Terrorist Chemical Agents

MILITARY AND TERRORIST CHEMICAL AGENTS Chemical Agents 

The military uses a term called the concentration-time product, or Ct, which is the concentration of the agent present (usually expressed in terms of milligrams per cubic meter in air (mg/m ) multiplied by the time (usually expressed in minutes) of exposure to the agent. For example, exposure to a concentration of soman (GD) vapor for 10 minutes results in a Ct of 40 mg-min/m. Exposures of 8 mg/m for 5 minutes results in the same Ct (40 mg-min/m ). This result is true for most of the agents except for cyanide. 

The Ct associated with a biological effect remains relatively constant even though the concentration and length of time of exposure may vary within certain limits. For example, a 10-minute exposure to 4 mg/m of soman causes the same effects as a 

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Protective Ensemble and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Rescue Operations During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident. August 2003. 

If these methods do prove inconclusive, biomedical sample analysis may provide a unique method for establishing exposure. Due to both the complex technical requirements and the strict forensic approach used it is unlikely that this information will be available in the early phases of response to such an incident. Biomedical sample analysis does however offer another method by which proof of the use of chemical agents can be provided, and thus has a potentially significant role in the overall preparation of a capability for the response to a terrorist chemical agent attack. 

Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident. Prepared by U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (January) 2000. 

Other Toxic Materials Military and Terrorist Chemical Agents Chemical Agents Nerve Agents Antidotes... 

Guidelines for Mass Fatality Management During Terrorist Incidents Involving Chemical Agents. 

C. Dishovsky et al. (eds.), Medical Treatment of Intoxications and Decontamination of Chemical Agents in the Area of Terrorist Attack, 3-11. 

According to the conclusions reached by some experts, terrorist acts apply a new strategy in the use of chemical weapons and other chemical agents, i.e. ... 

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