Further efforts regardingpublic outreach, enhancing treatment and prophylaxis through federal initiatives, or additionalregulation of materials used in developing chemical, biological, and toxin weapons are areaspolicymakers may revisit as preventative approaches to reduce the enhanced terror aspect of theseweapons
This report provides a general overview of chemical, biological, and toxin weapons and their treatment; a summary of why some of these weapons may be more attractive to terrorist groups thanconventional weapons; select aspects of the current response against chemical, biological and toxinterrorism; and potential options towards lessening these weapons' impact. Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapons

The widespread public unease following the anthrax mailings and the continued concernregarding possible terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, chemical, biological, orradiological - have highlighted the potential these weapons may have to a terrorist group. Some biological weapons are contagious pathogens, such as smallpox, and havethe potential to spread the effects of an attack by traveling from victim to victim. Symptoms from toxinexposure typically occur on a timescale intermediate between chemical and biological weapons,generally appearing over the course of several hours. Medical Treatment for Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapons' Effects

Chemical, biological, and toxin weapons also differ in their medical treatment and theavailability of effective prophylaxis. Because of the large range of potential effects caused by chemicalweapons, there is no universal treatment for chemical weapon exposure. Additionally, biological weapons can be engineered, with some effort, in a laboratory to be resistantto specific countermeasures. The use of chemical, biological, or toxin weapons in terror attacks could complicate emergency response due to the need to establish special care facilities for the victims, such as decontaminationareas, and the need to protect first responders from the weapon's effects. Furthermore, chemical, biological, and toxin weapons may produce a wide array of effects. (33) A registration system for researchers andfacilities possessing select agents (34) has beendeveloped by the Department of Health and HumanServices, and additional restrictions regarding access to these agents have been made law. This act created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has theprimary mission of preventing terrorist attacks in the United States, reducing national terrorismvulnerability, and minimizing damage and aiding in recovery from attacks. The National Academy of Sciences has completed projects related to chemical, biological, and toxin based terrorism. (45)

		Directed Public Health Funding

One suggestion would be to continue increased funding to the public health system and law enforcement, in order to provide greater hospital capacity, trained medical and mental healthpersonnel, increased screening and surveillance, and sufficient equipment in the case of a chemical,biological, or toxin terrorist attack.
The catastrophic terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax mailings have sensitized the nation to acts of domestic terror. The confirmation of terrorist interest inweapons of mass destruction and the vulnerability of the United States to such attack havehighlighted the potential that these weapons may be used as weapons of terror. The framework ofweapons of mass destruction (WMD) includes chemical, biological, and toxin weapons.
Chemical, biological, and toxin weapons can produce mass casualties if effectively disseminated, but have varying and different effects. Chemical weapons, predominantly man-madechemicals, require the largest amounts of material to be effective and cause their effects in minutesto hours. Biological weapons made of naturally occurring pathogens require the least material to beeffective, but generally have an incubation period of several days before symptoms show themselves. Toxin weapons, such as ricin, chemical agents formed by biological processes, are intermediatebetween the two in both amount and timescale. Treatment protocols for chemical, biological, andtoxin weapons vary by agent, ranging from weapons with effective treatment and prophylaxis toweapons which have no known cure nor protection.
Chemical, biological, and toxin weapons pose additional concerns beyond mass casualties. These weapons may contaminate the area in which they are used, emergency vehicles, and firstresponders. The wide array of potential symptoms from chemical, biological, and toxin weaponsmakes identification of the causal agent difficult and complicates treatment. Additionally, publicfears relating to disease and poisoning could increase the effect of a chemical, biological, or toxinattack, as worried, unexposed people request treatment from medical facilities. In extreme cases,public hysteria has been postulated as an outcome from mass dissemination.
Several initiatives are underway to reduce the potential value of chemical, biological, and toxin weapons. One approach has been through funding significant increases in the public health system'spreparedness and response capacity. Additionally, facilities and researchers possessing "selectagents" have been registered in a national database. Non-governmental agencies, such as theNational Academy of Sciences, and professional societies have also been active in developingpolicies and options to lower the threat of terrorist attack.
Potential options to further decrease the odds of chemical, biological, and toxin terrorism include regulating and registering domestic purchase of "dual-use" equipment; further developmentof the public health system; federal incentives for research and development into chemical,biological, and toxin medicines, vaccines, countermeasures and detectors; informational publicoutreach programs to properly inform the public about the risks involved; and voluntary mediacodes. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.