Chemical Warfare Agents: Toxicology and Treatment, Second Edition provides a detailed summary of chemical warfare agents, their physico-chemical properties, dispersion and fate in the environment, tooxicology and management of their effects on humans. It also discusses decontamination and protective equipment.

List of Contributors. Preface. 1 Opinions of Chemical Warfare (Robert L. Maynard). 2 The Physicochemical Properties and General Toxicology of ChemicalWarfare Agents (Robert L. Maynard). 3 Dispersion and Modelling of the Spread of Chemical Warfare Agents (Roger D. Kingdon and Stephen Walker). 4 The Fate of Chemical Warfare Agents in the Environment (Sylvia S. Talmage, Nancy B. Munro, Annetta P. Watson, Joseph F. King and Veronique D. Hauschild). 5 Biological Markers of Exposure to Chemical Warfare Agents (Robin M. Black and Daan Noort). 6 Respiratory Protection (Anthony Wetherell and George Mathers). 7 Responding to Chemical Terrorism: Operational Planning and Decontamination (Gron Roberts and Robert L. Maynard). 8 Toxicology of Organophosphate Nerve Agents (Timothy C. Marrs). 9 A History of Human Studies with Nerve Agents by the UK and USA (Frederick R. Sidell). 10 Nerve Agents: Low-Dose Effects (Leah Scott). 11 Managing Civilian Casualties Affected by Nerve Agents (J. Allister Vale, Paul Rice and Timothy C. Marrs). 12 The Management of Casualties Following Toxic Agent Release: The Approach Adopted in France (David J. Baker). 13 The Dark Morning: The Experiences and Lessons Learned from the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack (Tetsu Okumura, Tomohisa Nomura, Toshishige Suzuki, Manabu Sugita, Yasuo Takeuchi, Toshio Naito, Sumie Okumura, Hiroshi Maekawa, Shinichi Ishimatsu, Nobukatsu Takasu, Kunihisa Miura and Kouichiro Suzuki). 14 Atropine and Other Anticholinergic Drugs (John H. McDonough and Tsung-Ming Shih). 15 Oximes (Peter A. Eyer and Franz Worek). 16 The Use of Benzodiazepines in Organophosphorus Nerve Agent Intoxication (Timothy C. Marrs and Åke Sellström). 17 Pretreatment for Nerve Agent Poisoning (Leah Scott). 18 Gulf War Syndrome (Simon Wessely and Mathew Hotopf). 19 Mustard Gas (Robert L. Maynard). 20 Dermal Aspects of Chemical Warfare (Robert P. Chilcott). 21 Sulphur Mustard Injuries of the Skin: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management of Chemical Burns (Paul Rice). 22 The Normal Bone Marrow and Management of Toxin-Induced Stem Cell Failure (Jennifer G. Treleaven). 23 Organic Arsenicals (Timothy C. Marrs and Robert L. Maynard). 24 Phosgene (Robert L. Maynard). 25 Cyanides: Chemical Warfare Agents and Potential Terrorist Threats (Bryan Ballantyne, Chantal Bismuth and Alan H. Hall). 26 Riot Control Agents in Military Operations, Civil Disturbance Control and Potential Terrorist Activities, with Particular Reference to Peripheral Chemosensory Irritants (Bryan Ballantyne). 27 Ricin and Abrin Poisoning (Sally M. Bradberry, J. Michael Lord, Paul Rice and J. Allister Vale). 28 The Total Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (Graham S. Pearson). 29 An A–Z of Compounds of Interest in Relation to Chemical Warfare and Other Malevolent Uses of Poisons (Philippa Edwards and Robert L. Maynard). Index.

Chemical Warfare Agents has been totally revised since the successful first edition and expanded to about three times the length, with many new chapters and much more in-depth consideration of all the topics.  The chapters have been written by distinguished international experts in various aspects of chemical warfare agents and edited by an experienced team to produce a clear review of the field. The book now contains a wealth of material on the mechanisms of action of the major chemical warfare agents, including the nerve agent cyclosarin, formally considered to be of secondary importance, as well as ricin and abrin.  Historically, chemical warfare agents were generally considered to be threats to military personnel. Since the Japanese terrorist incidents with sarin, and more recent terrorist incidents such as 9/11 in the USA (none of which so far has involved the use of chemical weapons), this view has had to be revised and the protection of civilians against these agents now has to be considered.  Civilians differ from military personnel in that civilians are not necessarily young and fit.  Nor, crucially, will they generally receive pretreatments such as pyridostigmine, which is available for the protection of military personnel against poisoning with organophosphorus nerve agents, especially soman. This means that a potential mass casualty situation has to be considered. This book provides a comprehensive review of chemical warfare agents, assessing all available evidence regarding the medical, technical and legal aspects of their use.  It will be invaluable as a reference source for physicians, public health planners, regulators and any other professionals involved in this field. † It is with great regret that we record that Dr Fred Sidell died during the preparation of this second edition.

"...exceptionally informative and comprehensive, easy to read, and well organized. It is an invaluable reference for any professional involved in the field." (Journal of Chemical Health and Safety) "It is a sad reflection of the days in which we live that the second edition of this book is needed, but needed it is. This text surely is the most comprehensive guide to the whole topic of chemically related terrorist incidents.... An excellent book to be thoroughly recommended to those involved in the assurance of public health and for everyone involved in toxicology in general." (The Bulletin, The Royal College of Pathologists, January 2008) "...a very good source document and is recommended for the professional library." (The ASA Newsletter, October 19, 2007) "...an excellent resource..." (CHOICE, October 2007) "...a solid comprehensive piece of work, thoroughly researched and ideal as a reference book..." (The British Toxicology Society Newsletter, Winter 2007)