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Chemical Terrorism and Threats

Analytes of Interest

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Toxic Metals in Urine

  • Beryllium
  • Barium
  • Cadmium
  • Thallium
  • Lead
  • Uranium
  • Arsenic

All of these metals are readily available and highly toxic.

Toxic Metals in Blood

  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Cadmium

All of these metals are readily available and highly toxic.

Cyanide

  • Cyanide is present in everyone’s blood at various levels
  • Cyanide is higher in the blood of smokers
  • Highly Toxic
  • Readily Available (1.7 Billion lbs annually produced)
  • Has been used in the past (from ancient Egypt to recent terrorist attacks/plans)
  • Accidental exposures, Suicides, Smoke Inhalation

Tetramine in Urine

  • Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS, Tetramine)
  • Tetramine is primarily used as a rat poison
  • Prohibited in the US and banned in China (1984)
  • Over 1000 deaths in China in the 1990’s and over 800 poisonings in 2002-2004

Volatile Organic Compounds

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
  • Chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Toluene, Tetrachloroethane, Ethylene, Xylenes, and Styrene
  • Readily available
  • Ease of use
  • High Toxicity

HNPAA in Urine

  • Determines the exposure to Tetranitromethane (TNM) by measuring 4-Hydroxy 3-Nitrophenylacetic Acid (HNPAA)
  • TNM indicates exposure to explosives.
  • TNM is also highly toxic
  • Widely available chemical used in various industrial processes as a chemical intermediate

Nerve Agent Metabolites in Urine

  • Determines the exposure to GB (Sarin), GF, GD (Soman), VX, and Russian VX.
  • Extremely Toxic
  • Not readily available*

*Sarin was used in 1995 Tokyo subway attacks and manufactured by the Aum Shinrikyo

Ricinine and Abrine in Urine

  • Determines the exposure to Ricin and Abrin.
  • Extremely Toxic
  • Both can be manufactured easily from plants found in the United States

Metabolic Toxins in Urine

  • Determines the exposure to Monochloroacetate (MCA) and Monofluoroacetate (MFA)
  • MCA is a systemic poison where 10% body coverage is lethal. MCA is used as a chemical intermediate in various processes
  • MFA is a tasteless water soluble rodenticide that must be ingested to be effective
  • Extremely Toxic

Unknowns Analysis

Please contact the CTAT unit for any analysis of unknowns or “white powders” prior to sending

Contact Phone Numbers

William “Tex” Parks
Chemical Terrorism Lab Coordinator
Office: 919-807-8771
Cell: 919-602-2481

Online Forms

Specimen Collection and Shipping Information

CDC Specimen-Collection Protocol for a Chemical-Exposure Event (PDF, 10 MB)

 

 

 

 

Last Modified: November 30, 2012 3:28 PM