Chemical Terrorism and Threat (CTAT) Unit: Analytes of Interest

Toxic Metals in Urine

• Beryllium
• Barium
• Cadmium
• Thallium
• Lead
• Uranium
• Arsenic
• Mercury

All of these metals are readily available and highly toxic.

Toxic Metals in Blood

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium

All of these metals are readily available and highly toxic.

Cyanide

• Cyanide is present in everyone’s blood at various levels
• Cyanide is higher in the blood of smokers
• Highly Toxic
• Readily Available
• Has been used in the past (from ancient Egypt to recent terrorist attacks/plans)
• Accidental exposures, Suicides, Smoke Inhalation

Tetramine in Urine

• Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TET, Tetramine)
• Tetramine is primarily used as a rat poison
• Prohibited in the US and banned in China (1984)
• Over 1000 deaths in China in the 1990’s and over 800 poisonings in 2002-2004

Volatile Organic Compounds

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Toluene, Tetrachloroethane, Ethylene, Xylenes, and Styrene
• Readily available
• Ease of use
• High Toxicity

HNPAA in Urine

• Determines the exposure to Tetranitromethane (TNM) by measuring 4-Hydroxy 3-Nitrophenylacetic Acid (HNPAA)
• TNM indicates exposure to explosives.
• TNM is also highly toxic
• Widely available chemical used in various industrial processes as a chemical intermediate

Nerve Agent Metabolites in Urine

• Determines the exposure to GB (Sarin), GF, GD (Soman), VX, and Russian VX.
• Extremely Toxic
• Not readily available*

*Sarin was used in 1995 Tokyo subway attacks and manufactured by the Aum Shinrikyo.

Ricinine and Abrine in Urine

• Determines the exposure to Ricin and Abrin.
• Extremely Toxic
• Both can be manufactured easily from plants found in the United States

Unknowns Analysis

Please contact the CTAT unit (919-807-8571) for any analysis of unknown substances prior to sending.

CTAT Unit Information

• Overview
• Analytes of Interest
• Contacts, Sample Submission, and Forms