lo US en IS AprilA mined bv USACSL
(Note La(all month)
eiposure anding nl Ueod.)
Sirndca dr. wo domr r. hub and -Ife on SI2 Thev .nd theii pi-month-old babypowd to CW .luck, oo11 All were Ul on1 lo No^mber attack.
.iepfane dispersed yellow chemical
trieAotbeeene OAS
blood spoeimero. hepa-
rinllrd 'lICCI iTor eld"
hows, rcfrtfetitcd remainder of
tine, dom:
A-Dicecar-otdoecear-oU boy
C-Xia Sue Xionc. youna
w-Je eouabod vello- sputum and had Uood. ddnhca for live dan In Jirwiveen ehomieal -aa dii-tcmiaaled (roe, in .IrpUne, ill bul -lie suflered vliton.eve* bloody couch.eee back pain Sample lo AFMbC and Di. Miioch. onuch ISH
unP7T1
Ned x* pb *fi ppti Ned
Ned Ned Ned
rom three lefucees who were eipotcdW(virlouily described ai yellow rcd-beo-n) in Uieotil ol H'Mooe reportedly -ere
ci posed Tliree blood ampler were
uleo-(A)ld boy who had been severely HI -tth bloody dl.rrhea
>nd coud-nc ol blood. (D) tieaioU
Uiv pout, .nemie .nd splcnnstccilly, indfirl ntleeiivj Irom blood, diairhea tod abdominal coin. Arrived
inp.il IDSa SenlloAFMIC loi inalnii by Or Miroclu
Simple Uctcrtittian
tpecfmeni, one heparin-
lied, onefrom tiyeu-cid-ho died foUawIncCl hemorrhaee
f Simple
Victimdmitted to Loci Hospital luH before death. Bloodlonpril Victim claimedeen eiposed (oCW atuci. Sampla airived in US on IS April Sent loAhMICfort
Analytical llnutti
DAS UT-t
Heparanded Ned Koahcpariaiud Nnd
tubes of blood samples, one beiMrloiied. one nonheparin-
ReDdue samples from areas of attack: near Na Kbotunctonpcbblo Twobadges, of Ihe type inducted tat ilea-pllna h Co aula activateI chaceoii ibsocbcu.
Sealed (lan ampule eoetfakaliw
lanciyitali.
Tan (ranulli solid, apptoit
Ghodefuaee. Nenc Xlonc.the effeeu ofiter an .nad onVdUw la Uotchemical All of .
from voanlUnc. fever, backaches, head-aclie. ind cheo pain. None ru/feied bUeuW Many de-elotW swollen eye*taor dri-a. arrived In US on 90
L Sent to AFMIC lot analysis
byii
A. Residue samples woe uLea from three diHeran aiaaa la Laos thai were
aOadnl O" IT. li. nod 30
of sasnpla di! aot witnen attacks, noc dad thei observe
a or ir: Ten pnraona reputedly
died aftei mfteitin vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and luadschcs. Attack) were conducted by air*Lr let planes. Sent lo USACSL IIharcoal liom lalin wii maarleeCy
t and placed to
the Naaeaa tnL
They -ere tetrsrved la Much after a
CW attach.SACSL la May.
Sample aoqoiied in Laos and rent USACSL1
n aired In Laos and lent USACSL IS lone.
pb
ut.
I POb
A ppb
Trtehotherane To.lm Specimen DAS UT-2
lleparlDiied
heturlniied
A. AnalyaUDnapooent ot
purified afUtoaln (con cultureleten
tifiof In one vrctiUoa sample. Thisndicative of the peeanxa of aflataaln part/tad fromrrflaw Aflalanin aeri nxenHiilititeaodaaeetae Bun
aad mayonmaaeiK of 'yebo-tain"no Wtoflaacene tons
-it (card In thr aunolc eonUinlnl iTLiHuln.
