Chlorine attacks

© Donald William Reid 2007

Information

Regarding the use of

Chlorine in Terror

Attacks 16 May 2007


CONTENTS

Chlorine gas as a Weapon

Chemical Terrorism Concerns

Homeland Security Authorities Fear Chemical Terrorism in U.S.

Department of Homeland Security National Planning Scenarios

John Negroponte Statement

A Report by the Center for American Progress

Annual FBI Threat Assessment

Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples

Chlorine Thefts

Tallahassee.com Article

USA TODAY Article

Chlorine Attacks

'Chlorine bomb' hits Iraq village

Deadly Iraq bomb releases chlorine gas

350 poisoned in Iraq chlorine bomb attacks

27 Dead in Iraq Chlorine Bomb

Iraqi Police Foil Chlorine 'Dirty Bomb' Attack in Ramadi


CONTENTS Cont.

Exposure to Chlorine

What chlorine is

Where chlorine is found and how it is used

How people can be exposed to chlorine

How chlorine works

Immediate signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure

What the long-term health effects are

How people can protect themselves, and what they should do if they are exposed to chlorine

How chlorine exposure is treated

How people can get more information about chlorine

Chlorine Suppliers

Resources


"Chlorine gas attacks the eyes and lungs within seconds, causing

difficulty in breathing and skin irritation in low-level exposure. Inhaled

at extremely high levels, it dissolves in the lungs to form hydrochloric

acid that burns lung tissue, essentially drowning a person as liquid

floods the lungs. The chemical has been used a number of times recently in

insurgent attacks in Iraq. Despite fears over the new tactic, some experts

note the insurgents are not yet expert at it, meaning they may be causing

widespread fear but not mass casualties. Chlorine gas causes death by

inhalation but experts say the heat from an explosion can render the gas

nontoxic.

A look at chlorine gas as a weapon


Chlorine is easily accessible. It is used for water purification

plants, bleaches and disinfectants and obtaining large quantities may not

be difficult. Chemical poisons killed tens of thousands of soldiers in

World War I. Their use caused so much international revulsion that the

issue sparked the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which banned the use of

chemical weapons. In general, chlorine is inefficient as a weapon - it

produces a visible greenish cloud and a strong odor, making it easy to

detect. Because it is water-soluble, simply covering the mouth and nose

with a damp cloth can reduce the effect of the gas.„

(Seattle Post Intelligencer; 06Apr07; AP)


Chemical Terrorism Concerns


Homeland Security Authorities Fear Chemical Terrorism in U.S.

In recent months, federal and state homeland security officials have

become increasingly concerned that terrorists and other groups might

attempt to imitate the insurgents in Iraq and employ chlorine-bombs and

other chemical weapons within the United States. Even before insurgents in

Iraq began detonating trucks carrying bombs combining conventional

explosive with industrial chlorine, U.S. government and0con-government

experts had identified the United States as potentially vulnerable to

terrorist attacks against chemical plants or rail tankers transporting

toxic chemicals such as chlorine.

At the local level, many communities are seeking to reduce their use of chlorine

and instead employ safer chemicals for disinfecting water, manufacturing products,

and other purposes. Although these alternatives are generally more expensive than

chlorine, the attacks in Iraq have appropriately persuaded many localities

of the imperative of reducing U.S. vulnerability to chemical terrorism." (World Politics Watch; 09May07; Richard Weitz)


In their "National Planning Scenarios"

(pdf file), analysts at the Department of

Homeland Security (DHS) identified a dozen

possible homeland security incidents the

department views as most plausible or

devastating. One scenario involved the

hypothetical detonation of a large chlorine

storage tank that killed 17,500 people and

injured more than 100,000.

Department of Homeland Security

National Planning Scenarios

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/nationalsecurity/earlywarning/NationalPlanningScenariosApril2005.pdf


In late February 2007,

then-Director of National

Intelligence John

Negroponte stated (pdf

file) that U.S. "intelligence

reporting indicates that

nearly 40 terrorist

organizations,

insurgencies or cults have

used, possessed, or

expressed an interest in

chemical, biological,

radiological, or nuclear

agents or weapons."

