Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 15
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Cyanide Calculations
Cyanide salts as potential contaminants:
• Individual:
– 250 mg Lethal Human Dose (oral)
(250 mg/0.5 L = 500 mg/L = 0.5 g/L)
• Water System:
– 0.0005 kg/L x 200,000,000 L = 100,000 kg = 220,000 lb =
110 tons
Module One - Chemical Contamination of Food, Water, and Medication
15
This is an estimated oral (not inhalational) lethal dose. Assuming that everyone drank a
½ liter, 110 tons is the amount of cyanide salt that would be necessary to contaminate
200,000,000 liters (60 million gallons) of water – obviously, this is a lot of cyanide and a
somewhat impractical means of attack.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 271