Abstract: Chemical warfare agents may be chosen by terrorists, as they can be dispersed over large areas and can eventually penetrate even the most well-defended positions. Chemical warfare agents do not need to be lethal to be disruptive. Chemical agents can cause incapacitation, disorientation, or death. There are four basic types of agents that can be used for chemical terrorism: choking agents (chlorine, phosgene), blister agents (mustard, Lewisite, phosgene oxime), blood agents (cyanide, hydrogen cyanide), and nerve agents (tabun, sarin, soman, VX). Very few of these agents have antidotes and most treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Dermal decontamination is very important. Treatment of animals is secondary to treating human casualties. Humane euthanasia may be the only recourse due to financial or logistical concerns.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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