Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?

The development and use of chemical and toxin-based weapons have evolved significantly over time, from early historical applications to modern incidents involving highly potent agents. Despite the establishment of international treaties such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biologica...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Repilado Álvarez, Adrián, Guerra Guirao, José Antonio, Cuadrado Berrocal, Irene, Torrente Ballesteros, Maria Teresa
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/125344
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125344
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:615.9
Accident & emergency medicine
Clinical pharmacology
Law (see Medical Law)
Public Health
Toxicology
Toxicología (Farmacia)
3214 Toxicología
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spelling Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?Repilado Álvarez, AdriánGuerra Guirao, José AntonioCuadrado Berrocal, IreneTorrente Ballesteros, Maria Teresa615.9Accident & emergency medicineClinical pharmacologyLaw (see Medical Law)Public HealthToxicologyToxicología (Farmacia)3214 ToxicologíaThe development and use of chemical and toxin-based weapons have evolved significantly over time, from early historical applications to modern incidents involving highly potent agents. Despite the establishment of international treaties such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), emerging threats posed by non-traditional agents, particularly central nervous system (CNS)-acting chemicals and biotoxins, present ongoing challenges. These substances, while not individually scheduled, fall within the broader definitions of toxic chemicals and are prohibited if used for purposes inconsistent with the conventions. CNS-acting chemicals, including pharmaceutical-based agents such as fentanyl analogues and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, raise concerns due to their incapacitating or lethal effects, potential misuse in law enforcement contexts and increasing availability via illicit markets. Biotoxins such as ricin and saxitoxin, although naturally derived, have military relevance and are subject to regulation under both the CWC and BTWC. This analysis synthesises key developments that have shaped the current threat landscape and explores the challenges these agents pose for both verification mechanisms and military medical preparedness. It highlights gaps in toxidrome identification, limitations in available countermeasures and the need for improved diagnostic capabilities, all of which are critical for mitigating the risks associated with exposure to non-traditional agents.BMJUniversidad Complutense de Madrid20252025-08-2420252025-08-24journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501AMhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_ab4af688f83e57aainfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125344reponame:Docta Complutenseinstname:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/1253442026-06-02T12:44:21Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
title Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
spellingShingle Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
Repilado Álvarez, Adrián
615.9
Accident & emergency medicine
Clinical pharmacology
Law (see Medical Law)
Public Health
Toxicology
Toxicología (Farmacia)
3214 Toxicología
title_short Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
title_full Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
title_fullStr Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
title_full_unstemmed Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
title_sort Threat of non-traditional agents: a new frontier in chemical weapons concerns?
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Repilado Álvarez, Adrián
Guerra Guirao, José Antonio
Cuadrado Berrocal, Irene
Torrente Ballesteros, Maria Teresa
author Repilado Álvarez, Adrián
author_facet Repilado Álvarez, Adrián
Guerra Guirao, José Antonio
Cuadrado Berrocal, Irene
Torrente Ballesteros, Maria Teresa
author_role author
author2 Guerra Guirao, José Antonio
Cuadrado Berrocal, Irene
Torrente Ballesteros, Maria Teresa
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universidad Complutense de Madrid
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv 615.9
Accident & emergency medicine
Clinical pharmacology
Law (see Medical Law)
Public Health
Toxicology
Toxicología (Farmacia)
3214 Toxicología
topic 615.9
Accident & emergency medicine
Clinical pharmacology
Law (see Medical Law)
Public Health
Toxicology
Toxicología (Farmacia)
3214 Toxicología
description The development and use of chemical and toxin-based weapons have evolved significantly over time, from early historical applications to modern incidents involving highly potent agents. Despite the establishment of international treaties such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), emerging threats posed by non-traditional agents, particularly central nervous system (CNS)-acting chemicals and biotoxins, present ongoing challenges. These substances, while not individually scheduled, fall within the broader definitions of toxic chemicals and are prohibited if used for purposes inconsistent with the conventions. CNS-acting chemicals, including pharmaceutical-based agents such as fentanyl analogues and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, raise concerns due to their incapacitating or lethal effects, potential misuse in law enforcement contexts and increasing availability via illicit markets. Biotoxins such as ricin and saxitoxin, although naturally derived, have military relevance and are subject to regulation under both the CWC and BTWC. This analysis synthesises key developments that have shaped the current threat landscape and explores the challenges these agents pose for both verification mechanisms and military medical preparedness. It highlights gaps in toxidrome identification, limitations in available countermeasures and the need for improved diagnostic capabilities, all of which are critical for mitigating the risks associated with exposure to non-traditional agents.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025-08-24
2025
2025-08-24
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
AM
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_ab4af688f83e57aa
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125344
url https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125344
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMJ
publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMJ
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Docta Complutense
instname:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
instname_str Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
reponame_str Docta Complutense
collection Docta Complutense
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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