B_ Analysis IrKBcnplfta
Vaporrace of diehlorobeiv aeac Ko ertdence of known CWrnuKine material Is penidlhn-C. Iden-Ocdtoaample IZ. vUlA
ut totnaevous earth, rnsbably ued al an InsoetJcide. allhouch hcchk-ocrcl^ heune has been modoioie Lin-Oaanrian insert id QV No evideoce of traditional CW itenli or toum
continued)
Laos: Simple Collection and Analysis (or Presence of Chemical Warfare Agent*
Description
tuba of -ttfle blood, one
heparin!irdne ttonhepar-inJied (nht
tjfhi lubes of blood specimen, two hcpaitnited (hi iwo nonhe-partnUodrom each of twotietittu and from each of two control individuals.
History of Sample
refugee who wai eiposed to
CW oa II March IK! in Laos Blood drawn on 31 March2 and kept
chilled from that line etoept for about foor hours in transit. Blood drawn bv
Ban Vimi hospital physician and leans-
ported to Bantfcc* EmbjQv officerhad
Symptoms similar la anocutrd
withbloodi* diirihea. Arn*ed to USA0pril Sample sent lo AFMIC fory Di. Mirocha.
Two It'Monc tef utoei. CI and IS rears of ace. were vlctimiW attackot on SO1 Attack occoried at0 houn near Banut These two were partesist-snce patrol of sit men near the villagenhabftanu Blood was drawn fiom victims and two contreb oa1 The chemical reporindly war disseminatedet aircraft. Il appearedellow syrupUc sub-if met and had fallen on this patrol and villace. Tbe drons dried quickly. Both victim suffered chest pain, coughingplot macosB. lore throat,visualeakness, arttrcilL aodpain. The older victim also
suffered lowea lec and pedal edema.
facial edema. mlM icterus, and dull mentum. tome o! which were atiPone month afler eiposure. Mod of
villagei! were sick and four died. The attack abo tilled para andSamples received onurvc hy AEMrC
Analytical Pesutti
Trichothecene Toiin.
Specimen DAS Ills
ppb N'c.1
Venal camp
Net) pli
W-yrotd
Wood
WBC HCT Diff
Lab rmiafct from hospital:
ld
VA IMHO. Ml
Kanhn aaalaru taaur Wh eoecraate
[JitelFU immrnt sha.ed tned/Kme art oocrticanemia anth moderate poi'aihxvtei and
Lng
were obulned by US Embassy officer In Thailand from Lao Insurgents In2 The samples reportedly
were darxcroua. poisonous, and related
to CW ruberiore* SamplestakenW storage area inS Army Technical Escort
Team wai discratrtml to Ihailand anri
transported samples to USA (SI. lor
analysis Received byn II1
Vapor analysis from alloronltiobeiitene al the mo" oompooeoL Analysis inecmpleH:
D-d
Kampuchea: Sample Collcctioa and Analysis (or Presence o( ChemicalnU
ee Sample
((wool
two shirts) flameno-
eral[OK) wl.llrr.
Onebruary IBSOUS Embeuv
ollkr. obtained clothine waled In
heavy plastic bus hum That official.
Oar hiall reportedly lakral (mm
soldiers tilledhemical .It.rk In ih* Pilun area. Oothinc samplei (lined two wmIu before betna rfvea lo
US officer Analru.ade
No evidence ol Haadardnli wai
detected Not analyzed for
CyteAoUdly tecu veere ref.
tn0 BtWIkihn are.order b. Roral
Thai Amy (RTA) Iroora It was panedKatie* office, br Thaihurned
TA trocca .nd vOUaw, becana. III with eH.ru LmU andred raw.td by Indee^ndent latwcatoey.
