Abstract
Chemicals are part of daily life. They are essential, amongst others, to fight disease, produce and preserve food, provide clean water, manufacture goods, and provide energy. But chemicals also can be exploited for hostile purposes. Certain precursor chemicals, for example, can be converted into chemical weapons, prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Other industrial chemicals can be used directly as improvised weapon given their toxicity or explosiveness. Access to, use and transfers of chemicals therefore are subject to strict controls. Balancing chemical security objectives with ensuring that chemical products can legitimately be use is complicated and requires a multi-stakeholder governance approach. It requires legislation and administrative measures, but also voluntary compliance assurance by the manufacturers and users of chemicals. This paper provides an overview on the chemical risks embedded in today’s society, explains how trends in science, technology and commerce may affect this threat environment, and discusses good practices to prevent misuse and mitigate risks.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The same material was released in 1976 in Seveso, Italy, as the result of an industrial accident leading to large scale contamination of the environment, thousands of dead animals and many people living near the chemical plant showing a range of symptoms. A 2001 study confirmed that TCDD is carcinogenic to humans and associated with cardiovascular- and endocrine-related effects [16]. In 2009, an update found an increase in lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue neoplasms as well as breast cancer [17].
- 2.
Only North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan have not taken any action on the treaty; Israel has signed the CWC but has yet to ratify it.
- 3.
Poisoning, leukemia, lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, intellectual disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- 4.
This paper uses the term “terrorism” in a generic sense, relating to any form of terrorism, in whichever manifestation, and recognising that there is no international consensus of the definition and scope of the term “terrorism”.
- 5.
Amongst others, these include: Chap. 19 of Agenda 21 adopted by the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, ILO Conventions No. 170 on Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work and No. 174 on the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents, Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals; within the EU: Seveso III Directive.
References
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013), http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol= S/RES/2118(2013)
OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M/33/Dec.1 (2013), https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/M-33/ecm33dec01_e_.pdf
OPCW UN Joint Investigation Mechanism Third Report S/2016/738 (2016), http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2016/738
ICRC Customary International Humanitarian Law Database., https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/home
Huber, D.: ARMOR (November-December 2001), pp. 14–17 (2001)
Human Rights Watch (2000), https://www.hrw.org/report/2000/02/01/backgrounder-russian-fuel-air-explosives-vacuum-bombs
Defence Update., http://www.defense-update.com/news/6702carpet.htm
Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, as amended on 21 December 2001, and Protocols, https://www.un.org/disarmament/geneva/ccw/
Brehm, M., Borrie, J.: “Explosive weapons – framing the problem” Background Paper No. 1 of the Discourse on Explosive Weapons (DEW) UNIDIR Project (2010), http://www.unidir.org/files/publications/pdfs/explosive-weapons-framing-the-problem-354.pdf
Borrie, J, Brehm, M,: Int. Rev. Red Cross vol. 93, no. 883, 1–28 (2011)
Smith, R.: The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World, Allen Lane, London (2006), as cited by Borrie and Brehm, op. cit. [10]
United Nations Security Council, Report of the Secretary-General on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Document S/2009/277 (2009), http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2009/277
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, https://www.un.org/disarmament/geneva/aplc
Convention on Cluster Munitions., https://www.un.org/disarmament/geneva/ccm
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention
Bertazzi, P.A., Consonni, D., Bachetti, S., Rubagotti, M., Baccarelli, A., Zocchetti, C., Pesatori, A.C.: Amer. J. Epidemiol. vol. 153 no. 11, 1031–1044 (2001)
Environmental Health: a global access science source. 8 (1): 39; http://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-8-39
OPCW., https://www.opcw.org
Lewer, N, Davison, N: Disarmament forum no. 1, 37–51, (2005) https://www.peacepalacelibrary.nl/ebooks/files/UNIDIR_pdf-art2217.pdf
Weapons Law Encyclopaedia., http://www.weaponslaw.org/weapons/incendiary-weapons
ICRC: Customary International Humanitarian Law, Rule 85., https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule85
UN General Assembly Resolution A/Res/70/1 (2015), http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E
ILO: Safety and Health in the use of chemicals at work (2013), http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@safework/documents/publication/wcms_235085.pdf
ICSS., http://www.iccss.eu/media/timeline-for-chemical-incidents
Orr, M.F., Wu, J., Sloop, S.L.: Surveillance Summaries, vol. 64, no. 2, 1–9 (2015)
Ruckart, P.Z., Orr, M.F.: Surveillance Summaries, vol. 64, no. 2, 10–17 (2015)
Duncan, M.A., Wu, J., Neu, M.C., Orr, M.F.: Surveillance Summaries, vol. 64, no. 2, 18–24 (2015)
Anderson, A.R.: Surveillance Summaries, vol. 64, no. 2, 39–46 (2015)
Consonni, D., Pesatori, A.C., Zocchetti, C., Sindaco, R., D’Oro, L.C., Rubagotti, M., Bertazzi, P.A.: Amer. J. Epidemiol., vol. 167 no. 7, 847–858 (2008)
European Union Directive 82/501/EEC., http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:31982L0501&from=EN
European Union Directive 2012/18/EU., http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32012L0018&from=EN
Broughton, E.: Environ Health, 4:6 (2005), http://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-4-6
European Commission Joint Communication to the European Parliament and Council “Joint framework on countering hybrid treats – a European response” JOIN(2017)18 final, p. 2
The Guardian (21 December 2016), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/21/mexico-firework-market-explosion-death-toll
