title: Role of analytical chemistry in defense strategies against chemical and biological attack.
abstract: Analytical chemistry plays a role in the two strategies of defense against chemical or biological weapons that are discussed in this review: the detect-to-protect and the prevent-and-detect strategies. The detect-to-protect method, which is based on detection of a known chemical agent with a specific chemical sensor designed for said agent, has serious flaws. I argue that this approach should be replaced with the prevent-and-detect strategy. Such a change in the defense paradigm would require reallocation of resources, but it is necessary for effective protection of enclosed civilians from chemical and/or biological attack.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0400, USA. jiri.janata@chemistry.gatech.edu
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D054045:Biological Warfare Agents