John Negroponte Statement

http://www.iwar.org.uk/homesec/resources/threats-2006/negroponte-02-28-06.pdf

http://www.iwar.org.uk/homesec/resources/threats-2006/negroponte-02-28-06.pdf


The most likely target for terrorists seeking

to release large quantities of chlorine are

the railcars that traverse the United States

carrying enormous 90-ton tanks of chlorine.

U.S. railroads annually carry 1.7 million

shipments of hazardous materials, of which

100,000 are toxic chemicals prone to become

airborne in an accident. About 80 percent of

these latter shipments consist of chlorine.

Thirty-seven water utilities in the country

still receive chlorine gas by rail, generating

45,000 shipments annually. A March 2007

report by the Center for American Progress

(pdf file) cited the Iraqi insurgent attacks to

justify its assessment that "railcars of

chlorine gas represent a distinct national

security vulnerability." (World Politics Watch; 09May07; Richard Weitz)

A Report by the Center for American Progress

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/pdf/chemical_security_report.pdf

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/pdf/chemical_security_report.pdf


In the annual FBI threat assessment (pdf

file) delivered to the Senate Select

Committee on Intelligence in January

2007, Director Robert Mueller stated that

the acquisition of WMD by terrorist

groups "continues to be a growing

concern." In Mueller's assessment, while

terrorists may not currently possess the

capabilities to produce the complex

biological and chemical agents necessary

to carry out a large-scale attack, "their

capability will improve as they pursue

enhancing their scientific knowledge base,

including recruiting scientists to assist

them."

Annual FBI Threat Assessment

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/011107transcript.pdf


according to Lt. Gen. Michael D.

Maples (pdf file), the U.S. intelligence

community believes that al-Qaida and

other terrorist groups are pursuing the

capability to employ biological and

chemical agents such as ricin,

botulinum toxin, cyanide, anthrax,

sarin, and mustard gases. Suicide

terrorists may prove especially effective

at using CW. Since they are prepared to

die in the attack, they do not wear CW

defensive gear or take other measures

that might alert authorities to the threat.

Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/022707maples.pdf

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/022707maples.pdf


Chlorine Thefts


Originally published April 6, 2007

Chlorine taken from pool-supply company

Who would steal 1,600 gallons of chlorine? It's a

question the people at Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies

are asking after discovering the theft last Friday.

Staffers at the North Monroe Street pool-supply store

"went to fill up a bulk customer (order) and it was

empty, the lock was missing on the inside," assistant

manager John Danner said Thursday of the 2,000-

gallon tank.

Whomever cleaned out Leslie's absconded with an

estimated $3,000 in liquid.

It would take at least an hour to drain 1,600 gallons.

Sodium hypochlorite is used for pressure cleaning and

pool purification. It takes between two and five gallons

to purify a residential pool.

"The cops told us it was pretty much not traceable,"

Danner said. "They did take a bunch of stuff for

fingerprinting. They told us we're not going to hear

from them unless we find something out."



Chlorine bombs pose new terror risk. The Department of

Homeland Security (DHS) is warning U.S. chemical plants

and bomb squads to guard against a new form of

terrorism: chlorine truck bombs. The Chlorine Institute, a

trade group that represents more than 200 companies that

make and distribute chlorine, recently alerted the FBI to

several thefts or attempted thefts of 150-pound chlorine

tanks from water treatment plants in California. "This is

now being used as a tactic against us in another part of the

world," says Robert Stephan, DHS' infrastructure

protection chief. "We've got to be prepared for it." The

150-pound chlorine tanks typically used in the bombs are

"ubiquitous across the world," Stephan says. DHS officials

are working with intelligence and Department of Defense

officials to try to prevent similar acts in the U.S., he says.

New federal regulations on chemical plant security are set

to take effect this summer. DHS teams will begin

inspecting hundreds of chemical plants that make and

store chlorine and other potentially deadly chemicals.

April 24, USA TODAY


Chlorine Attacks


'Chlorine bomb' hits Iraq village

Wednesday, 16 May 2007

At least 32 people have been killed and

50 injured in a suspected chlorine

bomb in Iraq's Diyala province,

police say.

The attack happened in an open-air

market in the village of Abu Sayda

at about 2000 (1600 GMT) on

Tuesday.

