Schwartz research assistant, ict 21820 the views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the international institute for counterterrorism ict. Biological warfare agents may be more potent than conventional and chemical weapons. Because of the increased threat of terrorism, the risk posed by various microorganisms as biological weapons needs to be evaluated and the historical development and use of biological agents better understood. In general, chemical weapons are considered about as lethal per unit mass as conventional explosives and much less lethal than either nuclear or biological weapons dirty bombs are much less lethal, chap. Chemical and biological weapons international committee. The prohibition of chemical and biological weapons appeared on the agenda of the eighteennation committee on disarmament in geneva now called the conference on disarmament in 1968. Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and missiles. Pursuant to the requirements of the convention, china has submitted to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, on time and at the required levels of detail, its initial declarations and its subsequent declarations of annual and anticipated activities involving schedule 1, schedule 2. Common biological and chemical weapons agents webmd.
China is widely reported to have active programs related to the development of chemical and biological weapons, although essentially no details of these programs. Israel is also widely believed to have a nuclear weapon arsenal. Avner cohen is senior fellow at the center for international and security studies at maryland, as well as the program on security and disarmament, at the university of maryland. Second edition of health aspects of chemical and biological weapons. One of the first recorded uses of biological warfare occurred in 47, when mongol forces are reported to have catapulted plagueinfested bodies over the walls into the black sea port of caffa now feodosiya, ukraine, at that time a.
The most important paragraph is the penultimate one, which states that the security council decides, in the event of noncompliance with this resolution, including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in the syrian arab republic, to impose measures under chapter vii of the united nations. Us president richard nixons decision in november 1969 to abandon the us offensive biological weapons bwc negotiations in geneva. This is because of the often indiscriminate nature of such weapons, and because. If you were to dump a load of manure or human waste into a towns well, that would be a simple form of biological warfare human and animal manure contain bacteria that are deadly in a variety of ways. This report, which analyzes nbc weapons programs potential threat patterns around the globe, is updated as needed. Biological chemical warfare characteristics biological, chemical and nuclear weapons possess the common property of wreaking mass destruction. Thus, the biological weapons convention and the chemical weapons convention are milestones and main pillars in the new international disarmament and nonproliferation architecture that we are building. Biological warfare, bioterrorism, biodefence and the. Biological weapon biological weapon biological weapons in history. Pdf psychological implications of chemical and biological. Chemical and biological weapons international committee of. A number of measures can be taken to protect individuals against biological attacks. As many as 25 countries are believed to already have or to be interested in acquiring chemical weapons programs, while 1012 countries are suspected to have or be interested in acquiring biological weapons programs. While much effort has gone into studying the technological and operational characteristics of chemical and biological weapons, much less has been directed at understanding the development of u.
Israel is widely believed to possess weapons of mass destruction, and to be one of four nucleararmed countries not recognized as a nuclear weapons state by the nonproliferation treaty npt. Introduction for almost two decades, the international community has focused on eliminating north koreas nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The ostensible purpose of chemical and biological weapons is to endanger lives. Biological weapons can be as lethal as nuclear weapons if dispersed effectively, but that is not easy to do. The mendoza agreement, signed in 1991, was an agreement between argentina, brazil, and chile which never entered into force. Public health response to biological and chemical weapons. Biological and chemical weapons center for arms control. List of biological, chemical, and nuclear treaties nti. Biological and chemical weapons federation of american scientists. Camus america is the plgue and the plague is america. Recognizes the proponent change for global countering weapons of mass destruction operations responsibility from united states strategic command.
In fact, biological and chemical weapons have only rarely been used. India and pakistan declared their nuclear weapons capability with nuclear tests in 1998, as did north korea in 2006. One year later, the united nations published an influential report on the problems of chemical and biological warfare, and the question received special attention. Pdf overall view of chemical and biochemical weapons. Chinas role in the chemical and biological disarmament regimes eric croddy eric croddy is a senior research associate at the chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation program, center for nonproliferation studies, monterey institute of international studies. About a dozen countries have offensive biological weapons bw programs, and the same number have chemical weapons c w programs. Pakistans biological and chemical weapons capabilities. Jp 341, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. Case study syrias chemical and biological weapons program. Among the countries that developed a massive programme on bioweapons research. However, the north dprk2 also maintains a large stockpile of chemical weapons and the capability to produce biological weapons. The public health response to biological and chemical weapons. The biological and chemical weapons in iraqs arsenal 95 franklin foer 15.
