Through a coordinated federal, state, and local effort, this threat can and will be managed effectively. These agents are extremely dangerous becase they are fairly easy to obtain. However, the process of transforming the raw agent into a weapon is very complex. The four basic types of biological agents are bacteria, rickettsia, viruses, and toxins. The primary methods of exposure are inhallation and ingestion.
Nerve agents appear as water or light oiland all are toxic at small concentrations.
Some signs of nerve agent contamination are salivation, lacrimation, and involuntary urination and defication. Blister agents, such as mustard and lewisite, can cuase severe injury with only small amounts of exposure. These oily liquids induce symptoms such as respitory discomfort, mucus membrane irritation, and burning in and around the eyes. Blood agents like cyanide and cyanide compounds have the aroma of bitter almonds and intefere with blood's ability to transport oxygen. Exposure to high concentrations is fatal.