Historical Document
This document is provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ONLY as an historical reference for the public health community. It is no longer being maintained and the data it contains may no longer be current and/or accurate.
CDC instituted a Chemical Terrorism Preparedness Workgroup and charged it with identifying and setting priorities for chemicals that might be of concern in terrorism incidents. This workgroup was composed of staff from ATSDR, the National Center for Environmental Health, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Working together, these agencies identified approximately 500 chemicals to place on an evolving Chemical Terrorism Listing. ATSDR was further charged with setting priorities for these 500 chemicals on the basis of availability (production and import volumes), explosivity range in air, toxicity (lethal concentration 50 percent, or L[C.sub.50]), and prior use as weapons (explosives and petroleum products). The criteria are listed in order of importance--that is, availability received the most weight. The highest-ranked group (Priority I) contains 64 chemicals. HSEES, as part of its preparedness efforts, will run frequencies of these 64 Priority I substances and report them to COTPER (Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Response) for each of their three reporting periods and place these frequencies on the HSEES website.
Table 1. Events Jan. 2008 – April 2008
| Priority I Chemical Name | CAS No. | Event | No. of victims | No. of persons evacuated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | ||||
| Acetic Acid | 64-19-7 | 6 | 0.96 | 3 | 9 |
| Acetone | 67-64-1 | 18 | 2.88 | 0 | 31 |
| Acetylene | 74-86-2 | 9 | 1.44 | 2 | 60 |
| Acrolein | 107-02-8 | 2 | 0.32 | 0 | 0 |
| Acrylonitrile | 107-13-1 | 6 | 0.96 | 0 | 0 |
| Ammonia | 7664-41-7 | 140 | 22.40 | 56 | 418 |
| Ammonium Nitrate | 6484-52-2 | 5 | 0.80 | 1 | 1 |
| Arsenic | 7740-38-2 | 1 | 0.16 | 0 | 0 |
| Arsenic Trioxide | 1327-53-3 | 0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Benzene | 71-43-2 | 64 | 10.24 | 0 | 0 |
| Bromine | 7726-95-6 | 1 | 0.16 | 3 | 0 |
| Chlorine | 7782-50-5 | 47 | 7.52 | 104 | 140 |
| Cyclonite | 121-82-4 | 0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Epichlorohydrin | 106-89-8 | 1 | 0.16 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethylbenzene | 100-41-4 | 6 | 0.96 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethylene | 74-85-1 | 55 | 8.80 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethylene Oxide | 75-21-8 | 12 | 1.92 | 1 | 5 |
| Formaldehyde | 50-00-0 | 9 | 1.44 | 2 | 30 |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 7647-01-0 | 75 | 12.00 | 16 | 495 |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | 7664-39-3 | 12 | 1.92 | 3 | 0 |
| Hydrogen Cyanide | 74-90-8 | 1 | 0.16 | 0 | 0 |
| Methane | 74-82-8 | 4 | 0.64 | 0 | 0 |
| Nitric Acid | 7697-37-2 | 9 | 1.44 | 1 | 0 |
| Phosgene | 75-44-5 | 1 | 0.16 | 0 | 0 |
| Phosphorus | 7723-14-0 | 7 | 1.12 | 1 | 17 |
| Picric Acid | 88-89-1 | 1 | 0.16 | 0 | 40 |
| Potassium Cyanide | 151-50-8 | 3 | 0.48 | 11 | 2 |
| Propylene | 115-07-1 | 15 | 2.40 | 0 | 0 |
| Sulfuric Acid | 7664-93-9 | 52 | 8.32 | 8 | 6 |
| Urea | 57-13-6 | 4 | 0.64 | 1 | 0 |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate | 15978-77-5 | 5 | 0.80 | ||
| Vinyl Acetate | 108-05-4 | 0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Vinyl Chloride | 75-01-4 | 54 | 8.64 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 625 | 100 | 212 | 1,254 | |
Table 2. Events Jan. 2008 – April 2008
|
Total no. of victims |
212 |
|
| Victim Category | Employee, unknown type |
37 |
| General public |
37 |
|
| Career firefighter |
9 |
|
| Police officer |
2 |
|
| Employee, response team |
1 |
|
| Student |
69 |
|
| Unknown |
57 |
|
|
|
||
| Injury severity and disposition | Treated on scene (first aid) |