Who submission to the united nations did not permit the health and. Chemical agents are relatively cheap and easy to produce in the same factories that make pesticides and fertilizer. This is certainly a laudable objective, but a significant constraint may already exist. With the signing of the geneva protocol in 1925 which prohibited the use of biological and chemical weapons in international warfare, the u. Who guidance has been revised and published in 2004. Statement by the delegation of mexico th thematic debate. Pdf this article describes a brief history of chemical warfare, which. Status and trends summary the united states has long recognized the dangers inherent in the spread of nuclear, biological, and che mical nbc weapons, and miss iles. Like nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons are indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction. The relatively short period of time available for the preparation of the. The 1925 geneva protocol prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in war. Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons.
With these conventions we established ground rules for the prohibition and elimination of inhuman war instruments in the world. This manual is one of five that explains the fundamentals of nbc defense. Chemical and biological warfare overview, 2015 air university. Chemical and biological weapons social sci libretexts. History, deterrence, and arms control avner cohen1 dr.
Aum shinrikyo insights into how terrorists develop. E n t f t e operations in chemical, biological, radiological. The following main conclusions emerge from the who analysis. In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content terrorism and biological weapons. Biological and chemical weapons federation of american. Biological and chemical weapons are difficult to produce, but even if they were bought or stolen not easy to do unnoticed a terrorist group would encounter enormous difficulties putting them. Chemical biological warfare is the term used to describe the use of chemical or biological agents as weapons to injure or kill humans, livestock, or plants. Shortly after pearl harbor, the united states changed its mind. The scientists working group on biological and chemical weapons control, founded in 1989 at the federation of american scientists, moved in november 2003 to the center for arms control and nonproliferation to join the centers new program on biological and chemical weapons control. Biological nuclear and chemical weapons fighting full version, you can be wise to spend the time for reading additional books. Chemical and biological weapons are weapons whose intended means for causing harm is either the toxicity of chemicals or the infectivity of diseasecausing microorganisms5. Biological weapons pakistan has had no publicly known chemical warfare cw program in the past. Chemical and biological weapons pose a special threat to civilians. The basics of chemical and biological weapons howstuffworks.
Though biological warfare is different from chemical warfare, there has always been the tendency to discuss one in terms of the other, or both together. This second edition of whos 1970 publication health aspects of biological and chemical weapons includes information designed to guide preparedness for and response to the deliberate. Biological warfare bwalso known as germ warfareis the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Using biological and chemical weapons was condemned by international declarations and treaties, notably by the 1907 hague convention iv respecting the laws and customs of war on land. Supplied iraq with biological and chemical weapons materials 99 william blum organizations to. Despite formal international prohibitions against chemical biological weapons, recent history has clearly documented their global presence and lethality. Webmd provides a list and explanation of biological and chemical agents, including their danger level and how theyre used. Pdf iranian nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Biological weapons dont typically adhere to clothing or skin, but can be dangerous should they enter cuts or lesions on the skin. Chemical and biological weapon developments and arms. Fm 33, chemical and biological contamination avoidance. Chemical weapons are devices that use chemicals to inflict death or injury. Introduction the 1972 biological and toxin weapons convention btwc and the 1993 chemical weapons convention cwc regimes were seriously challenged in 2001.
Pakistan has also signed and ratified the 1993 chemical weapons convention cwc and remains a member of the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw in good standing. The danger should not be disregarded that overoptimistic evaluation of protective preparation may distract attention from the continuing importance of prevention, e. Jp 341, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response. These weapons can be used across the spectrum of conflict to. Mustard gas and chlorine gas were used in wwi, but the effects were so horrible that chemical weapons were banned in the 1925 geneva treaty. The international community banned the use of chemical and biological weapons after world war 1 and reinforced the ban in 1972 and 1993 by prohibiting their development, stockpiling and transfer. Psychological implications of chemical and biological weapons.
