Did the sample contain elements indicating the presence of chemical warfare agents?
The US Army Edgewood Research and Development Engineering Center s nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry tests for the presence of chemical warfare agents on the sample were negative.[18] The sample did not contain any indication of chemical warfare agents. [19] Although the tests yielded no chemical warfare agents, the report does not preclude the possibility of other toxic substances on the Scud piece. For example, Iraq’s Scuds were propelled by a combination of kerosene and a toxic oxidizer, inhibited red fuming nitric acid (IRFNA), which was reported to have caused iritations and injuries during the Gulf War.[20] However, the veteran did not report symptoms that indicated IRFNA presence, and the lab did not test for possible contamination by IRFNA or its by-products, so we can make no assessments about IRFNA presence. V. ASSESSMENT Since the chemical analysis has shown no evidence of the presence of chemical warfare agents, we assess that it is unlikel
