Common uses for chemicals of

security concern that terrorists may

seek to use to do harm in Australia.

If you use, sell, store or transport high-risk chemicals of security concern you
can help keep Australia safe from terrorism by following the National Code of
Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern.
The Code is at: www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity Report
suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline: 1800 123 400

High-risk chemicals
This table lists 15 high-risk chemicals of security concern that terrorists can use as ingredients to make bombs and toxic weapons.
It also outlines how these 15 chemicals are commonly used in Australia.

Chemical Concentration/form that is of Common uses in Australia*

security concern
Aluminium • At any concentration • Mixed function pesticide used in agriculture
phosphide
Ammonium • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Rocketry • Laboratory reagent
perchlorate higher of ammonium perchlorate; or • Explosives • Diagnostic reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Chlorine • Gas only • Water treatment • Calibration gas • Scientific research
• Mining • Chemical • Fuel gas mixture
manufacture
Hydrogen peroxide • In a water-based solution at any concentration; or • Laundry • Pharmaceuticals • Hair and beauty
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a • Cleaning • Mining Industry industry
concentration of 15% or higher • Dairy industry • Pool & spa industry • Food & beverage
• Paper & pulp industry
• Water treatment
bleaching
Nitric acid • At a concentration of 30% or higher • Dairy industry • Food & beverage • Metal processing &
• Mining industry industry treatment
Nitromethane • At a concentration of 10% or higher • Pharmaceuticals • A fuel component in • Analytical
• Racing fuel in high radio-controlled laboratories
performance racing models
Potassium chlorate • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Diagnostic reagent
higher of potassium chlorate; or • Explosives • Laboratory reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium cyanide • At any concentration • Mining • Scientific research • Electroplating
• Agricultural • Used to wash jewels
Potassium nitrate • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fertiliser • Fireworks
higher of potassium nitrate; or • Rocketry • Food preservation
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Smelting • Diagnostic reagent
perchlorate higher of potassium perchlorate; or • Explosives • Laboratory reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium azide • At a concentration of 95% or higher • Smelting • Biocide in hospitals • Dairy industry
and laboratories
Sodium chlorate • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Mining industry • Paper production • Laboratory reagent
higher of sodium chlorate; or • Metal treatment • Food chemical • Diagnostic reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium cyanide • At any concentration • Insecticides • Gold extraction
• Ore flotation • Used in metal cleaning baths, metal hardening
• Electroplating
Sodium nitrate • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Pyrotechnics • Food preservative • Ingredient in
higher of sodium nitrate; or fertilisers
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a • Solid rocket
concentration of 65% or higher propellant
Sodium • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Smelting • Laboratory reagent
perchlorate higher of sodium perchlorate; or • Mining industry • Diagnostic reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher

*All chemicals can be used in scientific research and laboratory analysis.

Please note: Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) is regulated by states and territories.
For more information on chemicals of security concern visit www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity
 Common uses for chemicals of
security concern that terrorists may
seek to use to do harm in Australia.

If you use, sell, store or transport high-risk chemicals of security concern you
can help keep Australia safe from terrorism by following the National Code of
Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern.
The Code is at: www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity Report
suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline: 1800 123 400

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals

Chemical Common uses in Australia*
Aldicarb • No registered products contain this chemical

Aluminium phosphide** • Mixed function pesticide used in agriculture

Azinphos methyl • Pesticide used in horticulture

Bendiocarb • Pesticide used in the home garden and for agricultural use in livestock

Cadusafos • Pesticide used in agriculture and horticulture

Carbofuran • Pesticide for agricultural use in cereals

Chlorfenvinphos • Pesticide for agricultural use in livestock

• Pesticide for home garden (turf), domestic animals (flea collars), commercial buildings, horticulture and agricultural use
Diazinon (pastures, cereals and livestock)

Dichlorvos • Pesticide for home garden use to control flying and crawling insects in rubbish bins

Disulfoton • Pesticide for use in agricultural and horticultural crops

Endosulfan • No registered products contain this chemical

Ethion • Pesticide for agricultural use in livestock

Fenamiphos • Pesticide used for agriculture, in horticultural crops and turf

Magnesium phosphide • Pesticide used for control of storage pests in agriculture

Methamidophos • No registered products contain this chemical

Methidathion • No registered products contain this chemical

Methiocarb • Pesticide for use in the home garden and for agricultural use in broadacre and horticultural crops

Methomyl • Pesticide for use in agricultural crops and livestock as well as horticultural crops

Mevinphos • Pesticide used in agricultural crops

Omethoate • Pesticide for use in agricultural crops and the home garden

Oxamyl • Pesticide used in agricultural crops

Paraquat • Pesticide for use in agricultural and horticultural crops

Parathion methyl • No registered products contain this chemical

• Pesticide for use in agricultural and horticultural crops

Phorate • Not for use in the home garden

Propoxur • Insecticide for domestic use

Sodium fluoroacetate • Vertebrate poison commonly known as1080 used for control of feral animals

Terbufos • Pesticide used in agriculture

Zinc phosphide • Vertebrate poison used for control of rodents in agriculture

Strychnine • Vertebrate poison used for control of feral animals

*All chemicals can be used in scientific research and laboratory analysis.

