{
  "id": "RL31669",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31669",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
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      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 100283,
      "date": "2004-12-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T20:03:50.065210",
      "title": "Terrorism: Background on Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapons and Options for Lessening Their Impact",
      "summary": "The catastrophic terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax mailings\nhave\nsensitized the nation to acts of domestic terror. The confirmation of terrorist interest in weapons of\nmass destruction and the vulnerability of the United States to such attack have highlighted the\npotential that these weapons may be used as weapons of terror. The framework of weapons of mass\ndestruction (WMD) includes chemical, biological, and toxin weapons.\n  Chemical, biological, and toxin weapons can produce mass casualties if effectively\ndisseminated, but have varying and different effects. Chemical weapons, predominantly man-made\nchemicals, require the largest amounts of material to be effective and cause their effects in minutes\nto hours. Biological weapons made of naturally occurring pathogens require the least material to be\neffective, but generally have an incubation period of several days before symptoms show themselves. \nToxin weapons, such as ricin, chemical agents formed by biological processes, are intermediate\nbetween the two in both amount and timescale. Treatment protocols for chemical, biological, and\ntoxin weapons vary by agent, ranging from weapons with effective treatment and prophylaxis to\nweapons which have no known cure nor protection.\n  Chemical, biological, and toxin weapons pose additional concerns beyond mass casualties. \nThese weapons may contaminate the area in which they are used, emergency vehicles, and first\nresponders. The wide array of potential symptoms from chemical, biological, and toxin weapons\nmakes identification of the causal agent difficult and complicates treatment. Additionally, public\nfears relating to disease and poisoning could increase the effect of a chemical, biological, or toxin\nattack, as worried, unexposed people request treatment from medical facilities. In extreme cases,\npublic hysteria has been postulated as an outcome from mass dissemination.\n  Several initiatives are underway to reduce the potential value of chemical, biological, and toxin\nweapons. One approach has been through funding significant increases in the public health system's\npreparedness and response capacity. Additionally, facilities and researchers possessing \"select\nagents\" have been registered in a national database. Non-governmental agencies, such as the\nNational Academy of Sciences, and professional societies have also been active in developing\npolicies and options to lower the threat of terrorist attack.\n  Potential options to further decrease the odds of chemical, biological, and toxin terrorism\ninclude regulating and registering domestic purchase of \"dual-use\" equipment; further development\nof the public health system; federal incentives for research and development into chemical,\nbiological, and toxin medicines, vaccines, countermeasures and detectors; informational public\noutreach programs to properly inform the public about the risks involved; and voluntary media\ncodes. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814056/",
      "id": "RL31669_2003Jun30",
      "date": "2003-06-30",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Terrorism: Background on Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapons and Options for Lessening Their Impact",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}