What are biological weapons and how do they work. How have biological weapons been used throughout history. Why are biological weapons considered a serious global threat. What international efforts exist to prevent biological warfare.

The Nature of Biological Weapons

Biological weapons are sophisticated armaments that utilize disease-causing organisms or toxins to inflict harm on humans, animals, or plants. These weapons typically consist of two key components: a weaponized biological agent and a delivery mechanism.

The weaponized agents used in biological weapons can include:

• Bacteria (e.g. anthrax, plague)
• Viruses (e.g. smallpox, Ebola)
• Fungi
• Toxins (poisons derived from living organisms)
• Prions
• Rickettsiae

These agents are often enhanced from their natural state to improve their effectiveness as weapons. This may involve increasing their virulence, environmental stability, or ease of production and dissemination.

Delivery Mechanisms

How are biological weapons typically deployed? Delivery systems for biological weapons can take many forms, including:

• Missiles
• Bombs
• Hand grenades
• Rockets
• Spray tanks fitted to aircraft, vehicles, or boats
• Specialized devices for assassinations (e.g. sprays, brushes, injection systems)

The goal of these delivery mechanisms is to effectively disperse the biological agent to infect the target population or contaminate a specific area.

Historical Development and Use of Biological Weapons

The concept of using disease as a weapon dates back centuries, but the 20th century saw significant advancements in the development and deployment of biological weapons.

Notable Historical Incidents

Throughout history, there have been several documented cases of biological warfare:

1. Use by individuals and groups for criminal acts or assassinations
2. State-sponsored biological warfare programs
3. Accidental releases of pathogens from laboratories

It’s worth noting that there have also been false accusations of biological weapons use, highlighting the challenges in distinguishing between natural disease outbreaks, accidents, and deliberate attacks.

Biological Agents of Concern

Which biological agents have been weaponized historically? Past biological weapons programs have explored the use of numerous pathogens and toxins, including:

• Anthrax
• Smallpox
• Plague
• Botulinum toxin
• Ricin
• Tularemia
• Q fever
• Foot-and-mouth disease
• Aflatoxin

Each of these agents presents unique challenges in terms of production, storage, delivery, and potential impact on target populations.

The Evolving Threat Landscape

In recent years, the nature of the biological weapons threat has evolved significantly. Technological advancements have raised concerns about the potential for these weapons to be acquired or produced by non-state actors, including terrorist organizations or even individuals.

Emerging Technologies and Biosecurity Risks

How are scientific advances impacting biological weapons risks? Several technological developments have implications for biosecurity:

• Synthetic biology and gene editing techniques
• Improved understanding of pathogen mechanisms
• Advanced manufacturing and production methods
• Enhanced delivery systems

These advancements could potentially lower the barriers to entry for developing biological weapons, making it crucial to implement robust biosafety and biosecurity measures globally.

Potential Impacts and Applications

The potential uses of biological weapons extend beyond traditional military applications. They can be employed for various nefarious purposes, including:

• Strategic or tactical military operations
• Political assassinations
• Economic warfare through the infection of livestock or crops
• Creation of environmental disasters
• Spreading fear and mistrust among civilian populations

The wide-ranging potential impacts of biological weapons underscore the importance of comprehensive prevention and response strategies.

Challenges in Attribution and Response

Do we have effective methods for identifying biological attacks? One of the key challenges in addressing biological weapons threats is the difficulty in differentiating between natural disease outbreaks, accidents, and deliberate attacks. This ambiguity complicates efforts to attribute an incident to a specific source and mount an appropriate response.

Effective response to a biological event, regardless of its origin, requires coordination among various sectors, including:

• Public health agencies
• Law enforcement
• Intelligence communities
• Military and defense organizations
• Scientific research institutions

This multidisciplinary approach is essential for rapidly identifying the cause of an outbreak and implementing appropriate containment and treatment measures.

International Efforts to Counter Biological Threats

Given the global nature of biological threats, international cooperation is crucial in preventing the development and use of biological weapons.

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

What is the primary international agreement governing biological weapons? The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is the cornerstone of international efforts to prohibit biological weapons. Key aspects of the BWC include:

• Banning the development, production, and stockpiling of biological weapons
• Promoting peaceful uses of biological research and technology
• Facilitating cooperation and assistance among member states
• Encouraging transparency and confidence-building measures

The BWC relies on a network approach, coordinating with various international, regional, and non-governmental organizations to address the interconnected nature of biological threats holistically.

