Abstract: A process for the treatment of toxic materials, for example, inorganic compounds, halogenated organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) and chemical weapons such as Sarin and mustard. The process is based on the discovery that mechanical activation can induce chemical reactions which break down the molecular structure of toxic materials and form products which are simple, non-toxic compounds. The process involves subjecting a mixture of a toxic material and a suitable reagent to mechanical activation to produce a non-toxic end product or products. Mechanical activation is typically performed inside a mechanical mill, for example, a ball mill. Ball milling of various toxic materials with appropriate reagents was found to result in virtual total destruction of the toxic starting material.