背景:在恐怖袭击中使用化学武器,虽然罕见,由于他们有能力造成大量人员伤亡,仍然是一个重大挑战和关切。化学攻击仍然是灾难医学(DM)和反恐医学(CTM)专家感兴趣的话题,显然是需要加强准备的领域。这项研究旨在提供所有使用化学制剂作为主要武器的与恐怖主义有关的攻击的流行病学描述,从1970年持续到2019年。这些数据将有助于CTM中教育计划的发展,并提供有关如何为未来的潜在攻击做好准备的见解。
方法:使用全球恐怖主义数据库(GTD)的回顾性数据库搜索进行数据收集。从1970年1月1日至2019年12月31日,使用内部数据库搜索功能搜索所有使用化学武器作为主要攻击方法的事件。在研究时,2020年和2021年尚未公布。GTD还详细介绍了使用的特定化学物质,当已知时,在事件摘要中。结果导出到Excel电子表格中(微软公司;雷德蒙德,华盛顿美国)进行分析。
结果:从1970年至2019年,总共记录了292起涉及化学制剂作为主要攻击方法的恐怖袭击,记录了284人死亡和13,267人受伤。酸(52)是最常用的化学试剂,后跟“未指明的毒药”(43),“未知化学制剂”(29),“未指定气体”(27),催泪瓦斯(27),氯气(24),氰化物(21),汞(9),胡椒喷雾或狼牙棒(9),芥子气(8),杀虫剂或1080(8),二苯胺氯砷(7),磷酸盐或磷(3),氢氧化钠或腐蚀性液体(3),沙林(2),“未指定药物”(2),VX神经毒气和其他神经毒气(2),农药(2),清洁化学品/油漆稀释剂(2),氨(2),麻醉剂(1),砷(1),氯气和芥子气混合物(1),氯化吩嗪(1),鼠药(1),未知刺激性气体(1),盐酸和氰化钠的混合物(1),未知白色粉末(1),防腐染料(1),以及氯气和白磷混合物(1)。
结论:在战争中使用化学武器,尽管《化学武器公约》(CWC)禁止,仍然是一种罕见但令人担忧的恐怖袭击方法。近年来,在平民环境中使用了更多可能致命的化学物质。两用工业化学品,特别是,构成重大关切。酸是52次攻击中最常用的化学武器。催泪瓦斯,氯,和氰化物分别用于20多次攻击。DM和CTM专家都主张对平民环境中的故意事件进行更好的准备和响应培训。
BACKGROUND: The use of chemical weapons in terrorist attacks, though rare, remains a significant challenge and concern due to their ability to inflict mass casualties. Chemical attacks remain a topic of interest for Disaster Medicine (DM) and Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) specialists and are clearly an area in need of enhanced preparedness. This study aims to provide an epidemiological description of all terrorism-related attacks using chemical agents as a primary weapon, sustained from 1970 - 2019. These data will be useful in the development of education programs in CTM and provide an insight into how best to prepare for potential attacks in the future.
METHODS: Data collection was performed using a retrospective database search through the Global Terrorism Database (GTD). The GTD was searched using the internal database search functions for all events using chemical weapons as a primary attack method from January 1, 1970 - December 31, 2019. Years 2020 and 2021 were not yet available at the time of the study. The GTD also details the specific chemical used, when known, in the summary of incidents. Results were exported into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corp.; Redmond, Washington USA) for analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 292 terrorist attacks involving chemical agents as a primary attack method were recorded from 1970 - 2019, registering 284 deaths and 13,267 injuries. Acid (52) was the most commonly used chemical agent, followed by \"unspecified poison\" (43), \"unknown chemical agents\" (29), \"unspecified gas\" (27), tear gas (27), chlorine gas (24), cyanide (21), mercury (9), pepper spray or mace (9), mustard gas (8), insecticide or 1080 (8), diphenylamine chloroarsine (7), phosphate or phosphorous (3), sodium hydroxide or corrosive liquid (3), sarin (2), \"unspecified drugs\" (2), VX nerve gas and other nerve gas (2), pesticides (2), cleaning chemicals/paint thinner (2), ammonia (2), anesthesia agent (1), arsenic (1), chlorine and mustard gas mix (1), phenarsazine chloride (1), rat poison (1), unknown irritative gas (1), hydrochloric acid and sodium cyanide mix (1), unknown white powder (1), antiseptic dye (1), and chlorine gas and white phosphorous mix (1).
CONCLUSIONS: The use of chemical weapons in warfare, though prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), remains a rare but concerning terrorist attack methodology. In recent years, there have been more instances where potentially deadly chemicals have been used in civilian settings. Dual use industrial chemicals, in particular, pose a significant concern. Acid was the most commonly used chemical weapon in 52 attacks. Tear gas, chlorine, and cyanide were each used in over 20 attacks. Both DM and CTM specialists advocate for better preparedness and response training for intentional events in civilian settings.