Multi-sectoral Coordination

How can we effectively manage the spectrum of biological risks? The wide range of potential biological hazards necessitates a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to risk management. This coordination provides numerous benefits:

• Optimal use of resources
• Improved disease monitoring and response capabilities
• Enhanced public health infrastructure worldwide
• Strengthened ability to detect and respond to both natural and deliberate biological events

By building capacities across sectors, nations can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of biological threats, regardless of their origin.

Preparedness and Prevention Strategies

Effective preparedness for biological threats requires a comprehensive approach that addresses multiple aspects of prevention, detection, and response.

Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures

How can we safeguard against accidental or deliberate release of dangerous pathogens? Implementing robust biosafety and biosecurity protocols in laboratories and research facilities is crucial. This includes:

• Secure storage and handling of dangerous pathogens
• Strict access controls and personnel screening
• Regular safety training and audits
• Proper disposal procedures for biological materials

These measures help prevent accidental releases and reduce the risk of pathogens being diverted for malicious purposes.

Disease Surveillance and Early Warning Systems

Can we detect biological attacks early enough to mitigate their impact? Developing and maintaining robust disease surveillance networks is essential for early detection of both natural outbreaks and potential biological attacks. Key components of effective surveillance systems include:

• Real-time data collection and analysis
• Integration of human, animal, and environmental health monitoring
• International data sharing and collaboration
• Advanced diagnostic capabilities

Early warning systems enable rapid response and containment efforts, limiting the potential spread and impact of biological agents.

Research and Development

What role does scientific research play in countering biological threats? Ongoing research and development efforts are crucial for staying ahead of evolving biological threats. Key areas of focus include:

• Development of new vaccines and treatments
• Improved diagnostic technologies
• Enhanced detection and identification methods for biological agents
• Understanding of pathogen biology and host-pathogen interactions

Investing in scientific research not only strengthens our ability to respond to biological threats but also contributes to advancements in public health and medicine.

Ethical Considerations and Dual-Use Research

The field of biological research presents unique ethical challenges, particularly concerning dual-use research that could potentially be misused for harmful purposes.

Balancing Scientific Progress and Security

How can we promote beneficial research while mitigating potential risks? Striking a balance between scientific advancement and security concerns requires careful consideration and governance. Key approaches include:

• Implementing robust oversight mechanisms for potentially dangerous research
• Promoting a culture of responsibility within the scientific community
• Developing international guidelines for dual-use research
• Encouraging transparency and open dialogue about potential risks

By addressing these ethical considerations, we can harness the benefits of biological research while minimizing the potential for misuse.

Education and Awareness

What role does education play in mitigating biological threats? Raising awareness about biological threats and promoting responsible conduct in science is essential. This involves:

• Incorporating biosecurity and bioethics into scientific curricula
• Providing ongoing training for researchers and laboratory personnel
• Engaging the public in discussions about biological risks and preparedness
• Fostering a global culture of responsibility in life sciences research

Education and awareness initiatives help create a more informed and vigilant scientific community and public, reducing the likelihood of accidental or deliberate misuse of biological agents.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

As technology continues to advance and global dynamics evolve, the landscape of biological threats and our ability to counter them will undoubtedly change.

Emerging Technologies and Their Implications

How will technological advancements shape the future of biological threats and defenses? Several emerging technologies have the potential to significantly impact the field of biological weapons and defense:

• CRISPR and advanced gene editing techniques
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning in pathogen research
• Nanotechnology for drug delivery and detection systems
• Advanced bioinformatics and predictive modeling

While these technologies offer tremendous potential for beneficial applications, they also present new challenges in terms of potential misuse and the need for adaptive governance frameworks.

Global Cooperation and Capacity Building

How can we strengthen international efforts to counter biological threats? Enhancing global cooperation and building capacity in all nations to prevent, detect, and respond to biological threats will be crucial. This includes:

• Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention and related international agreements
• Promoting technology transfer and knowledge sharing between developed and developing nations
• Establishing robust global early warning and response networks
• Addressing inequities in global health security capabilities

By working together to build a more resilient global community, we can better protect against the diverse spectrum of biological risks facing our world.

