Unusual but potential agents of terrorists

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2007 May;25(2):549-66; abstract xi. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2007.02.006.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chemical Terrorism*
  • Disaster Planning*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Fluoroacetates / poisoning*
  • Humans
  • Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Poisoning / physiopathology*
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Rodenticides / poisoning*
  • Saxitoxin / poisoning*
  • Trichothecenes / poisoning*

Substances

  • Fluoroacetates
  • Rodenticides
  • Trichothecenes
  • Saxitoxin
  • fluoroacetic acid