Date: May 2012
Location:  Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the Toxic Syndrome Lexicon Workshop was to discuss and develop a consistent lexicon to describe toxic chemical syndromes.  The goal of the workshop was to reach agreement on a list of syndromes, definitions, and syndrome names in order to provide a common language for chemical defense and hazmat stakeholders.  The list of syndromes would provide first responders and hospital first receivers with a common lexicon to assist them in quickly and accurately identifying the type of chemical/agent a patient was exposed to in a mass casualty incident, in order to rapidly determine appropriate emergency treatment.  The objective of the workshop wass to insure the lexicon is comprehensive, accurate, and understandable to the target audiences. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Health Affairs, with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), sponsored this workshop.  Attendees included subject matter experts (SMEs) in emergency medicine, emergency response, medical toxicology, battlefield experience, training of first responders and receivers, and medical directors.  SMEs come from civilian and military agencies, universities, hospitals, and emergency response entities. 
A Workshop Organizing Committee of representatives from DHS and NLM, assisted by Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), compiled background information and developed proposed criteria and syndromes to serve as a starting point for the workshop discussions and consensus building. 

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Report on the Toxic Chemical Syndrome

Toxidrome Poster