What are Biological Weapons? – UNODA

Biological weapons disseminate disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm or kill humans, animals or plants.

They generally consist of two parts – a weaponized agent and a delivery mechanism. In addition to strategic or tactical military applications, biological weapons can be used for political assassinations, the infection of livestock or agricultural produce to cause food shortages and economic loss, the creation of environmental catastrophes, and the introduction of widespread illness, fear and mistrust among the public. 

Weaponized agent 

Almost any disease-causing organism (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions or rickettsiae) or toxin (poisons derived from animals, plants or microorganisms, or similar substances produced synthetically) can be used in biological weapons. The agents can be enhanced from their natural state to make them more suitable for mass production, storage, and dissemination as weapons. Historical biological weapons programmes have included efforts to produce: aflatoxin; anthrax; botulinum toxin; foot-and-mouth disease; glanders; plague; Q fever; rice blast; ricin; Rocky Mountain spotted fever; smallpox; and tularaemia, among others.

Delivery mechanism 

Biological weapons delivery systems can take a variety of forms. Past programmes have constructed missiles, bombs, hand grenades and rockets to deliver biological weapons. A number of programmes also designed spray-tanks to be fitted to aircraft, cars, trucks and boats. There have also been documented efforts to develop delivery devices for assassinations or sabotage operations, including a variety of sprays, brushes and injection systems as well as means for contaminating food and clothing.  

Technological advances 

In addition to concerns that biological weapons could be developed or used by States, recent technological advances could increase the likelihood of these weapons being acquired or produced by non-state actors, including individuals or terrorist organizations. For more information about recent scientific and technological advances relevant to the Convention, please click here. The 20th century saw the use of biological weapons by individuals and groups committing criminal acts or targeted assassinations, biological warfare conducted by States, and the accidental release of pathogens from laboratories. There were also false accusations of biological weapons use, highlighting the difficulty in differentiating between naturally-occurring disease, accidents and deliberate use.  

Biological event 

In practice, should a suspicious disease event occur, it would be difficult to determine if it was caused by nature, an accident, sabotage, or an act of biological warfare or terrorism. Consequently, the response to a biological event, whether natural, accidental or deliberate, would involve the coordination of actors from many sectors who together possess the capability to determine the cause and attribute it to a specific source. Likewise, the preparedness for and prevention of such an event should also involve multi-sectoral coordination. For more information about preparing for and responding to disease outbreaks and biological weapons attacks, please see the frequently asked questions published by the World Health Organization. 

Spectrum of biological risks

International coordination 

Because of the wide spectrum of potential biological hazards, efforts to manage the risks should be multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, and above all, coordinated. As such, the BWC relies primarily on a network approach based on coordination with international, regional, and nongovernmental organizations and initiatives in order to address the interconnected nature of biological threats in a holistic manner. Under the framework of the BWC, improved coordination would provide positive externalities for managing disease, whatever the cause. Such an approach ensures that resources are used optimally to provide benefits for many. In this sense, for example, building capacities across sectors to monitor disease not only strengthens the ability to detect and respond to a biological attack, but it also provides States with the capacity to track and mitigate naturally occurring disease, thus vastly improving public health worldwide. 

Biological weapon | Types, Effects & History

Category:

History & Society

Related Topics:

plague
smallpox
anthrax
ricin
yellow rain

See all related content →

biological weapon, also called germ weapon, any of a number of disease-producing agents—such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, or other biological agents—that may be utilized as weapons against humans, animals, or plants.

The direct use of infectious agents and poisons against enemy personnel is an ancient practice in warfare. Indeed, in many conflicts, diseases have been responsible for more deaths than all the employed combat arms combined, even when they have not consciously been used as weapons.

Biological weapons, like chemical weapons, radiological weapons, and nuclear weapons, are commonly referred to as weapons of mass destruction, although the term is not truly appropriate in the case of biological armaments. Lethal biological weapons may be capable of causing mass deaths, but they are incapable of mass destruction of infrastructure, buildings, or equipment. Nevertheless, because of the indiscriminate nature of these weapons—as well as the potential for starting widespread pandemics, the difficulty of controlling disease effects, and the simple fear that they inspire—most countries have agreed to ban the entire class.