A police spokesman in the provincial

capital Baquba said doctors at a

local hospital believed the nature of

victims' burns suggested poison

gas.


Deadly Iraq bomb releases chlorine gas

Apr 6, 2007

RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - A truck bomb exploded in the volatile

Iraqi city of Ramadi on Friday, killing at least 15 people and releasing

chlorine gas into the air, police and security sources said.

Police Colonel Tareq Dulaimi from Ramadi said the bomb, which

targeted a police patrol, wounded at least 30 people. He said several

people were also choking from the gas.

There has been a spate of chlorine truck bomb attacks in recent

months, mainly in western Anbar province. Ramadi is the capital of

Anbar, stronghold of the Sunni Arab insurgency and a haven for al

Qaeda.


U.S. commanders and Iraqi police have

blamed al Qaeda militants for several of the

chlorine attacks.

Chlorine gas was widely used in World War

One but its use in insurgent attacks in Iraq

has particular resonance there. Saddam

Hussein attacked Kurdish areas with

chemical weapons in the 1980s during the

Iran-Iraq war.

Reuters News Service.


At least 350 Iraqi civilians needed hospital treatment after insurgents detonated three

trucks filled with toxic chlorine gas, killing two policemen, the US military said

yesterday.

Friday‟s gas attack was the seventh this year in which insurgents have used chemical

gas bombs on civilians and security forces, in what appears to be a new tactic for Al

Qaeda militants.

The attacks were carried out between 4.11pm (1311 GMT) and 7.13pm on Friday, two

of them just south of the town of Fallujah and one northeast of the nearby city of

Ramadi, both hotbeds of Al Qaeda militants in the Anbar province.

350 poisoned in Iraq chlorine bomb attacks Published: Sunday, 18 March, 2007


“Approximately 350 Iraqi civilians and six

coalition force members were treated for

chlorine gas exposure,” said Lieutenant Roger

Hollenbeck of the US-led Multinational

Division West, based in Ramadi.

Iraqi state television reported that at least six

people were killed in the blasts, but the US

military could initially only confirm the deaths

of two Iraqi policemen in the second

explosion, in Ameriyah, outside Fallujah.

“Coalition forces confirmed that the Ameriyah

citizens exposed to the chlorine were treated

locally for symptoms ranging from minor skin

and lung irritation to vomiting,” Hollenbeck

said in a statement.

In each attack a suicide bomber detonated a

vehicle packed with explosives and gas

canisters near police and civilian targets.


Police in the Anbar provincial capital said that a suicide bomber driving a truck

loaded with TNT and toxic chlorine gas crashed into a police checkpoint in

western Ramadi on Friday, killing at least 27 people ;two of them policemen

and wounding dozens. The Basra police commander said the type of roadside

bomb used in an attack that killed four British soldiers on Thursday had not

been seen in the region previously. Two more of the bombs were discovered

planted along routes heavily travelled by U.S. and British diplomats in Basra. It

was the sixth chlorine bomb detonated in the Anbar province in the last two

months and the most lethal, though it is unclear if the victims were killed by

the explosion or the chlorine.

27 Dead in Iraq Chlorine Bomb

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/319638732_05ef678e1e_m.jpg


"The U.S. military says Iraqi authorities have foiled a suicide chemical

bomb attack in the western city of Ramadi. A statement issued Sunday says

Iraqi police detained a suicide bomber Friday, before he could detonate

two tons of explosives aboard his truck that was also loaded with nearly

20,000 liters of chlorine. U.S. officials say the truck was stopped near

a police station about 150 meters from a water treatment plant in the

predominantly Sunni city." (Voice of America News; 25Mar07)

Iraqi Police Foil Chlorine 'Dirty Bomb' Attack in Ramadi


Exposure to Chlorine


Chlorine is an element used in industry and found in some household products.

Chlorine is sometimes in the form of a poisonous gas. Chlorine gas can be

pressurized and cooled to change it into a liquid so that it can be shipped and

stored. When liquid chlorine is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close

to the ground and spreads rapidly.

Chlorine gas can be recognized by its pungent, irritating odor, which is like the

odor of bleach. The strong smell may provide an adequate warning to people that

they have been exposed.

