Unusual but potential agents of terrorists.
Emergency personnel are tasked with the daunting job of being the first to evaluate and manage victims of a terrorist attack. Numerous potential chemical agents could be used by terrorists. The challenge for first responders and local hospital emergency personnel is to prepare for a terrorist event that might use one or more of these agents. As part of that preparation, emergency physicians should have a basic understanding of potential chemical terrorist agents. It is beyond the scope of this article to review all potential terrorist agents. Rather, four potential agents have been chosen for review: sodium monofluoroacetate, trichothecene mycotoxins, vomiting agents, and saxitoxin.
Holstege
Christopher P
CP
Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0774, USA. ch2xf@virginia.edu
Bechtel
Laura K
LK
Reilly
Tracey H
TH
Wispelwey
Bram P
BP
Dobmeier
Stephen G
SG
D051337:Chemical Terrorism; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000506:poisoning*; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000506:poisoning*
D005463:Fluoroacetates; D012378:Rodenticides; D014255:Trichothecenes; D012530:Saxitoxin; C014815:fluoroacetic acid