Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 13
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
The Ideal Drinking Water Contaminant
• Resists water treatment
• Is difficult to detect
• Is difficult to clean
– Pipes, reservoirs, etc
• Causes illness:
– Delayed onset
– Difficult to diagnose
• Readily available
• No odor & taste
• Colorless
• Water soluble
• Stable in water
(i.e., resistant to hydrolysis)
• Unexpected
• Low LD50
Module One - Chemical Contamination of Food, Water, and Medication
13
There are many features that could be used to define an ideal water contaminant. Some
of them are common-sense, in order to avoid early detection. Most are important in order
to evade some component of the water purification systems that are in place. Apart from
simple accessibility, an ideal contaminant should:
Be resistant to existing water treatment methods
Be difficult to detect through routine surveillance/monitoring
Be difficult to clean contaminated equipment
Be colorless, odorless, and without taste
Water soluble and water stable
Should cause illness that is both unexpected, delayed in onset, and difficult to diagnose
(i.e., non-specific symptoms/signs)
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 269