Threat detection biological, chemical, radiological

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... 

Loss of life or property from a terrorist attack at home or on om troops on a battlefield wonld be minimized or possibly prevented by the capability to detect the presence of chemical, biological, or radiological agents anywhere in the world. Detection capabilities are also reqnired at borders and U.S. ports of entry, where shipping containers and vehicles shonld be checked for evidence of chemical weapons, biological weapons, and explosives. Beyond detection, the capability to nnambignonsly identify observed threat agents is required to maximize the effectiveness of our response. 

The use of MS in the detection of CBRNE threats to HLS has been gaining momentum in the last decade. MS weighs atoms and molecules according to their mass-to-charge ratios and is used to identify, characterize, and quantify compounds used in chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive threat devices [7-10]. MS, coupled to either a gas or hquid sample separation technique, is used extensively for the detection of chemical... 

---