Biological and chemical terrorism scenarios and implications for detection system needs

Susanna P. Gordon; Isabelle Chumfong; Donna M. Edwards; Nathaniel J. Gleason; Todd West; Lynn Yang

doi:10.1117/12.719869

4 May 2007 Biological and chemical terrorism scenarios and implications for detection systems needs

Susanna P. Gordon, Isabelle Chumfong, Donna M. Edwards, Nathaniel J. Gleason, Todd West, Lynn Yang

Proceedings Volume 6540, Optics and Photonics in Global Homeland Security III; 654015 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719869
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Terrorists intent on causing many deaths and severe disruption to our society could, in theory, cause hundreds to tens of thousands of deaths and significant contamination of key urban facilities by using chemical or biological (CB) agents. The attacks that have occurred to date, such as the 1995 Aum Shinrikyo CB attacks and the 2001 anthrax letters, have been very small on the scale of what is possible. In order to defend against and mitigate the impacts of large-scale terrorist attacks, defensive systems for protection of urban areas and high-value facilities from biological and chemical threats have been deployed. This paper reviews analyses of such scenarios and of the efficacy of potential response options, discusses defensive systems that have been deployed and detectors that are being developed, and finally outlines the detection systems that will be needed for improved CB defense in the future. Sandia's collaboration with San Francisco International Airport on CB defense will also be briefly reviewed, including an overview of airport facility defense guidelines produced in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The analyses that will be discussed were conducted by Sandia National Laboratories' Systems Studies Department in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, and include quantitative analyses utilizing simulation models developed through close collaboration with subject matter experts, such as public health officials in urban areas and biological defense experts.

Citation Download Citation

Susanna P. Gordon, Isabelle Chumfong, Donna M. Edwards, Nathaniel J. Gleason, Todd West, and Lynn Yang "Biological and chemical terrorism scenarios and implications for detection systems needs", Proc. SPIE 6540, Optics and Photonics in Global Homeland Security III, 654015 (4 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719869

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KEYWORDS

Sensors

Biological detection systems

Biological research

Chemical analysis

Defense and security

Data modeling

Atmospheric modeling

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