The potential for terrorist use of chemical agents is a noted concern highlighted by 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 unconventional attacks. The possibility that ... terrorist groups might obtain insecure chemical weapons led to increased scrutiny of declared Libyan chemical weapon stockpiles following the fall of the Qadhafi regime. Experts have expressed similar concerns regarding the security and use of Syrian chemical weapons, reportedly including stocks of nerve (sarin, VX) and blister (mustard gas) agents. more

A fact sheet from the National Academies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The message contained in this publication is clear: countries need a public health system that can respond to the deliberate release of chemical and biological agents. Regrettable though this message may be, the use of poison gas in the war between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 19 ... 80s, the recent anthrax incidents in the United States, and the attack with sarin nerve agent, six years earlier, on the Tokyo underground, illustrate why it is necessary to prepare. Russian and Japanese version available: more

"National Disaster Management Guidelines: Management of Chemical (Terrorism) Disasters (are intended to focus on all aspects of the disaster management cycle, including prevention measures such as surveillance and intelligence, mitigation of direct and indirect risks, preparedness in terms of ... capacity development of human resources and infrastructure development, as well as relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction/recovery." more

This Guide contains information, guidelines, diagrams and other materials addressed to medical practitioners who are engaged in the treatment of casualties of chemical weapons. It is made available to the public for information purposes, but is not intended to be used by the public. All decisions re ... garding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient. more

The Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical Exposures were developed by ATSDR to aid emergency department physicians and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents. The MMGs are intended to aid healthcare professionals involv ... ed in emergency response to effectively decontaminate patients, protect themselves and others from contamination, communicate with other involved personnel, efficiently transport patients to a medical facility, and provide competent medical evaluation and treatment to exposed persons. The Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical Exposures provide: - basic chemical and exposure information, - a summary of potential health effects, - prehospital management information, - emergency department management information, and - information for the patient. external homepage, accessed on 03/16/2018 more