The Telegraph (12 August 2015), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11799581/Huge-explosions-rock-Chinese-city.html
Lundin, J. (Ed.): Verification of dual-use chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention: the case of Thiodiglycol, SIPRI CBW Studies Series no. 13, OUP Oxford (1991)
US Senate Armed Services Committee (2016), https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/testimonies/217-congressional-testimonies-2016/1313-statement-for-the-record-worldwide-threat-assessment-of-the-u-s-ic-before-the-senate-armed-services-committee-2016
Gerstein, D.M.: Bull. Atomic Scientists (2016), http://thebulletin.org/how-genetic-editing-became-national-security-threat9362
Spiez Laboratory and CSS ETH Zurich (2016), http://www.css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/SpiezConvergenceReport-2016.pdf
WHO: The public health impact of chemicals: knows and unknowns (2016), http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/206553/1/WHO_FWC_PHE_EPE_16.01_eng.pdf
National Fire Protection Association., http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/chemical-and-gases/fires-starting-with-flammable-gas-or-flammable-or-combustible-liquid
National Fire Protection Association., http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/chemical-and-gases/spontaneous-combustion-or-chemical-reaction
National Fire Protection Association., http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/fireworks
Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Housing of France (2012), http://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/wp-content/files_mf/Fireworksaccidentanalysis_jan2012.pdf
Poison Control National Capital Poison Center (USA)., http://www.poison.org/poison-statistics-national
Defence Update (2006), https://web.archive.org/web/20110607231414/http://www.defense-update.com/commentary/24-1-06.htm
US White House Press Office (2013), https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/30/government-assessment-syrian-government-s-use-chemical-weapons-august-21
The New Arab: Where do Islamic State and al-Qaeda get their explosives? (3 March 2016), https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2016/3/23/where-do-islamic-state-and-al-qaeda-get-their-explosives
Europol Strategic Analysis Reports., https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/page/strategic_analysis_reports
UNODC World Drug Report (2016), http://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf
Wheelis, M.: Nonconsensual manipulation of human physiology using biochemicals, in: Pearson, A.M., Chevrier, M.I., Wheelis, M: Incapacitating Chemical Weapons, pp. 1–17, Lexington Books Lanham MD (2007)
SAICM., http://www.saicm.org/
UNEP: SAICM texts and resolutions of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (2006), http://www.saicm.org/images/saicm_documents/saicm%20texts/SAICM_publication_ENG.pdf
Report of the International Conference on Chemicals Management, Fourth Session, SAICM/ICCM.4/15(2015), http://www.saicm.org/images/saicm_documents/iccm/ICCM4/Re-issued_mtg_report/K1606013_e.pdf
Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (2006), http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006R1907&from=EN
UN Security Council 1540 Committee., http://www.un.org/en/sc/1540
UN Security Council Resolution 2325 (2016), http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2325(2016)
OPCW Conference of the States Parties Decision C-8/DEC.16 (24 October 2003); https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/CSP/C-8/en/c8dec16_EN.pdf
OPCW Report of the Third Review Conference RC-3/3 (19 April 2013), https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/CSP/RC-3/en/rc303__e_.pdf
UN CTITF Working Group on Preventing and Responding to WMD Terrorist Attacks (2011), https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/ctitf/en/preventing-and-responding-wmd-terrorist-attacks
UN Economic Commission for Europe, ADR 2015, Chapter 1.10, https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2015/ADR2015e_WEB.pdf
UN Office on Drugs and Crime., http://www.un.org/en/counterterrorism/legal-instruments.shtml
Meier, O., Trapp, R.: Bull. Atomic Scientist (7 June 2016). http://thebulletin.org/russia%E2%80%99s-chemical-terrorism-proposal-red-herring-or-useful-tool9531
McLeish, C., Lak, M.: The Role of Civil Society and Industrial Non-state Actors in Relation to the Chemical Weapons Convention, in: Krutzsch, W., Myjer, E., Trapp, R.: The Chemical Weapons Convention – A Commentary, pp. 37–48, OUP Oxford (2014)
ICCA Responsible Care ®., https://www.icca-chem.org/responsible-care/
Responsible Care Management System technical Specifications (2013), https://responsiblecare.americanchemistry.com/Responsible-Care-Program-Elements/Management-System-and-Certification/RCMS-Technical-Specifications.pdf
Responsible Care ® (American Chemistry Council)., https://responsiblecare.americanchemistry.com/Management-System-and-Certification
CEFIC: Responsible Care Security Code Guidance and Best Practice for the Implementation of the Code (2011), http://www.rcsk.sk/mix/Responsible%20Care%20Security%20Code%20-%20Guidance.pdf
CEFIC: Industry guidelines for the security of the transport of dangerous goods by road (2015), http://www.cefic.org/Documents/IndustrySupport/RC%20tools%20for%20SMEs/Document%20Tool%20Box/Security%20Guidelines%20of%20the%20transport%20of%20dangerous%20goods.pdf
IOMC/WHO., http://www.who.int/iomc/en
OECD: 25 Years of chemical accident prevention – history and outlook (2013), https://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/chemical-accidents/Chemical-Accidents-25years.pdf
United States State Department, Chemical Security Programme, http://www.csp-state.net/
Trapp, R.: The EU’s CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative after Six Years, EU Non-proliferation Papers No. 55 (2017)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Trapp, R. (2017). Living with Chemicals: How to Prevent Their Use for Hostile Purposes and Mitigate Chemical Risks. In: Martellini, M., Malizia, A. (eds) Cyber and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Challenges. Terrorism, Security, and Computation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62108-1_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62108-1_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62107-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62108-1
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)