A group of researchers has discovered the genetic signature of sarin gas, a deadly substance that despite being outlawed and classified as a “weapon of mass destruction” continues to be used as a chemical weapon. The finding has made it possible to detect this compound in the remains of a bombardment that occurred four years ago in Iraq.
Sarin is a colorless and odorless liquid used as a chemical weapon due to its extreme potency as a nerve agent and its ease of evaporation . To detect its presence in the bombing debris, the experts analyzed a sample in a specialized laboratory. Gas chromatography and the mass spectrometer detected evidence of the spread of this chemical in the analyzed terrain.
However, scientists warn that the presence of this compound is not directly attributable to a chemical attack, since sarin is also present in other human-made products such as insecticides.
