Liquid missile propellants in the former Soviet Union

The liquid missile propellant unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) is a very toxic and persistent organic chemical that was widely used in the missile industry of the former Soviet Union. Only in the !.lst few years have Russian authorities acknowledged the dangers of this fuel to people and nature. To date, little has been done for the transition towards fuels with a lower toxicity. This paper describes the chemical nature of UDMH, and considers its potential impacts on nature and human health