The risk of a chemical terrorist attack in the U.S. has become serious enough for the government to worry about sulfur mustard, a potent poison that has been studied for more than 80 years. Easy to make and transport, it was used during World War I and the Iran-Iraq conflict in the 1980s. Yet, there are still no effective drugs for treating exposure to this toxic, burning, blistering agent. That may soon change.

Begin with the possibility of a sulfur mustard attack here in the U.S. that would cause burns of the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, as well as swelling, blistering, coughing, bronchitis, respiratory disease, cancer, DNA damage and, in large enough doses, death. As a liquid, this poison—also known as mustard gas, mustard agent, or in the military, by a simple H, HD or HT—is colorless. When mixed with other chemicals, it looks brown and smells garlicky. Released into the air, sulfur mustard can last up to two days. As a vapor, it can travel long distances. In water, contamination could be a nightmare. The U.S. Department of Defense was ordered to destroy all its stocks by 2004. Terrorist groups or angry foreign regimes are a different story. More than a dozen countries still have sulfur mustard arsenals.

To this mix of frightening uncertainty—what is considered a high priority chemical threat—bring the expertise of Jeffrey Laskin, PhD, RWJMS professor, with his wide- ranging knowledge of chemical toxicity, wound healing, regulation of keratinocyte growth, exposure to sun and ultraviolet light, chemical carcinogensis, lung and liver toxicity. His team at the UMDNJ-Rutgers University CounterACT Research Center is part of “a massive effort designed to coordinate many different research groups. We will develop drugs to use against actual chemicals in a terror attack.” Projects are underway to identify specific mechanisms of sulfur mustard action and new therapeutics.