Bari mustard gas incident
The Bari mustard gas incident
In 1943, Allied ships stationed in Bari, Italy were hit by Axis bombers. The ships had been carrying mustard gas, and it was released into the harbor, exposing thousands of troops and civilians to the toxin. Abnormalities in the victims' white blood cell counts were studied, and it was noted that rapidly-dividing cells were selectively killed. This lead to the use of nitrogen mustard compounds for treating cancer, and the emergence of the field of chemotherapy.[1][2][3]
Allies were never supposed to have poison gas so close to the front.
They brought it there in case the Germans used gas first.
Incident was covered up for years after the war.
References[edit | edit source]
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