As of 2013 a total of 180 states and Taiwan had signed the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and 170 of those states and Taiwan had signed and ratified the treaty, which was opened for signature in 1972. Under the terms of the BWC, member states are prohibited from using biological weapons in warfare and from developing, testing, producing, stockpiling, or deploying them. However, a number of states have continued to pursue biological warfare capabilities, seeking a cheaper but still deadly strategic weapon rather than following the more difficult and expensive path to nuclear weapons. In addition, the threat that some deranged individual or terrorist organization will manufacture or steal biological weapons is a growing security concern.

Biological warfare agents

Biological warfare agents differ greatly in the type of organism or toxin used in a weapons system, lethality, length of incubation, infectiousness, stability, and ability to be treated with current vaccines and medicines. There are five different categories of biological agents that could be weaponized and used in warfare or terrorism. These include:

• Bacteria—single-cell organisms that cause diseases such as anthrax, brucellosis, tularemia, and plague.

• Rickettsiae—microorganisms that resemble bacteria but differ in that they are intracellular parasites that reproduce inside cells. Typhus and Q fever are examples of diseases caused by rickettsia organisms.

• Viruses—intracellular parasites, about 1/100 the size of bacteria, that can be weaponized to cause diseases such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

• Fungi—pathogens that can be weaponized for use against crops to cause such diseases as rice blast, cereal rust, wheat smut, and potato blight.

• Toxins—poisons that can be weaponized after extraction from snakes, insects, spiders, marine organisms, plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals. An example of a toxin is ricin, which is derived from the seed of the castor bean.

Some of these biological agents have properties that would make them more likely candidates for weaponization, such as their lethality, ability to incapacitate, contagiousness or noncontagiousness, hardiness and stability, and other characteristics. Among the agents deemed likely candidates for biological weapons use are the toxins ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), botulinum toxin, and T-2 mycotoxin and the infectious agents responsible for anthrax, brucellosis, cholera, pneumonic plague, tularemia, Q fever, smallpox, glanders, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and viral hemorrhagic fever. Various states at various times have looked into weaponizing dozens of other biological agents in addition.

Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.

Subscribe Now

Defense against biological weapons

Military defense

Most weaponized lethal biological agents are intended to be delivered as aerosols, which would cause infections when breathed by the targeted personnel. For this reason, the most-effective defense against biological weapons is a good protective mask equipped with filters capable of blocking bacteria, viruses, and spores larger than one micron (one micrometre; one-millionth of a metre) in cross section from entry into the wearer’s nasal passages and lungs. Protective overgarments, including boots and gloves, are useful for preventing biological agents from contacting open wounds or breaks in the skin. Also, decontaminants can neutralize biological agents in infected areas after a biological attack.

Developing and fielding effective biological weapon sensors that can trigger an alarm would allow personnel to don masks before exposure, get into protective overgarments, and go inside, preferably into toxic-free collective protection shelters. Medical teams could then immediately go into action to check and treat those who may have been exposed.

Biological warfare attacks can be made less effective, or ineffective, if the targeted persons have been vaccinated against the specific disease-causing agent used in an attack.

Civil defense against biological weapons has greatly improved since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, but progress does not necessarily equal success. A successful civil defense against major biological attacks requires that significant progress be made in sensors, warning systems, vaccines, medicines, training of responders, and public education as well as in planning of emergency procedures. These aspects of civil defense are described briefly in this section, using as examples certain practices put into effect in the United States since September 11.

The foundation of any civil defense against a biological weapons attack is the medical system that has already been set up to deal with naturally occurring diseases. Special vaccines have been created, tested, and approved to deal with the two most lethal biological agents that can also be most easily weaponized: anthrax and smallpox. For example, the U.S. government has enough smallpox vaccine to vaccinate the entire American population and enough anthrax vaccine to inoculate at least every member of the U.S. military.

Effective vaccines for plague and cholera now exist and have been approved for use, but only small quantities have been produced, far short of what might be needed if large numbers of people were to be infected. Furthermore, in the United States a number of vaccines are still in the Investigational New Drug (IND) category and await further trials before the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) can validate their effectiveness and safety. Included among these are vaccines for Q fever, tularemia, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, viral hemorrhagic fever, and botulism.