3 |
| Treated at hospital (not admitted) |
84 |
|
| Treated at hospital (admitted) |
53 |
|
| Seen by private physician within 24 hours |
7 |
|
| Death on scene/or arrival at hospital |
3 |
|
| Unknown |
62 |
|
|
|
||
| Injury type | Trauma |
14 |
| Respiratory system problems |
90 |
|
| Eye irritation |
12 |
|
| Gastrointestinal |
17 |
|
| Burns |
17 |
|
| Other |
3 |
|
| Skin irritation |
18 |
|
| Dizziness/CNS |
6 |
|
| Heart problem |
1 |
|
| Shortness of breath |
2 |
|
Table 3. Events Mar. 2007 – June. 2007
|
Priority I |
CAS No. |
Event |
No. of victims |
No. of persons evacuated |
|
|
No. |
% |
||||
|
Acetic Acid |
64-19-7 |
4 |
0.61 |
2 |
0 |
|
Acetone |
67-64-1 |
22 |
3.37 |
16 |
24 |
|
Acetone Cyanohydrin |
75-86-5 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acetylene |
74-86-2 |
13 |
1.99 |
4 |
150 |
|
Acrolein |
107-02-8 |
2 |
0.31 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acrylonitrile |
107-13-1 |
8 |
1.23 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ammonia |
7664-41-7 |
171 |
26.23 |
36 |
1101 |
|
Ammonium Nitrate |
6484-52-2 |
6 |
0.92 |
1 |
0 |
|
Arsenic |
7740-38-2 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Benzene |
71-43-2 |
57 |
8.74 |
0 |
0 |
|
Carbon Disulfide |
75-15-0 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Chlorine |
7782-50-5 |
52 |
7.98 |
100 |
854 |
|
Epichlorohydrin |
106-89-8 |
1 |
0.15 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ethylbenzene |
100-41-4 |
2 |
0.31 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethylene |
74-85-1 |
25 |
3.83 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethylene Oxide |
75-21-8 |
7 |
1.07 |
0 |
0 |
|
Formaldehyde |
50-00-0 |
6 |
0.92 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hydrazine |
302-01-2 |
5 |
0.77 |
3 |
0 |
|
Hydrochloric Acid |
7647-01-0 |
61 |
9.36 |
8 |
175 |
|
Hydrofluoric Acid |
7664-39-3 |
13 |
1.99 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hydrogen Cyanide |
74-90-8 |
4 |
0.61 |
0 |
0 |
|
Methane |
74-82-8 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nitric Acid |
7697-37-2 |
6 |
0.92 |
8 |
250 |
|
Phosgene |
75-44-5 |
1 |
0.15 |
2 |
0 |
|
Phosphorus |
7723-14-0 |
3 |
0.46 |
1 |
0 |
|
Picric Acid |
88-89-1 |
2 |
0.31 |
0 |
0 |
|
Potassium Cyanide |
151-50-8 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Propylene |
115-07-1 |
17 |
2.61 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sulfuric Acid |
7664-93-9 |
82 |
12.58 |
24 |
24 |
|
Uranium |
7440-61-1 |
1 |
0.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Urea |
57-13-6 |
6 |
0.92 |
0 |
0 |
|
Urea Ammonium Nitrate |
15978-77-5 |
12 |
1.84 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vinyl Acetate |
108-05-4 |
2 |
0.31 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vinyl Chloride |
75-01-4 |
56 |
8.59 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
652 |
100 |
207 |
2578 |
Table 4. Events Mar. 2007 – Jun. 2007
|
Total no. of victims |
162 |
|
|
Victim Category |
Employee, unknown type |
65 |
|
Responder, unknown type |
1 |
|
|
General public |
81 |
|
|
Career firefighter |
1 |
|
|
Volunteer Firefighter |
5 |
|
|
Police officer |
5 |
|
|
Student |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Injury severity and disposition |
Treated on scene (first aid) |
22 |
|
Treated at hospital (not admitted) |
86 |
|
|
Treated at hospital (admitted) |
16 |
|
|
Observation at hospital, no treatment |
27 |
|
|
Seen by private physician within 24-hours |
4 |
|
|
injury reported by official |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Injury type |
Trauma |
8 |
|
Respiratory system problems |
107 |
|
|
Eye irritation |
23 |
|
|
Gastrointestinal |
38 |
|
|
Burns |
13 |
|
|
Other |
1 |
|
|
Skin irritation |
12 |
|
|
Dizziness/CNS |
8 |
|
|
Headache |
20 |
|
|
Shortness of breath |
18 |
|
Table 5. Events Oct. 2006 – Feb. 2007
