Chemical weapons warfare agents

Based on the history of terrorist attacks, which have mostly involved hijacking and bombing of aircraft, current threat-detection measures have concentrated on detecting weapons or explosives. In the future, terrorist attacks could also involve the use of toxic chemicals, chemical and biological warfare agents, or even radiological and nuclear materials.1 2... 

Pulmonary agents have been stockpiled by most countries that have pursued a chemical weapons program, and have been used a number of times on the battlefield. Although this class of agents is considered obsolete on the modern battlefield, several of these agents are still considered a significant threat as potential improvised weapons that could be utilized in urban warfare. 

This chapter includes four indices the Alphabetical index, the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers index, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) numbers index, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons key (OPCW) numbers index. OPCW numbers are found in the "Handbook on Chemicals, version 2002," Appendix 2 in Declaration Handbook 2002 for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. OPCW numbers were developed to provide an easy method for tracking chemical warfare agents and precursors if CAS numbers were not available. 

In the event of (a) the use of chemical weapons or riot control agents as a method of warfare, and/or (b) the threat of the use of chemical weapons, and/or (c) the threat of actions or activities prohibited for States Parties by Article I ... 

A very special and sensitive issue is the production and usage of the warfare chemical agents. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which now has 168 member states aims to rid the world of all chemical weapons by 2007. Now three years before the Convention s end date, the promise is seen optimistic. 

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This chapter summarizes the various types of radiation and warfare agents that emergency responders and the public may encounter as a result of a terrorist attack. It also discusses recent black market activities, to emphasize the real threat of terrorist actions involving radiological weapons. While the chemical and biological warfare agents presented in Sections 2.2 and 2.3 are the most likely to be encountered, new agents are continuously developed. 

Chemicals also have a critical place in ant warfare. Most ants possess a sting that delivers poisonous chemicals to their enemies. In the strenuous fighting of the slave raid, Lept slaves and free Lepts frequently stung one another severely. Some kinds of ants employ other chemical warfare agents as well, such as the Protos unusual weapon that created turmoil among the Lepts and caused them to attack one another rather than the invading Protos. 

Madsen JM (2001) Toxins as weapons of mass destruction. A comparison and contrast with biological-warfare and chemical-warfare agents. Clin Lab Med 21 593-605... 

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