Small-Scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An Assessment Framework and Preliminary Comparisons
Abstract
This report, which will be updated as necessary, presents a means of assessing the relative threat from terrorist-use of individual chemical, biological, and toxin agents. It focuses on small-scale, targeted chemical and biological attacks, rather than mass-casualty attacks. The framework considers the elements of access, public health impact, medical treatment, prophylaxis, and dissemination. Other factors that may affect potential use by terrorists include the range of lethality, covert employment of an agent, and the availability of dual-use technologies. The results of this framework may be useful in addressing the threat these agents pose, for example by indicating priorities for countermeasure funding. Other uses include weighing the potential effectiveness of policy options, assessing threat reduction approaches to specific agents, and serving as a resource for developing other specialized frameworks. Defense against chemical and biological agents is high on the list of the nation's priorities. No clear consensus exists with respect to which agents pose the greatest threat. Previous analyses of the chemical and biological threat have largely revolved around historical and comparative treatments or been based in a military framework. Examination of the chemical and biological threat to civilians is more complicated. Agents whose characteristics make them poor military weapons may still be powerful if deployed as weapons of terror. Chemical and biological weapons used in the past have not always been chosen for the highest potential fatalities, but rather for other reasons.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 20, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA444848
Entities
People
- Dana A. Shea
- Frank Gottron
Organizations
- Library of Congress