ISIS terrorism: will they use Mustard Gas?

It has been reported recently that ISIS might be inclined to step up their terror attacks with the use of Mustard Gas. This is a horrible prospect because Mustard Gas is caustic and will burn any flesh that it comes in contact with.  As  a matter of fact, the substance was so horrible that it was agreed by all civilized societies after World War I, not to ever use it again for warfare. 

According to Livescience.com, this is a brief history of Mustard Gas:

"Mustard gas, or sulfur mustard (Cl-CH2CH2)2S, is a chemical agent that causes severe burning of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It can be absorbed into the body through inhalation, ingestion or by coming into contact with the skin or eyes.

First used during World War I, the gas is effective at incapacitating its victims en masse. Sulfur mustard is generally colorless in its gaseous state, though it may have a faint yellow or green tint. It's most easily recognized by its trademark "mustardy" odor, though some compare its smell to that of garlic, horseradish or sulfur.

The gas is a vesicant, or blister-agent, causing redness and itching of the skin that results in yellow, pus-filled blisters. Because mustard gas strips away the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract, victims may also experience irritation of the eyes, temporary blindness, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath and sinus pain. The digestive tract is also affected, resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and vomiting." 

The problem then is that even if you are wearing a gasmask, this stuff can mess you up in a major way. The best advice you can put to use in dealing with this stuff is to look for ways to ventilate whatever area you are in. You can't let it get on you in any way.

Times of need: gas masks as an artistic medium

Recent trouble in Venezuela and across the globe have brought to light two things in particular, the need for gas mask protection in modern society, and the creativity that mankind has embedded deeply into his soul.

This has never been brought to light more truly than recently in  New Yorker article  written on Venezuela, where, it is reported that "things are grim and are dissolving daily".  That doesn't mean however, that the citizens of Venezuela are not finding the time to express their creativity as they strive to protect their lungs and respiratory system from the harms of toxic gas.

As the New Yorker reports, the variety of gas masks being used by the public is startling, with some being compared to "Storm Troopers", while others are said to resemble "Whimsical Connivers", (Guy Fawkes faces being presented as an example). 

The gas masks of the Venezuela protests are said to be so diverse and interesting that photographers have even created their own sub-class of art, their own personal genre in the collecting and distributing of gas mask photography of Venezuela. They range from the bare essential to the very elaborate as far as the homemade ones go, though it is not report how prolific the use of industrial strength, factory made masks are. Considering the fact that this is Venezuela, they are probably not as readily available as they are in other places, nor as affordable for that matter.