Noe^iCTeafraJradanfCW WnU -a.
detected. Netrvatranrity late aw
corn [MO inmi) Corn ceo-lainod cob partlclra, broken tec nek, and (ejects
Emper at
YelW ena
Samplemencfuaee who entered Thailand Inhe com war provided by the Vietnamese and reportedl. erlaAiutad In RuasH. Bating It caused people to vomit and couth up blood. Analysed brden. US Uborrtm
by DC icfwcw i*
0 Sent
Iron
b, USACSLII IV*
olCW,
No evlder or. of iCWot teste to orfl tissue eeliure. No Idle effect noted In rat recaivUc portion oletallr. Not analysedehor heme soiina.
ierce of
m area of CW
attack (Control.-fleet -
rd outside lamre of chemical
altack did not contain any trl chalhecenr toiiru Ot Vrn.wn CW
o US tmbassv officer by
Thai chemical oilier, who .cqulrcd It on ther.le- are.
near Phnom Matbout IS March Sample received by
USACSL ono USAMIlA oniMP.ittrirhcabec-neiborarpry.
Cyanide alppm (Noteater sample efao cumalnodra nldeo celeeaMi of at.nd.rd CW aaenu was detected. Analvaa lo- lo.lni roe.lcd presence ofmvalrnol al
leval ol OS ppm. ofn
water. Trace of .notSer tnehatlvrcene
in.n. (DAS), tfm
bIIoi>
Leaves ind stem sample*samples coflected outside range of chemical attack did not
cirrvtain any trkhothecr.iv- leilaa or known CW jp-nli)
Water umplti
History ol SameJc
Sample obtained by Thai ebenucai of-(ieers aboul IS1 on Thai-Kirnpuehcan border fast roulh of Phnom Mak Kocum. Given lo USofficer, -ho aeni ii io USACSL Received onnro-fnricd to USAMIlA on1 lor Irkholhccene analysis by independ cat labaraitiry.
water aatnplearom area of chemical attackriven tolieriararief by Thai officer who received lhern fiom DKeceived by USACSL on tl
Aniliti-al Reiuiti
Sample war positive (or7
mi/lcal) and a (race ol fluoride. No
evidence of standard CWample contained ihrce trichot hecene5 ppm. nlvalenolpm. and <ynivalrnol1 ppm.
Nof standard CW agent. Not yet aealyied fee toulu Cyanidefound at levelspm. (Note: Cyanide abo found Inwater tampies |
control samples of
water. sod. vegetation, corn, and rice
Received from field on
Analysed for twins Negative fiubi onsimple*.
samples,)
Four samples were drawn from DK personnel eipcaed tonamples drawnample) were Kft unrc-(rise rated forours iftcr collect Son and had becun to putondition that mlerferer -uh many assays Sent to USAMIlA for analysts for Irichothe-oenesat anIndependent laboratory.
Negative icsulu on aP samples. Samples veere In poor condition for iMlyus.
sample, and blood
Toial blood sanrple*
Nme blood samples Irom DK personnel who had been subrcted loCW attack In1 ApproilmitelyyaopAe were UBad la the attach. Four utnoha fnaaa easnpatnf DKSeaa-phaalohe. IMI by
trained irdical pencimel Senl la
USAMIlA for analysis or, tlamplra propertr refrlcorated
While blood cell count <WBQ -as low in all victims but not significant I. lower than In noneipceedento (HT-t) -a* troca. lively Sdcotifted In the blood of two victims bavlne the lowest WBC* No toains were present In remainlnc bboJ sampEci (root eipoaed subjects or unci-mscd personnel.
14
Bottle with leaves reportedly contaminated with CWagent
Bottle with small piece of bamboo reportedlywith toile acenl
Clan bottle containing a
der. tinted pink.