** This is a high-risk chemical
Please note: Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) is regulated by states and territories.
For more information on chemicals of security concern visit www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity
 Common uses for chemicals of security concern that
terrorists may seek to use to do harm in Australia.

If you use, sell, store or transport high-risk chemicals of security concern you can help keep Australia safe from terrorism by following
the National Code of Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern.
The Code is at: www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity.
Report suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline: 1800 123 400
Industrial chemicals cont.
Chemical Concentration/form Common uses in Australia*
Ammonia (Anhydrous) • Gas only • Mining • Water treatment • Plastic manufacture • Chemical • Agricultural use
• Refrigerant • Food processing • Waste gas scrubbing manufacture - fertiliser
• Fossil fuel alternative • Household cleaning
agents
Ammonium perchlorate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Rocketry • Laboratory • Explosives • Diagnostic reagent
higher of ammonium perchlorate; or reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution,
at a concentration of 65% or higher
Arsenic pentoxide • Mining • Agricultural use • Scientific research
Arsenic trioxide • Pharmaceuticals • Agricultural use • Cancer treatment
• Timber treatment • Scientific research
Arsine • Gas only • Semiconductor manufacture • Metal refinement
Beryllium sulphate • Scientific research
Bromine • Liquid or gas • Fumigant • Water treatment • Flame retardant • Cleaning agents • Available in tablet and
• Dyes granular form
Calcium cyanide • Pesticide • Poison to kill rabbits and rodents • Extract gold and silver from ores
• Metal cleaning and electroplating
Carbon disulphide • Pesticide • Electroplating • Food packaging • Rubber manufacture • Water treatment
• Flotation agent • Resin production • Scientific research • Rayon manufacture
• Poison (wild pigs) • Parasite remover
(horses & swine)
Carbon monoxide • Gas only • Mining • Calibration gas • Chemical manufacture • Scientific research • Fuel gas mixture
Chlorine** • Gas only • Water treatment • Mining • Calibration gas • Scientific research • Fuel gas mixture
• Chemical manufacture
Chloropicrin • Fumigant • Scientific research
• Pesticide
Cyanide chloride • Ore refining • Synthetic rubber • Production of triazine pesticides (eg. Atrazine) and pesticides (eg. Menazon)
• Metal cleaners • Optical brighteners
Cyanogen bromide • Scientific research
Diethyl phosphite • Scientific research
Dimethyl mercury • Scientific research
Dimethyl phosphite • Plastic • Scientific research • Lubricant • Flame retardant
• Dye • Pesticide • Adhesive
Dimethyl sulphate • Fabric manufacture • Scientific research
Ethyldiethanolamine • Scientific research
Ethyl mercury chloride • Pesticide • Scientific research • Pharmaceutical research

*All chemicals can be used in scientific research and laboratory analysis.

** This is a high-risk chemical
Please note: Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) is regulated by states and territories.
For more information on chemicals of security concern visit www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity
Industrial chemicals cont.
Chemical Concentration/form Common uses in Australia*
Fluorine • Gas only • Low friction plastics • Production of Halons • Manufacturing and • Plasma etching in • Rocket fuel oxidiser
(eg Teflon) (eg. Freon) flat panel display semiconductor
production
Fluoroacetic acid • Scientific research • Water treatment
Fluoroethyl alcohol • Scientific research
Fluoroethyl fluoroacetate • Scientific research
Hydrochloric acid • Liquid or gas • Mining • Metal treatment • Water treatment • Household cleaning • Higher education/
• Wine industry • Food processing • Leather processing products Uni sector
• Chemical manufacture • Research laboratories
Hydrogen chloride • Gas only • Pickling • Tanning leather • Delinting cotton • Scientific research • Iron cleaner prior to
• Electroplating • Oilfield acidising • Pharmaceuticals • Hydrochlorination galvanisation
of rubber • Semiconductor
manufacture
Hydrogen cyanide • Gas only • Manufacture dyes, fumigants, plastics and cyanide compounds • Production of acrylonitrile
Hydrogen peroxide** • In a water-based solution at any concentration; or • Laundry • Dairy industry • Mining Industry • Water treatment • Hair and beauty industry
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a • Cleaning • Pharmaceuticals • Pool & spa industry • Paper & pulp bleaching • F  ood & beverage
concentration of 15% or higher industry
Hydrogen sulphide • Gas only • Metal treatment • Leather tanning • Waste water treatment • Rayon textile • Petroleum and natural
• Waste disposal production gas extraction
• Pulp and paper
manufacture
Mercuric chloride • Pesticide • Disinfectants • Scientific research • Timber treatment
Mercuric nitrate • Scientific research • Pharmaceuticals
Mercuric oxide • Batteries • Tattoo dye • Scientific research
Mercurous nitrate • Tanning • Embalming • Dry batteries • Preservation • Scientific research
• Pesticide • Lithography • Gold refining • Disinfectant
Mercury cyanide • Mining • Scientific research
Methylediethanolamine • Chemical manufacture • Scientific research
Methyl fluoroacetate • Pesticide • Pharmaceuticals
Nitric acid** • Liquid at a concentration of 30% or higher • Dairy industry • Mining industry • Food & beverage • Metal processing
industry & treatment
Nitric oxide • Gas only • Rocket propellants • Rayon bleaching agent • Scientific research
Nitromethane** • Liquid at a concentration of 10% or higher • Pharmaceuticals • A fuel component in radio-controlled models • Analytical laboratories
• Racing fuel in high performance racing
Osmium tetroxide • Microscopy • Scientific research
Perchloric acid • Scientific research • Pharmaceuticals • Medical research • Metallurgy
Phosgene • Mining • Pharmaceuticals • Manufacture isocyanates
• Plastics • Scientific research (used to manufacture polyurethane resins and some pesticides)
Phosphine • Gas only • Plastics • Scientific research • Semiconductor • Grain protection
manufacture
Phosphorous • Detergents • Fireworks • Toothpaste • Agricultural use
• Pesticides • Explosives • Friction matches • Scientific research
Phosphorous oxychloride • Pesticides • Scientific research • Manufacturing of hydraulic fluids, plastic and elastomer additives,
• Dental • Medical research flame retardant, oil stabilisers, starch modification
Phosphorous pentachloride • Paint • Pharmaceuticals • Flame retardants • Grain refiner and grain structure improver
• Plastics • Water treatment • Scientific research
Phosphorous trichloride • Plastics • Mining • Industrial • Pharmaceuticals
• Dyes • Pesticides • Fire retardants • Scientific research

