European Experience with the Disposal of Old Chemical Weapons

Abstract

The disposal of chemical weapons in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner is always a complex and hazardous process. This is particularly true when, as in the case of old (historic) chemical weapons, they are generally in very poor condition. These old chemical weapons, left over from two world wars, continue to pose a problem for many countries world wide. A number of European countries have, however, been dealing with this disposal problem on a routine basis for many years and have built up considerable expertise and experience in this area. This paper addresses the problems associated with the recovery, identification and safe disposal of these old chemical munitions and highlights the experience gained by some European countries in dealing with the problem.