PowoVe ipread by airplane over upper Keh Kong Province, tipcaed todirid-uah vunvtrd blood Abo some dealhi
Atradk least olaca casamefua to txihtasy
contact! lay DK nm* rrrrae--Otivr
ent1 la dirJornatic pourh Received byn (9
Nencnbri Portion ol sample Isans-
ferred to USAMIlA for
was obtained on to Ne
* KPNLF Khraaer Faaok'a Na-
1 jbnaaien Front) lea-ces aa Ktm-
rnehea. Reread br USACSL1 Peatiaa at um;Je
traafened te. USAMIlA one-en.1 for trlehruhpeene analysis
Anjlnii In
Sample Isercent talc Other chemi
cab not identified. Resulti of analvtls lo tilchxlirrenet wore negative
(cOiiIiiiutvI;
e'f-flC I
Analytical lleiulti
Ilium vol Sample
Simple No.
victims^
"Vipcrfcd
line umplej:
.3
lood
TableKampuchea; Sample Collection and Analv'ii (or lWnCe ol Cliemical Warlarc Agent-
Sample* taken from OK
Sample OociiOliC*
Blood and ur
io cw mtmi9 icpKf-Xa mi
II FeU->ui> IMS. Mood aadangUei uie- on II andarv
CWj Uloud aod
aatM iprelmem takenndeb-
H! Simptta
iWiarniied ftcceiiid b. AFMX2 (or aiMlyna
Trlcholh'Crnr Toalai
Specie*.. DaS TI if: :
c
3
A Negl Natl
lyilnge
A IBppb Mpnb
aaaH-ted
Trace IS ppb
II ppb pb
'Lie-id tamciTiiij -ere ealiacted
i.-j- and
Die2 ainoauiea lireiet-
aamen fueeea la ansa north al Cbae
Dir.teun (rom it* TKaiKimpuctwaa border. The Vif<nim(.ie diueminaled rheenical
with a'lillfi. lumbaidm'iiiK aotoaen .tportedU -ere mad* SI by the CWaJler lag from burning no blaned vtJUML ihonncu of breath, ehcn palai.- (nond vertigo Surae vie-
oioUa. ill heparin
lied, lli nenhepiri tilled
tiou abo Ml -ral andireiabLnc
Hapailnlied Nenhepariniied
Negl
T ppbegl Negl Negl
3 pob
f iom DK aaUien eipcacd ta CW attac
on2 (ie* No IS) Blood -at9 dan afiai the . . put
maiaaaae eflecoei CW an act andben. treated aa Nnng Pro Hotpi
tal Vlctiimttumhcixl u
'ad Wood contentoain
ai IS ppb andotln at St pob in blood drawn one day alio attack <lee
Sampler received lor analyiii byS
wbnanccprodded by Thai
component of Aimed Foreei deserve Imtitutcof Med-cal Science* Subnance doctibedolton which wai mil
waiei lo killleeeivcd IS
! Sent to USACSC on 2li Much for inilrii'
ydioaide with OS* CN-l. Thr hi* and analyaHechnical-glide raufllc prllrt. Thil doeelude the pouil-liiv of higherrMioai af cyaaaaV ecagMaJarlample bul 1ml through hidn'iii In tlie preieneanoigorr Irom the lit or
teoniinued)
D-9
Thiol samples each of
urine, and hall irom three
Khmer .Sellmilo CW Blood vti la twone hcp.ilnl.ed (hi one Mnhepir-
iniwdfnh.
specimens -ere lilrn liom lluee Khmer InhiblitnU of (he None Pru va oho allegedly -ere noosed to
CWdinenun.led by Vietnam-eie force, in two CWn C
2 in lhe Paihn area.
Btaod and urine -ere taken onarch, hai. onarch. Samples, kept chilled -Oh ice. -nr* received bv AFMIC on tl Mire* Hair sample Ei.cn lo USACSL onarch lor
The victim.ade HIarch allei walking thrownknown as Sala Krah. which had been sprayed wlih -We po-deiet fighter pUnc Ten ef IS men In one unit -ere unable lo continue moving to lhe frortl became of BTiieu. Svmptonu tncWded nausea, voraitarit. shortness of breath, binned vision, diarrhea, bloody(rom noae. burning sensation in chest and abdomen The secondoccurredarchKhmer
units -ere attacked -ilti chemical/
toiin anillery ittfMngti
Analytical llnulTi
I (II
Iiiehodnee ne Toiins
DAS M
hcgl
ppI>
DC**
Sample!
ictim I
Clood Sampler!
ppb
3 b
3 h
Simplex Analysis complete No an aenic or other heavy trimriion elements were detected. Hill was not anilyted lor Organic compounds.
