Nerve agents like VX and sarin gas are scary terrorist threats, but top federal officials are more worried about chemicals that travel the nation‘s highways every day — they are just as lethal. They are realizing the threat posed by chemicals that have uses in American industry. For instance, toxic industrial chemicals such as chlorine, phosgene, and hydrogen cyanide are readily available. These are among the earliest chemical weapons and were used by troops in World War I. Today, they are commonly used in commercial manufacturing, and experts believe they could easily be used for terrorism. Cyanide, for instance, is used where metals are attached to each other, in electroplating and jewelry manufacturing. Law enforcement agencies are working with the chemical industry to improve security of transportation of chemicals and the safety of chemical facilities. During such times, it is doubtful if diminishing steel drum metal thickness is worth increasing the risk of an in-transit incident. Consider drums that are thicker and heavier than industry minimums.

May 6th, 2003 8:14 am Filed under: Uncategorized by Dean Ricker