ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the unique applications of biomarker determination to the study of chemical warfare agents (CWA), a threat to military and civilian personnel, and a subject of much interest to laboratory managers in the homeland defense community. CWA are chemicals designed for use in military operations to kill, injure, or incapacitate humans through physiological actions. CWA are usually classified as nerve agents, vesicating agents, respiratory agents, or blood agents. Exposure to nerve agents usually consists of either vapor exposure to the eyes or respiratory tract or liquid on the skin. For forensic, or retrospective, analysis of human exposure to chemical agents, the native agent will have disappeared from the biological samples as will most of the immediate metabolic products. Cyanide is a rapidly acting, lethal agent capable of interacting with sulfur compounds and metallic complexes.