(continued)
D-IO
-if-mtt1
continued)
Kampuchea: Sample Collection and Analytic (or Pretence o( Chemical War(arc AgenU
DcuripUu
Tlsioe Specimens- Auloosy tissue Irom DK
Han on IS2 thr. being eipcned
Lungs CWce.
Eropbaiw/'lomieli and III Victimeing Ire.led
Liver eiposure and malaria it Nong Pru
Kidney irelt Victim developed hubintestine became Uundiceii and vomited (oul-
imelling blood shortly before
Urine wai ringed -ith blood. Death132
to kidney fadute. Tissue ampta 95
kept refrigerated and arilved at104
arch Tome attained (or
ehotheccnr toilm and53
Trieiul Ixeene Toiin*
das" n in-j
pmpm
pm6ppb -
8 ppb -
pb
'Dishes inchoate teoJu were not detected. Coneentiatiocu of DAS (diacetomcir-penol, -eie no greater than the added Internal standard.
"DAS on ued ai an Internalthat is, Il -as added to each (Issue tin pie to check accuracy of analysis. Only the kidneyoaeeolraUon of DAS thatgreater than the amount added.
Afliloii-i
tec
Sample obtasoedl2 CW attack al Sokh Sinn,arch by AFMIC Transferred to USACSL on t$ March (or ciplotutloo-(Seerom time attack area!
fuce samplegiven to tbe Thai bv
Khmer refugees -ho claimed lhat lhe sample -as relief rice distributed by th*
rWn Penh PRK govr-rnmrot The Thil mililaiy staled that ihe dec is
"pearl grain" and notndid not define symptoms
or Ihe location and due of clistnbulion. Sample, USACSL on 23
March foi
ft^iiin im gram of simple
fete.
"Value, adsosled on basil of 8S* lecovery
Analysis
Sample contained carbon <hmif Ide. Hvrecie
brnionitrllf, aad Iras1 ppeiNo evidence al standard CW agents or trtchotheeene totiiu. The rice sampre iti not contain lay poUonns compounds
fioelive levels.
(continued)
H.-t-
continued)
Analytical BeiuVi
llirtory ol Sample
Sample No.
ompound! limila. to lerpenes were detected Anil!
tls inrwpScte
Kampuchea; Sample Collection and Analysis lor Presence ol Chemical Wat (are Agents
SimiJc
Yellow residue.
KPNU" led other sources Kporttdoist yeBow substance wal de-
d br artillery or. loural SoVbAttach1.
tipotnl personnel resorted itching and swelling in ireai ol the body corn-Im in contact with the .ubrtancc. Manr alio eipertcnced nausea, vomiting, di-inhca (do blood) Chicleiu died or became feverish when given theoriHr.
were no human fatalities as of II Much Effect on vegetation Included witting of younger leaves and atoms of plants. Older leaves showed souwand burned ipots.
]
sample with yeito-
14
tool-
Cis.ruj* (Chinese!
Tail (las Itom r :
Sample wis given to USACSL loronarch.
Sample Irom area of2 attach in ihe Pong Nam Bon district neat the Thai-Xampuchesaietnamese aircraftellow
powdeiy substance
Sample given to US by the Armed Force Institute of ThaiUnd. Sent lo USACSL (or analysisarch. Trarvderred lo AFMICane. Aby Dr. Mlreeha. French abonjagilra.
