Tracing The Source Of Chemical Weapons

Abstract

The forensic chemical attribution process seeks to trace chemical agents used in attacks. Investigators take a sample of the agent from a victim or site, and then analyze its physical and chemical properties. The data can be used to identify a "chemical fingerprint," which could provide information to investigators about how the agent was made. Investigators could use this data to match and trace the agent to its source to help find and prosecute attackers, impose sanctions, or deter future attacks. We explored the opportunities and challenges to implementing the forensic chemical attribution process.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1152652

Entities

People

  • Timothy Persons

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charged Particles
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Congress
  • Databases
  • Fingerprints
  • Gas Chromatography
  • Governments
  • Identification
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Materials
  • Nerve Agents
  • United States
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.