Botulinum Toxin, commonly known by the trade name BOTOX, is now used extensively in this country as a cosmetic ingredient used to alleviate wrinkles, with a market value over 2 BILLION DOLLARS as of 2009.
The pure toxin, on its own, is the most potent poison known to current science. One gram could be LETHAL to 14,300 people if ingested; 1.25 MILLION if inhaled and 8.3 MILLION people if injected; obviously an extremely deadly and potent toxin.
Currently because of lax controls and high profit margins a "black market" has emerged where the substance is produced illicitly and illegally by underground laboratories worldwide.
It would be relatively easy for a terrorist organization and/or state to purchase sufficient quantities of Botox to cause mass casualities. With the advent of the internet it has become prevalent to buy and/or sell Botox from these illicit laboratories that are probably more concerned with profits than they are with their purchaser's motives.
The information contained within this thread is from SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN magazine and the article is titled: FAKE BOTOX, REAL THREAT.
Botulinum toxin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fake Botox, Real Threat
Links and References
http://www.fakebotoxrealthreat.com/s...x-june2010.pdf
http://www.fakebotoxrealthreat.com/s...torial2010.pdf
http://www.fakebotoxrealthreat.com/s.../arnon2001.pdf
http://www.fakebotoxrealthreat.com/s...esjuly2009.pdf
http://www.fakebotoxrealthreat.com/s...st.com1-10.pdf
David Hoffman | FOREIGN POLICY
Is Allergan responsible for Botox counterfeits? - Jun. 8, 2010
Reading the Web - Idea of the Day Blog - NYTimes.com
Wrinkle-Fighting Toxin Raises Terror Concerns (http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/bmag/sbsm1005/feature-botox.html - broken link)
Allergan denies Botox terrorism threat | allergan, botox, drug - Life - The Orange County Register
Truly a global problem which should receive immediate and thorough attention. .