INCREASED RISK OF CHEMICAL TERROR ATTACKS

Abstract

The risk of using highly toxic chemicals in a terrorist attack is resurfacing. Over the last fewdecades, terrorists have proven that they can source, develop and produce their own toxicchemicals. These substances are particularly dangerous for civilians who do not have access tothe protective equipment to be used in the event of contamination. It is impossible to guaranteefull public security in relation to the threats of chemical terrorism. Only trained, functioningand cooperating elements of state crisis response systems (mainly: medical rescue services,fire brigades, the police and the army) are capable of minimising the negative effects of theseattacks on the civilian population. This problem is becoming particularly important in view of theongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and the potential use of chemical weapons by the Russian army.An important problem impacting the extent of poisoning after a chemical attack is secondarycontamination of people and emergency equipment. The authors, through a detailed descriptionof the sources of secondary pollution, propose a number of solutions aimed at minimizing the riskof poisoning in people who are not directly exposed to chemical hazardous agents as a result ofsecondary contamination. The proposed solutions are based on the experience of chemical troopsin the elimination of chemical contamination of a large number of people, as well as the experienceof the authors related to the implementation of research and development projects regarding theprotection and operating procedures of rescue services in CBRN contamination zones.