|
Priority I |
CAS No. |
Releases |
No. of victims |
No. of persons evacuated |
|
|
No. |
% |
||||
| Acetaldehyde | 75-07-0 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acetic Acid |
64-19-7 |
3 |
0.43 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acetone |
67-64-1 |
23 |
3.32 |
0 |
21 |
|
Acetylene |
74-86-2 |
9 |
1.30 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acrolein |
107-02-8 |
4 |
0.58 |
0 |
0 |
|
Acrylonitrile |
107-13-1 |
2 |
0.29 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ammonia |
7664-41-7 |
157 |
22.66 |
70 |
517 |
|
Ammonium Nitrate |
6484-52-2 |
2 |
0.29 |
0 |
5 |
|
Arsenic |
7740-38-2 |
2 |
0.29 |
0 |
3 |
|
Arsenic Trioxide |
1327-53-3 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Benzene |
71-43-2 |
75 |
10.82 |
1 |
16 |
|
Bromine |
7726-95-6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Chlorine |
7782-50-5 |
53 |
7.65 |
127 |
195 |
|
Cyclonite |
121-82-4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Epichlorohydrin |
106-89-8 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethylbenzene |
100-41-4 |
5 |
0.72 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethylene |
74-85-1 |
31 |
4.47 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethylene Oxide |
75-21-8 |
15 |
2.16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Formaldehyde |
50-00-0 |
11 |
1.59 |
1 |
16 |
|
Hydrazine |
302-01-2 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hydrochloric Acid |
7647-01-0 |
70 |
10.10 |
7 |
7 |
|
Hydrofluoric Acid |
7664-39-3 |
18 |
2.60 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hydrogen Cyanide |
74-90-8 |
2 |
0.29 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jet Fuel |
|
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Methane |
74-82-8 |
5 |
0.72 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nitric Acid |
7697-37-2 |
11 |
1.59 |
3 |
202 |
|
Phosphorus |
7723-14-0 |
16 |
2.31 |
0 |
8 |
|
Picric Acid |
88-89-1 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Potassium Cyanide |
151-50-8 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Propylene |
115-07-1 |
37 |
5.34 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sodium Cyanide |
143-33-9 |
2 |
0.29 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sulfuric Acid |
7664-93-9 |
71 |
10.25 |
16 |
235 |
|
Urea |
57-13-6 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Urea Ammonium Nitrate |
15978-77-5 |
1 |
0.14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vinyl Acetate |
108-05-4 |
8 |
1.15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vinyl Chloride |
75-01-4 |
52 |
7.50 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
693* |
100 |
225** |
1,200*** |
*693 Priority 1 chemical releases occurred in 643 events
**Victims could be associated with more than 1 chemical above
***Persons evacuated could be associated with more than 1 chemical above
Table 6. Events Oct. 2006 – Feb. 2007
|
Total no. of victims |
225 |
|
|
Victim |
Employee, unspecified |
71 |
| Responder, unspecified |
3 |
|
| General public |
100 |
|
| Volunteer Firefighter |
2 |
|
| Firefighter, unspecified |
1 |
|
| Police Officer |
7 |
|
|
Student |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Injury severity and disposition |
Treated on scene (first aid) |
97 |
|
Treated at hospital (not admitted) |
59 |
|
|
Treated at hospital (admitted) |
12 |
|
|
Observed at hospital (no treatment) |
3 |
|
|
Seen by private physician within 24 hours |
7 |
|
|
Injury reported by official |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Injury type |
Trauma |
6 |
|
Respiratory system problems |
153 |
|
|
Eye irritation |
99 |
|
|
Burns |
20 |
|
|
Other |
27 |
|
|
Skin irritation |
18 |
|
|
Shortness of breath |
12 |
|
| Gastrointestinal |
2 |
|
| Dizziness |
2 |
|
| Headache |
1 |
|
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