Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism

Pita, René Pita; Anadón, Arturo

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800159-2.00007-5

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…They lead to the emission of hazardous and dangerous substances into the atmosphere and affect people’s quality of life. 7 CWAs are classified according to their chemical structure and their effect on the human body. Neurotoxins, asphyxiants/blood poisoning agents, vesicants, asphyxiants/respiratory agents, lacrimators, incapacitating agents, and cytotoxic proteins are just some of the classifications for CWAs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Weaponized chemicals are designed to pose an imminent threat to human existence and more, including the extraction and use of fossil fuels and the industrialized synthesis of selected chemicals. They lead to the emission of hazardous and dangerous substances into the atmosphere and affect people’s quality of life . CWAs are classified according to their chemical structure and their effect on the human body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Noble-Metal Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescence Detection of Organophosphorus Chemical Warfare Agents

et al. 2022

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Efficient and simple detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is an essential step in minimizing the potentially lethal consequences of chemical weapons. CWAs are a family of organic chemicals that are used as chemical weapons because of their enormous severity and lethal effects when faced with unforeseen challenges. To stop the spread of CWAs, it is critical to develop a platform that detects them in a sensitive, timely, selective, and minimally invasive manner. Rapid advances in the demand for on-site sensors, metal nanoparticles, and biomarker identification for CWAs have made it possible to use fluorescence as a precise real-time and point-of-care (POCT) testing technique. For POCT-based applications, the new capabilities of micro- and nanomotors offer enormous prospects. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the design of fluorescent sensors and the further development of noble metal nanoparticles for the detection of organophosphorus CWAs, as described in this review. Through this work, recent attempts to fabricate sensors that can detect organophosphorus CWAs through changes in their fluorescence properties have been summarized. Finally, an integrated outlook on how noble metal nanoparticles could be used to develop smart sensors for organophosphorus CWAs that communicate with and control electronic devices to monitor and improve the health of individuals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Noble-Metal Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescence Detection of Organophosphorus Chemical Warfare Agents

et al. 2022

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Toxicology of organophosphorus compounds in view of an increasing terrorist threat

et al. 2016

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The implementation of the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC), prohibiting the development, production, storage and use of chemical weapons by 192 nations and the ban of highly toxic OP pesticides, especially class I pesticides according to the WHO classification, by many countries constitutes a great success of the international community. However, the increased interest of terrorist groups in toxic chemicals and chemical warfare agents presents new challenges to our societies. Almost seven decades of research on organophosphorus compound (OP) toxicology was mainly focused on a small number of OP nerve agents despite the fact that a huge number of OP analogues, many of these agents having comparable toxicity to classical nerve agents, were synthesized and published. Only limited physicochemical, toxicological and medical information on nerve agent analogues is available in the open literature. This implies potential gaps of our capabilities to detect, to decontaminate and to treat patients if nerve agent analogues are disseminated and may result in inadequate effectiveness of newly developed countermeasures. In summary, our societies may face new, up to now disregarded, threats by toxic OP which calls for increased awareness and appropriate preparedness of military and civilian CBRN defense, a broader approach for new physical and medical countermeasures and an integrated system of effective detection, decontamination, physical protection and treatment.

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