Examples of Previous Attacks Using Toxic Industrial Chemicals

The earliest example of the use of chemical weapons occurred during World War I when both groups of adversaries in the conflict (the Central Powers and the Allies) used chlorine and phosgene-- two of the most commonly available toxic industrial chemicals these days -- against each other, resulting in almost 100,000 deaths.

The most famous example of the use of TICs was the 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo subways by "Aum Shinrikyo" -- a Japanese apocalyptic cult -- that resulted in the death of 12 people and the hospitalization of thousands. Sarin gas was produced by the terrorists with the help of commonly available toxic industrial chemicals such as dimethyl methylphosphonate, phosphorus trichloride, sodium fluoride and alcohol (Bloomfield). To avoid handling the highly toxic sarin, Aum Shinrikyo created its binary components, and mixed the two at the site of attack; thus releasing the gas.

Saddam Hussain used chemical weapons against the Iranian army during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s; and on his own people to crush a Kurdish rebellion in 1988 resulting in thousands of deaths. These attacks, of course, were not made directly with TIC but with chemical weapons that may have been manufactured by using TICs.

Although there was no conclusive evidence of sabotage or terrorist involvement in the Union Carbide pesticide factory incident in Bhopal, India, it provides us with a pertinent example of the likely damage in a major terrorist attack on a chemical facility and/or the efect of a TIC attack by terrorists. The incident caused leakage of over 40 tons of methyl isocyante (MIC) gas, resulting in over 8,000 deaths.

"WMD Terrorism: The Future." Military Medical Technology. N.d. November 12, 2007. http://www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=656
Eadon, George. "Preparedness & Response: Chemical Reactions." Wadsworth Center:

New York State Department of Health. N.d. November 12, 2007. http://www.wadsworth.org/educate/workshops/chemical_reactions.html

Lehrman, Thomas. "Reducing Chemical Terrorism Risk: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships." U.S. Department of State. July 12, 2006. November 12, 2007. http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/69690.htm. November 12, 2007.

Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs)." U.S. Department of Labor: Occupational Safety & Health Administration. N.d. November 12, 2007. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/chemical.html list of chemicals classified by their 'hazard index' is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/chemical.html

In order to prove that key chemicals for developing chemical weapons are too easily available, Rice University organic chemist James Tour placed an order for the chemicals needed to make Sarin, a deadly nerve, with a major chemical supplier; he got delivery of all the chemicals ordered with no questions asked. (Bloomfield)

Most of the hospitalized people were the "worried well" i.e., people who went to hospital due to fear of being exposed to the deadly gas, rather than actually being sick.

The two binary components of sarin contained in plastic bags were placed on the floor of the subway cars and punctured with the edge of umbrellas; mixing of the two chemicals released the lethal sarin gas

Terrorism