<P> The first killing agent used by the German military was chlorine . Chlorine is a powerful irritant that can inflict damage to the eyes , nose , throat and lungs . At high concentrations and prolonged exposure it can cause death by asphyxiation . German chemical companies BASF , Hoechst and Bayer ( which formed the IG Farben conglomerate in 1925 ) had been making chlorine as a by - product of their dye manufacturing . In cooperation with Fritz Haber of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry in Berlin , they began developing methods of discharging chlorine gas against enemy trenches . </P>
<P> The first killing agent used by the German military was chlorine . Chlorine is a powerful irritant that can inflict damage to the eyes , nose , throat and lungs . At high concentrations and prolonged exposure it can cause death by asphyxiation . German chemical companies BASF , Hoechst and Bayer ( which formed the IG Farben conglomerate in 1925 ) had been making chlorine as a by - product of their dye manufacturing . In cooperation with Fritz Haber of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry in Berlin , they began developing methods of discharging chlorine gas against enemy trenches . </P>
what were the effects of chlorine gas in ww1
what were the effects of chlorine gas in ww1
damage to the eyes , nose , throat and lungs death by asphyxiation
damage to the eyes , nose , throat and lungs death by asphyxiation