Book excerpt: This is the first book on toxic chemicals that puts a special focus on chemical weapons and bioterrorism. Leading experts provide up-to-date pharmacological and toxicological information on chemical warfare agents, industrial chemicals, environmental toxins, metalloid and an array of miscellaneous agents including their mechanism of toxicity. Also discussed are a number of antidotes, which are being used, or currently being investigated, for the treatments of the common toxicants.