At present no effective vaccines exist for preventing infections from glanders, brucellosis, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, ricin, or T-2 mycotoxins—all biological agents that some countries have researched for military use or have weaponized in the past. However, in some cases where vaccines are not yet available, medicines have been developed that help the sick to recover.

Long-term medical research is being conducted to investigate the possibility of developing vaccines and supplements that, when administered, might raise the effectiveness of the recipient’s immune system to protect against the whole spectrum of probable biological warfare agents.

One U.S. civil defense program that might make a difference in a biological emergency is the Strategic National Stockpile program, which has created 50-ton “push packages” of vaccines, medicines, decontamination agents, and emergency medical equipment, which are stored in a dozen locations across the country in preparation for emergencies. Furthermore, every U.S. state has bioterrorism response plans in place, including plans or guidelines for mass vaccinations, triage, and quarantines. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also drafted model legislation on emergency health powers for states to adopt in order to deal with such crises.

A new emergency response system was created in the United States following the September 11 attacks. The National Guard increased the number of its Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, which respond to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons attacks—augmenting the police, fire, and medical first responders in the local area of any attacks. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, invested heavily in passive defenses against biological attacks, focusing on such programs as Project BioShield and the Laboratory Response Network. The CDC also embarked on a training program on bioterrorism for thousands of medical lab technicians, and the National Institutes of Health funded new biocontainment research laboratories to further research in vaccines, medicines, and bioforensics.

Sensors to detect the presence of biological agents in the air, in water, or on surfaces are still relatively ineffective, but the aim of research is to create a “detect-to-warn” system that would provide enough time for potential victims to don masks, cover up, and take shelter before they are infected. The current “detect-to-treat” capability is unsatisfactory because responders would be treating many persons already infected. Most current biological detectors are point detectors, which are not capable of giving advance warning after scanning an airborne cloud of particles to discern if those particles contain biological agents of a specific type.

The USA used all types of weapons of mass destruction, Patrushev reminded

https://ria.ru/20220328/patrushev-1780517487.html

The USA used all types of weapons of mass destruction, Patrushev reminded

The USA used all types of weapons of mass destruction, Patrushev recalled – RIA Novosti, 03/28/2022

The United States used all types of weapons of mass destruction, Patrushev recalled RIA Novosti, 03/28/2022

2022-03-28T16:56

2022-03-28T16:56

2022-03-28T16:56

0003

usa

moscow

us ministry of defense

red cross

rkhbz troops

nikolay patrushev

/html/head/meta[@name=’og:title’]/@content

/html/head/meta[@name=’og:description’]/@content

https://cdnn21. img.ria.ru/images/07e5/05/0c/1731982031_0:30:3264:1866_1920x0_80_0_0_f60923a1a7581da84ceda3876dde01e9.jpg

MOSCOW, March 28 – RIA Novosti. The United States is the only country that has used all types of weapons of mass destruction against sovereign countries, said Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev. In addition to a springboard for anti-Russian activities, Washington-controlled Ukraine was used to create threats to the entire civilized world, Patrushev noted at negotiations with his Algerian counterpart Nureddin Makri in Moscow. “I mean, first of all, the closed US military biological programs being implemented on its territory, as well as plans to create nuclear weapons,” the Security Council Secretary added. similar American projects to analyze possible risks for their population have already led to awareness of the seriousness of this problem throughout the world, Patrushev noted. “This requires special attention from the entire civilized world, since only the United States has not joined the protocol on mutual control under the international Convention on Biological and toxin weapons. In addition, the United States is the only state in history to have used all types of weapons of mass destruction against sovereign countries,” he added. laboratories in Ukraine that participated in the American military biological program and dealt, in particular, with the causative agents of plague and anthrax. A network of more than 30 biological laboratories has been formed on the territory of Ukraine, working in the interests of the Pentagon, said Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops (RCBZ) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Everything for the continuation of the military biological program of the United States has already been taken out of Ukraine after the start of the Russian special military operation, he said. The United States in August 1945 years dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Americans used bacteriological weapons during the Korean War in the early 1950s. As for chemical weapons, the United States used them, including in the 1960s in South Vietnam. At that time, 10% of the country’s territory was affected by the “agent orange” chemical – this is the largest use of chemical weapons in history. The Vietnamese Red Cross estimated that 3 million people were affected by the use of the chemical, including 150,000 children born with hereditary disorders.