Pdf chemical and biological weapons jez littlewood. Advances in science and technology raise concerns that restraints on their use may be ignored or eroded. The development, production and use of biological and chemical weapons are prohibited by international treaties to which most who member states have subscribed, namely the 1925 geneva protocol, the 1972 biological and toxin weapons convention, and the 1993 chemical weapons convention. Chemical and biological weapons james martin center. The international institute for counterterrorism 3. Should an aerosol attack occur, removing your clothing and showering are good methods for removing toxins.
Biological weapons a biological weapon uses a bacteria or virus, or in some cases toxins that come directly from bacteria, to kill people. The protocol was drawn up and signed at a conference which was held in geneva under the auspices of the league. Mustard gas and chlorine gas were used in wwi, but the effects were so horrible that chemical weapons were. Zuhair diab is a syrianborn international security analyst living in london. United kingdom, of the nato alliance, the russian federation, and austria in the realm of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons weapons of mass destruction wmd. A year later, formal negotiation of what became the biological weapons convention started in geneva based on a proposal submitted by the uk. Scientists working group on biological and chemical security the scientists working group on biological and chemical weapons control, founded in 1989 at the federation of american scientists, moved in november 2003 to the center for arms control and nonproliferation to join the centers new program on biological and chemical weapons control. Chemical and biological weapon developments and arms control jean pascal zanders, john hart and frida kuhlau i. July 2011 insights into how terrorists develop biological and chemical weapons. Biological weapons are living organisms or replicating entities.
Though biological warfare is different from chemical warfare, there has always been the tendency to discuss one. Chemical warfare cw involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from nuclear warfare and biological warfare, which together make up nbc, the military initialism for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare or weapons. The criminalization of the use of biological and chemical weapons. In the wake of recent atrocities there has been renewed apprehension regarding the possibility of chemical and biological weapon cbw deployment by. Biological, chemical and nuclear weapons possess the common property of wreaking mass destruction. Biological and chemical weapons center for arms control and.
One of the first recorded uses of biological warfare occurred in 47, when mongol forces are reported to have catapulted plagueinfested bodies over the walls into the black sea port of caffa now feodosiya, ukraine, at that time a genoese trade centre in the crimean peninsula. Biological agents, however, are particularly ineffective as military weapons, while chemical weapons have only. North koreas chemical and biological weapons programs. Iraq still possesses a biological and chemical arsenal 93 bruce b. Davis fears of biological and chemical attacks are overblown marc siegel sabotage at chemical factories presents a greater risk than do chemical weapons sabrina mclaughlin chemical industry has taken steps to prevent terrorist sabotage robert winder in the germ labs. He is the author of israel and the bomb new york columbia university. Biological warfare is distinct from nuclear warfare, chemical warfare and. Raymond allan zilinskas all i maintain is that on this earth there are pestilences and there are victims, and it l up to us, as far as possible, not tojoin forces with the pestilences. The potential use of chemical or biological weapons against the united states u. Case study syrias chemical and biological weapons program and the use of these weapons in the syrian civil war today r. Chemical weapons history american chemical society.
Scientists working group on biological and chemical security. Chemical and biological weapons china special weapons. Biological and chemical weapons us news the guardian. Murai, kazuyoshi takizawa and tsuchiya started the design of the plant which was expected to produce 70 tons of sarin in the building of satyan 7 that had already been built. The biological and chemical weapons in iraqs arsenal franklin foer the u. Biological weapon biological weapons in history britannica. Specifically, the ban on possession of biological weapons is now widely. Betts is the fear of biological terrorism justified. The organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, which is. The aim of this work was the production of a new more dangerous, more easily spread and more difficult to identify combat generation of bioweapons. Minimizing the impact of cb weapons through contamination avoidance, protection, and decontamination. A biological weapon uses a bacteria or virus, or in some cases toxins that come directly from bacteria, to kill people. The parties agreed not to develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or retain, transfer, or use chemical or biological weapons.
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