High-Threat Chemical Agents: Characteristics, Effects, and Policy Implications

摘要

Terrorist use of chemical agents has been a noted concern, highlighted after the Tokyo Sarin gas attacks of 1995. The events of September 11, 2001 increased Congressional attention towards reducing the vulnerability of the United States to such attacks. High-threat chemical agents, which include chemical weapons and some toxic industrial chemicals, are organized by military planners into four groups: nerve agents, blister agents, choking agents, and blood agents. While the relative military threat posed by the various chemical types has varied over time, use of these chemicals against civilian targets is viewed as a low-probability, high-consequence event. High- threat chemical agents, depending on the type of agent used, cause a variety of symptoms in their victims. Some cause death by interfering with the nervous system. Some inhibit breathing and lead to asphyxiation. Others have caustic effects on contact. As a result, chemical attack treatment may be complicated by the need to identify the type of chemical used. Differences in treatment protocols for the various high-threat agents may also strain the resources of the public health system, especially in the case of mass casualties. Chemical agents trapped on the body or clothes of victims may place first responders at risk. Protection from and detection of chemical agents are areas of much concern. The range of protection and detection equipment available to first responders has led to questions regarding equipment standardization and state and local preparedness. Whether terrorist groups are capable of using chemical agents as WMD is unclear. Some assert that the volumes of chemicals required to cause mass casualties would make that scenario unlikely. Current policies seek to reduce the proliferation of chemicals that could be transformed into chemical weapons, prevent unrestricted access to large amounts of toxic chemicals, and provide federal assistance to locations that are affected by chemical terrorism.