DenwtaUe aUmcKscbe* (oreeaing near Plvnom MeUl claim theythe mask from Vietnamese force, during fighting
USACSLl lor
Till (Ins were fmortar roundsagainstorces aton IfUSACSLctober.
No evidence of known CW .gents. Tri-cbotKccoxnd DAS were present at Icvebi olpb and trace .mounts, rtspoctivcly. Analysis foras negative. Sample was tniutliclen* lo analyrc accurately (or nivilenol and dooivrdvaWnol Frenchevel ofpb and DASevelpb
WiK
No rt.nd.ed CW agenli or other eumpcfgcvjs were detected.
Analysis incomplete
D-12
Table 1KI
Rcsulu
Sampk Dewfiption
Simple No
Afgliatmlan: Sample Collceiiot. and AnalrS^orJVescncc of ChcnuM^Wat.arc Agenls
History of_
Rocket and bombt-eWchained in Kona.h.d.rdSovietsent io USACSL oapril
to USACSL No evidence ol sl.ndaid CWwhich probably wis
u>ed to len *a> mail liliee.
polymerolveatci knll lacfcM. badly -otn shirt, which appeared to be recently wuhed
Obtained lo Islamabad. Pakistan. Iron, anicluiee. -ho claimed ho -at subleetedattack Ceacetcd2O. shipped (com field oneceived by USACSL0
Analysis showed no evidence ol any
known CW .geM buligh
molccula. -elghi eater, which could be indicativerleliothecene, and adipic acid eaten. Abo delected maUlhaon, an
analyaed becauac of deterioration
cartridge* which reputedly were coatedoo. were carried by ipeciil Afghan poltcc ind nm Soviet advisers. Sample, wee ccflectednd received forSACSL _
No evidence of standard CW agents was found on bullet coating or scrapings fromNot analyaed foi Mains.
appeared lo be veryobtained (com AlglunIn Islamabad, Pikislanlo CW attack.by USACSL I! Februaryto USAMIlAminis
Five muls were procured Id Kabul al various times and were tent as received lo USACSL (or analysis between JA1 ando background information Is available with ihete mailt.
No evidence of known CW agents Re-iidu on trtebwhecene pendingof analysis.
No evidence of traditional CW agents. An analytical simple from the eiternat partace of one-Quirterask,Irshowed the presence ofhe te*olt was vertlled bv twoiisdepoidcnt UWiiiMte^
Soviel ItS-mmcase
Soviet gas mask with eanuin
Obtained by Munbodinhe bullets had been captured from tbe Sovicti ind uvrd by Afghan Wienie insurgents;keflgbt. Insur-genii using the outlets became Bl. with revere vomiting and oausra (or icveral hours. They luipeeted that the Soviets had cootaminited the powder charge. SentUSACSL on tS
Item in reportedly taken fromoviel gas attack inem -as collected by in Afghan,
ssociated with the Mwihcdin
wbo loaned the item lo US(oi analysis USACSL received the
null on IB1
No evidence ol any generally (ecogniird (gem or logic comoHuod was found. Was not analyaed (or toains.
Preliminary analysis by thin-bye'TLC) of material from hosef the rrsul Indicated lhe presencehis could not be con-fumed No evidence td traditional CW
(conlinucd)
D-13
ontinued)
Afghanistan; Sample Collection and Analysis (or Presence o( Cliemical Wailatc Agents
10
Simple Dociiptio
Ceain
Velio- cry-tils
Wheat
cpotedly
is
poisoned
Wheal
IS
-
d txi-vlei
tfoton of Sample
Simplecollected byteliible
nance,lepOCIcd (hit II may lave
been poiiancd. USACSL received urn-pie1 Portion ol sample to be analysed foi toiins.
auVci'
uiahedin^
flhe ci rtn'dirr repor
CW aampte taken (com tho nte cif.ll1 CW ituck on Otdikshan. IbUtth mililaiy aitaehe in Islamabad provided lhe sample to lhe US bcwflng team dunite IH vititi to5ne-hill theret lined bv the UK. (teeiulalnc samplelo USACSL (or analysis.
