Special Considerations Intentional Contamination of Food or Water with Chemical Agents

Special Considerations Intentional Contamination of Food or Water with Chemical Agents 

Potential chemical food contaminants terrorists could use include (45)  

Some of these substances can cause natural outbreaks, making detection of intentional contamination difficult. For example, from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s, consumption of food made with moldy grain caused at least 35 outbreaks 

Fortunately, several factors, including dilution, specific inactivation by chorine, ozone or other disinfectants, nonspecific inactivation by natural factors such as sunlight and microbes, filtration, and the small quantity of water individuals consume reduce the risk of disease from intentional contamination of water supplies (45). A few water treatment facilities add activated carbon to filter media to control taste, odor, and other chemical problems. These filters may provide additional protection against some of the organic toxins (45). The international recall of Perrier bottled water due to concerns abont benzene contamination is evidence that bottled water is susceptible to contamination (45). 

Malloy, CD. A History of Biological and Chemical Warfare and Terrorism. In Novick, LF and Marr, JS (Eds.). Public Health Issues in Disaster Preparedness. Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 85-92, 2001 

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