Medical Treatment of Intoxications and Decontamination of Chemical Agents in the Area of Terrorist Attack

The use of sarin in the terrorist acts in Matsumoto city and Tokyo underground was considered by a number of specialists as a new era in terrorism. In addition to chemical weapons, terrorists can use a great variety of toxic chemicals from chemical industry, agriculture or products released from terrorist acts on industrial facilities. Evidently, the arsenal of chemical agents that can be used as terrorist agents is practically unlimited. The risk of exposure to chemical agents which could be used in terrorist acts is real. Therefore, the readiness for defense in a case of chemical terrorism should be enhanced. Decontamination and medical treatment are important aspects of protection from effects after intoxications with chemical agents. This book includes reports which were presented at a NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) entitled "Medical Treatment of Intoxications and Decontamination of Chemical Agent in the Area of Terrorist Attack". This workshop was held on 25-28 January 2005 in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. The contributors were experts acquainted with the main problems connected with chemical terrorism. The primary focus of this workshop was determination (assessment?) of scientific concepts and practical means for management of chemical agent casualties in case of a terrorist attack, with emphasis on improvement of medical treatment and decontamination. The main aspects of the book are: - New approaches in pre-treatment and prophylaxis of nerve agent intoxication - Diagnosis of exposure to chemical agents - Therapy of chemical agent intoxication - Development of personal decontamination