ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 501 II. Collection, Shipment, and Storage of Biomedical Specimens ......................................... 502 III. Nerve Agents..................................................................................................................... 504 IV. Vesicants ........................................................................................................................... 515 V. Cyanide.............................................................................................................................. 530 VI. Phosgene............................................................................................................................ 532 VII. BZ (3-Quinuclidinyl Benzilate) ........................................................................................ 539 VIII. Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 540 References ..................................................................................................................................... 540
Past attacks with chemical warfare agents (CWAs) on military and civilian personnel underscore the need to rapidly identify exposed and nonexposed personnel. Identifying the exposed facilitates appropriate treatment, whereas identifying the nonexposed avoids unnecessary psychological stress on those who are worried and avoids burdening the medical system. In addition to medical issues, the political and legal ramifications of CWA use by rogue nations or terrorist organizations can be enormous. Accurate, sensitive, and rapid analytical techniques enable the appropriate medical, political and military actions.
