Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Module Five Summary
Due to the large number of individuals who depend on them, modern large-scale production and
distributions systems for food, water, and medication provide a tempting target to would-be
terrorists.
State and federal EPAs bear the primary responsibility for safeguarding the US public water
supply. Water treatment steps commonly employed in the US include coagulation/flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. While chlorine used during the disinfection process
kills viruses and bacteria, other biological contaminants and many chemical agents may remain
unaffected.
Due to their size and complexity, US water distribution systems are vulnerable at multiple sites.
Though numerous layers of protection exist (testing, physical security, public reporting, health
surveillance), US public water systems remain susceptible to contamination through adulteration
or cross-connection/backflow.
While not routinely used in day-to-day monitoring, a wide variety of tools exist for the early
detection of chemical and biological contaminants in drinking water. Improved water supply
safety will depend, in part, on the judicious application of these tools as part of a broader water
quality surveillance plan.
The US food supply is largely overseen by the FDA with some agricultural products, such as
meat, milk and eggs, monitored by the USDA. The combined trend toward large monoculture
farms, mixing of raw goods from multiple sources, and centralization of production increases the
reach and potential impact of an attack. More rigorous and uniform quality control standards are
being implemented to ensure the continued safety of the US food supply.
Past cases of drug tampering have resulted in closer FDA oversight and strict product safety
packaging standards for the US pharmaceutical industry. While historical examples of
accidental drug contamination point to the potential impact of such events, the numerous
safeguards enacted in recent years drastically limit the viability of a large-scale terrorist attack.
However, the potential for an attack via other routes, such as the unregulated “dietary
supplement” or internet-based/international medication market is increasing.
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