The limpiea -gee reeel-Irom
iltenol
axtractionreceived It
In Pohawii i
i repotted-ly caused dtsccaoraiionol the (aceandhoking sensation, and death Whin IS minuta. Thai ocewi evensimilar Injuries (romcartridge* were not lethaL The materialraptured during an attackoviet convoy between Chain! and Zaire* Province* on illto
Qindihar. Sen! lo USACSL on 31
2 (or inalyiu
Sample receivedolynd submitted lo USACSLuly (or
Afghan recipient of (olitiral asylum in
Weal Ccnruny obtained sampleelative,got it from contacts lo Nlmrur Province. USACSL receivedI
Iraurgem from Panabeeabul Powder leportedly was sued by Sovtrti In llie Pinisher Valley lo contaminate lend and water, alio dropped from aircraft. USACSL re-ceoedoo IS
Analytical Ilcaulit
Pldlmlrufy aralyiu by TLC Indicated
the presence o( trichothecene tonnt.ialternate methods of aoilyui were used but -tone wete ennfumalocr. Mo evidence ot (raditiMit CW agents.
High-purity leery! (trlnitrophenyl meth-ylniieimlne) Tetrylirh-velocity iiiitblor wed to delo-ale TNT. It bums at tdS*Cuiyacedined and eiploda athen confined Notraditional CW agents.
simple: Vapor analysis
true* o( uealdeisllfied comodlets than Oifi ppm As. and hydrocarbon carboeyL No evidenceraditional CW agenU TLC supportiveoiln or diacetoiyictr-penoL Not eoofirmed by addlUontl analysis.
X-ray SdenlKlcd buDeti 11
tracer type. Anatylil iho-ed no evidence o( known CW agenti or ruspect toilni
Vapor timp'ciethylquino-llne. Unidentified mail HI. No standard CW ageou present. No Irkhotheceneipresent Analysis complete
Analyrii ireomplctc.
Primarily carbon. Vapor sample con
lalood bipheayt dtroetDylQulnoilac. and
possible cyclic polynallWa Also (ound Inorganic sales, poanbly perchloralea. Probably residue (rom monitions No evidence of CW agents or poisons. TLCnegative fee trtcbotSeeem-i.
D-U
ANNEX
RESULTS OF AN AUTOPSYAMPUCHEAN CHEMICAL WARFARE ATTACK VICTIM
Following an artillery CW attack on'2 in the area of Knap Din,umber ol DK soldier!nd one subsequently died. Blood, urine, and autopsy 4pcclrnem were obtainedanadian team ol experts. The manner in which the samples were preserved and transported under the supervision of the Canadians and Internationalworkers leaves no doubt that the materialscame from victimsW attack,
2 The victim from whom autopsy specimens were obtained was being treated at Nona Pro. He was reported to haverief recovery onndarch, but this was followedelapse when lie became anuric, feverish, restless, and slightlyOnarch, he lapsedoma andrinary catheter was inserted approximately four hours before death, but only minimal blood-tinged urine was obtained. Shortly before death the victim vomited blood. Necropsy was performed by DK physi-
cians. Tissue sections of heart, esophaj-us/stomach, liver, kidney, and lung were taken and fixed in formaldehyde for autopsy analysis by US and'officials. US samples were refrigerated atrom time received until given to tlie laboratory, (u)
Samples given to the United States werelo several US laboratories for gross, nu^roscopie. hisloflalholosical. and chemlcal-toxicological analyses.ssues were analyzed for the trlehotiacceoc.nd diacetoxyscirpenolamples of the stomach, liver, kidney, and intestine also were analyzed for anatoxins, another group of mycoloxicis M
ichol heccne, or itsas found In all of the tissue specimens except the liverUcetoxvscitpenoLtrichothecene toxin, wa* found only in the kidney
Results of Analysis of Tissue Samples for, HT-21
Toilru
(parti per million or billion)
pptn
ppm
"
ppb
rtchoUvcceoe toiin;etabolic product; and DASrichotlsccene to.in. Tiuud -ere aoalyied lor(mini by. Mirocha. Univenity of
Minuoolionllcl inily.il performed byo-en. Ruteen Univenilr. itn .bowed tbe presence of
hieh level- of tiKhotheceno lo.im
-iinternalIt. added tn eadi tissuetandaid to check accuracy of anil.m. Only Ihe kidneycascentialion ol DAS thai was ai eater than the amount added
Toiini were not delected. Concentration of DAS -isater thin the iddcd inleinil lUndnd.