*All chemicals can be used in scientific research and laboratory analysis.

** This is a high-risk chemical
Please note: Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) is regulated by states and territories.
For more information on chemicals of security concern visit www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity
Industrial chemicals cont.
Chemical Concentration/form Common uses in Australia*
Potassium chlorate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Explosives • Diagnostic reagent • Laboratory reagent
higher of potassium chlorate; or
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium cyanide** • At any concentration • Mining • Electroplating • Cleaning jewellery
• Agricultural • Scientific research
Potassium nitrate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fertiliser • Rocketry • Fireworks • Food preservation
higher of potassium nitrate; or
• In a form other than a water-based solution, at a
concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium perchlorate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% or • Fireworks • Smelting • Laboratory reagent • Diagnostic reagent
higher of potassium perchlorate; or • Explosives
• In a form other than a water-based solution,
at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium azide** • A concentration of 95% or higher • Smelting • Dairy industry • Biocide in hospitals and laboratories
Sodium chlorate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% • Mining industry • Paper production • Laboratory reagent
or higher of sodium chlorate; or • Metal treatment • Food chemical • Diagnostic reagent
• In a form other than a water-based solution,
at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium cyanide** • At any concentration • Pesticides • Electroplating • Used in metal cleaning baths, metal hardening
• Ore flotation • Gold extraction
Sodium nitrate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% • Pyrotechnics • Food preservative • Ingredient in fertilisers
or higher of sodium nitrate; or • Solid rocket propellant
• In a form other than a water-based solution,
at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium perchlorate** • In a water-based solution containing 10% • Smelting • Mining industry • Laboratory reagent • Diagnostic reagent
or higher of sodium perchlorate; or
• In a form other than a water-based solution,
at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sulphur dichloride • Plastics • Antioxidants • Pesticides • Rubber industry
• Sulphur dyes • Pesticides • Paper and textiles • Synthesis of organic chemicals
Sulphuric acid • Liquid only • Mining • Batteries • Water treatment • Scientific research • Leather and textile
• Farming • Oil refining • Agricultural use • Pulp and paper manufacturing
manufacture • Higher education/
Uni sector
Sulphur monochloride • Food industry • Rubber industry
• Pesticide • Modifies drying oils for inks and varnishes
Thallium sulphate • Pesticide • Used in electronics • Smelting of tailings from copper, lead and zinc mining
• Scientific research
Thionyl chloride • Scientific research
Thiophosphoryl chloride • Sealant • Pharmaceuticals • Scientific research • Chemical manufacture
Triethanolamine • Oil • Adhesives • Emulsifier • Cleaning products • Fabric anti-crease
• Inks • Concrete • Polymers • Personal care solutions
• Paints • Fertilisers • Drilling fluids • Corrosion inhibitors
engines
Triethyl phosphite • Scientific research • Pharmaceuticals • Paint manufacture
Zinc cyanide • Pesticide • Metal plating • Chemical reagent • Medicine and chemical analysis
• Electroplating • Gold extraction • Scientific research

*All chemicals can be used in scientific research and laboratory analysis.

** This is a high-risk chemical
Please note: Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) is regulated by states and territories.
For more information on chemicals of security concern visit www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/chemicalsecurity