Chlorine gas appears to be yellow-green in color.

Chlorine itself is not flammable, but it can react explosively or form explosive

compounds with other chemicals such as turpentine and ammonia.

What chlorine is


Chlorine was used during World War I as a choking (pulmonary)

agent.

Chlorine is one of the most commonly manufactured chemicals in the

United States. Its most important use is as a bleach in the manufacture

of paper and cloth, but it is also used to make pesticides (insect

killers), rubber, and solvents.

Chlorine is used in drinking water and swimming pool water to kill

harmful bacteria. It is also as used as part of the sanitation process for

industrial waste and sewage.

Household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas if it is mixed with

other cleaning agents.

Where chlorine is found and how it is used


People‟s risk for exposure depends on how close they are to the place

where the chlorine was released.

If chlorine gas is released into the air, people may be exposed

through skin contact or eye contact. They may also be exposed by

breathing air that contains chlorine.

If chlorine liquid is released into water, people may be exposed by

touching or drinking water that contains chlorine.

If chlorine liquid comes into contact with food, people may be

exposed by eating the contaminated food.

Chlorine gas is heavier than air, so it would settle in low-lying areas

How people can be exposed to chlorine


The extent of poisoning caused by chlorine depends on the amount of

chlorine a person is exposed to, how the person was exposed, and the length

of time of the exposure.

When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes,

throat, and lungs, an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.

How chlorine works


During or immediately after exposure to dangerous concentrations of chlorine, the following

signs and symptoms may develop:

•Coughing

•Chest tightness

•Burning sensation in the nose, throat, and eyes

•Watery eyes

•Blurred vision

•Nausea and vomiting

•Burning pain, redness, and blisters on the skin if exposed to gas, skin injury similar to

frostbite if exposed to liquid chlorine

•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (may appear immediately if high

concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled, or may be delayed if low concentrations of

chlorine gas are inhaled)

•Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) within 2 to 4 hours

Showing these signs or symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed

to chlorine.

Immediate signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure


Long-term complications from chlorine exposure are not found in people

who survive a sudden exposure unless they suffer complications such as

pneumonia during therapy. Chronic bronchitis may develop in people

who develop pneumonia during therapy

What the long-term health effects are


Leave the area where the chlorine was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving

to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing exposure to

chlorine.

If the chlorine release was outdoors, move away from the area where the

chlorine was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because chlorine is

heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.

If the chlorine release was indoors, get out of the building.

If you think you may have been exposed, remove your clothing, rapidly wash your

entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.

How people can protect themselves, and what they

should do if they are exposed to chlorine


Removing and disposing of clothing: Quickly take off clothing that has liquid chlorine on it. Any

clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut

off the body instead of pulled over the head. If possible,

seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic

bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the

clothing in this way will help protect you and other people

from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

If you placed your clothes in plastic bags, inform either the

local or state health department or emergency personnel

upon their arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags.

If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to

avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the

clothing as quickly as possible.


Washing the body: As quickly as possible, wash your entire body with large amounts of

soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people

from any chemicals on their bodies.

If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with

plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them

before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the

contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. You

should dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contacts. If

you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the

eyeglasses back on after you wash them.

If you have ingested (swallowed) chlorine, do not induce vomiting or

drink fluids.

Seek medical attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has

happened


No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. Treatment

consists of removing the chlorine from the body as soon

as possible and providing supportive medical care in a

hospital setting.

How chlorine exposure is treated


People can contact one of the following:

Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Response Hotline (CDC)

800-CDC-INFO

888-232-6348 (TTY)

E-mail inquiries: [email protected]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to

Chemical Hazards

How people can get more information about chlorine

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0115.html

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0115.html


Chlorine Suppliers


Google search 1,700,000 Hits


Yahoo Search 1,540,000 Hits


MSN Search 230,868 Hits


ASK.Com Search 550,700 Hits


Mash Search 1,170,000 Hits


World Politics Watch


Department of Homeland Security

USA TODAY

Voice of America

FBI

Center for American Progress

Reuters

Seattle Post

Doha Tribune

CDC

BBC

Iraq War News

Resources

Education

Chlorine attacks