PAS in umple detected in concent rat loo treatec titan tlie standaecl.
UncliHified
l-l
l issue. Aflaloxitu were found in the stomach, liver, kidney, and intestineJ (u)
levels of aflatoiin delected in lheso iiiir.li that it seemed prudent lo investigatethat the exposure was not due to abut may have been related loattack. To this end. coitions of the samplerain" from Laos that had previouslyarts per million (ppm)oxinppm of DAS were submitted to Dr. MirochaPhillips for analysis for aflaloxin Bl. Analyses
- were negative for aflatoiin.ypothesis that this toxin is notomponent of "yellow rain" samples and (hat tlie victim's exposure tomay have been due to natural contamination of the foodigh incidence of aflatoiinof food In Southeast Asia has been well documented, (u)
This nesalive finding docs not, however, rule out. the possibility that aflatoxlnomponent of some "yellow rain" CW attacks. The stability of aflatoxlns under these conditions is unknown. It is possible, considering the time lag between collection of the sample and its analysis for aflatoiin, that tlie aflatoiin liad undergone degradation, (u)
Furthermore, the finding of aflatoxtn* in the tissues is important regardless of itsIs, as the result of exposure to natural outbreaks or of CWit may induce an enhanced response to trichothecene exposure. Researchers liavc shown that aflaloxinoxin In combinationynergistic effect.opulation having aflaloxin already present in body tissues would be moreto damagexposure, (u)
Portions of each tissue sample were submitted to Dr. Charles Stahl. University of Tennessee Medical School, for histopalhological examination. Thefound included hemorrhage into the heart tissue with evidence of cell destruction and inflammation, cirrhosis of the liver, hemorrhage and cellularof kidney tubules, hemorrhage in the bronchi, and congestion and destruction of the lung. The details ol these results and similar findings by Other pathologists
Results ol Analysis ol Samples for Aflatoxtn
(oa/fj*
1
a lull ici were conducted by Dr. T. Phillips.M University.Nine-Kami pei pin
' Values adlusted on bastsrxreentportion offoundnown amount Is added lo the sample.
UneUssif.ed
are consistent with results of analysis of animals exposed to trichothecenes. (u)
o single pott mortem finding proves cause and effect of toxin exposure and death. These data taken together, however, provide objective evidence of the following:
Repotts Irom witnesses of "yellow rain" attacks are valid, and bleeding sometimes occurs in the lung, stomach. Intestine, and kidney or bladder.
Persons who are already debilitated by disease or npmure lo other loiinsreater risk of death from tricawdscccrvc loticoiii
Tissue damage occurs In humans after heavr-Io-nwdeiate exposure lo trichot hecenes TheU similar to that found in experimental
animal;
Mscroscople damage perslslteriod of one month ot longer.
Trichothecenes are known to cause long-term damage lo rapidly dividing tissue. These toxins accumulate and perils* at least in the organs that were examined.
Allatoiin found in the tissues may be foodbome
and is rsolomponent of "yellowowever, aflatoxlns and trichothecencart sy net gist Ically, and they could be compo-ncnl*oiic crude extract mialurc. (u)
f
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