Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Chemical terrorism
Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026
Chemical terrorism: Terrorism using chemical agents. These chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. Most chemical agents are capable of causing serious injuries or death. The severity of injuries depends on the type and amount of the chemical agent used, and the duration of exposure.
Chemical agents that might be used for terrorism have been divided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) as follows:
- Blistering (Vesicant) Chemicals
- Distilled Mustard (HD)
- Lewisite (L)
- Mustard Gas (H)
- Nitrogen Mustard (HN-2)
- Phosgene Oxime (CX)
- Ethyldichloroarsine (ED)
- Lewisite 1 (L-1)
- Lewisite 1 (L-2)
- Lewisite 1 (L-3)
- Methyldichloroarsine (MD)
- Mustard/Lewisite (HL)
- Mustard/T
- Nitrogen Mustard (HN-1)
- Nitrogen Mustard (HN-3)
- Phenodichloroarsine (PD)
- Sesqui Mustard
- Arsine (SA)
- Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
- Hydrogen Chloride
- Hydrogen Cyanide (AC)
- Chlorine (CL)
- Diphosgene (DP)
- Nitrogen Oxide (NO)
- Perflurorisobutylene (PHIB)
- Phosgene (CG)
- Red Phosphorous (RP)
- Sulfur Trioxide-Chlorosulfonic Acid (FS)
- Teflon and Perflurorisobutylene (PHIB)
- Titanium Tetrachloride (FM)
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