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@2018Envistacom AllRightsReserved
Can the Government Mitigate the Use of Common Household
Products Use for Explosives?
By: Robert Clowers, Envistacom LLC August 2018
Common Household Products Can Deliver a Big Bang
Since the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building attack on April 19
th
, 1995 there has been an
increased awareness within law enforcement circles of improvised explosives devices. Common,
readily accessible industrial and household products coupled with an information robust world
wide web provide a wider range of opportunities for the construction of simple explosive
devices. While a few explosive events are unfortunate accidents, the greater number of incidents
are deliberately perpetrated.
The most recent years of reporting (2010-2016) by the United States Bomb Data Center
(USBDC), show that over 290 explosive incidents involved the use of five improvised
explosive fillers.
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While ammonium nitrate and fuel oil were historically one of the most
frequently used fillers, we currently see a shift in the United States (US), and abroad, to the more
inexpensive and volatile chlorate/perchlorate mixtures. This is, however, just one of a multitude
of commonly improvised explosive mixtures that can be obtained amongst everyday household
and industrial products. The easy availability and inexpensive nature of these substances
provides ample opportunities for potential new incidents whether intentional or not. Did you
know that:
• Nail polish remover (acetate) + antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide) = Triacetone Triperoxide, an
incredibly sensitive mixture that will detonate from shock, friction, heat, static electricity or
because it is Wednesday.
• Fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) and diesel fuel (any fuel will work i.e. aluminum powder, sugar,
brake fluid, etc.) = a common blasting agent requiring a booster to initiate. In the past a frequent
component of vehicle borne improvised explosive devices
• Pool chlorine (HTH) + Brylcreem hair gel = incendiary
• Fish tank cleaner (potassium permanganate) + glycerin = incendiary, immediate ignition
All these common products can be found in households and can easily be manipulated to
construct highly explosive devices which has been proven repeatedly through the past several
years; and increasingly continues to be an issue worldwide. Exacerbating the issue is the impact
of social media and 24-hour news cycle ensuring plenty of press coverage and credit attributed to
the perpetrators. This often results in “copycat” events similar to what happens with other
violent incidents such as mass shootings or terrorist acts.
With a significant number of these attacks/incidents occurring at schools, universities, and
workplaces, all highly vulnerable groups, the inclusion of the public is becoming more critical to
provide increased public awareness and additional opportunities for federal and local law
enforcement, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to prevent these events. It
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UnitedStatesBombDataCenterreports2010‐2016