https://ria.ru/20220326/medvedev-1780208448.html

https://ria.ru/20220325/skhvatka-1779931923.html

Russia

USA

Moscow

RIA Novosti

1

5

4.7

96

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

Rossiya Segodnya

900 02 https://xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/awards /

2022

Daria Buymova

Daria Buymova

News

ru-RU

https://ria.ru/docs/about/copyright.html

https://xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/

RIA Novosti

1

5

4.7

96

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

Rossiya Segodnya

https://xn--c1acbl 2abdlkab1og. xn--p1ai/awards/

1920

1080

true

1920

1440

true

2.jpg

1920

1920

true

RIA Novosti

1

5

4.7

96

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

Rossiya Segodnya

900 02 https://xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/awards /

Daria Buimova

igor kirillov, russia, united states, moscow, us ministry of defence, red cross, rkhbz troops, nikolay patrushev, in the world world

MOSCOW, March 28 – RIA Novosti. The United States is the only country that has used all types of weapons of mass destruction against sovereign countries, said Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council.

In addition to a springboard for anti-Russian activities, Washington-controlled Ukraine was used to create threats to the entire civilized world, Patrushev noted at talks with his Algerian counterpart Nureddin Makri in Moscow. “I mean, first of all, the closed US military-biological programs being implemented on its territory, as well as plans to create nuclear weapons,” the Security Council secretary added.

Medvedev: the end of the unipolar world, the US is no longer the master of the planet Earth their populations have already led to awareness of the seriousness of this problem throughout the world, Patrushev noted.

«

“This requires the special attention of the entire civilized world, since only the United States has not joined the protocol on mutual control under the international Convention on Biological and Toxin Weapons. In addition, the United States is the only state that has used all types of weapons of mass destruction in history against sovereign countries,” he added.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation previously held a presentation from which it follows that the United States spent more than $ 200 million on the operation of biological laboratories in Ukraine, which participated in the American military biological program and dealt, in particular, with plague and anthrax. A network of more than 30 biological laboratories has been formed on the territory of Ukraine, working in the interests of the Pentagon, said Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops (RCBZ) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Everything for the continuation of the US military biological program has already been removed from Ukraine after the start of the Russian special military operation, he said.

In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Americans used bacteriological weapons during the Korean War in the early 1950s. As for chemical weapons, the United States used them, including in the 1960s in South Vietnam. At that time, 10% of the country’s territory was affected by the “agent orange” chemical – this is the largest use of chemical weapons in history. The Vietnamese Red Cross estimated that 3 million people were affected by the use of the chemical, including 150,000 children born with hereditary disorders.

Russia has entered into a battle with the West for the future of the world

March 25, 2022, 08:00

Why are nuclear, chemical and bacteriological weapons dangerous?: Weapons: Science and Technology: Lenta.ru

talked about US officials who suspected Moscow of preparing a chemical attack in Ukraine. In turn, Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands and part-time Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Alexander Shulgin said that the OPCW ignored data on provocations by the Ukrainian army using chemical weapons. The topic of the possible use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is being raised more and more often against the backdrop of aggravated contradictions in the world. Lenta.ru tells what WMD is, when it was used and what it led to.

Major weapons of mass destruction

Weapons of mass destruction, also called weapons of mass destruction, are designed to cause mass casualty or destruction even with limited use. This weapon has a great lethality and a number of distinctive features, which include:

– multifactorial destructive action;

— the presence of long-acting damaging factors and their spread outside the affected object;

– prolonged psychotraumatic effect;

– severe genetic and environmental consequences;

– the complexity of protecting troops, infrastructure, civilians;

– high costs of eliminating the consequences of the use of WMD.

Austrian soldiers display their gas masks, 1916

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons have similar properties. At the heart of each type of WMD are the ammunition of the corresponding equipment. To deliver weapons of mass destruction, various means can be used, including aerial bombs and missiles, which allow expanding the geography of possible strikes. The use of weapons of mass destruction can have a significant impact on the natural habitat and lead to grave consequences not only for the warring parties, but for the whole of humanity.

For this reason, they are trying to limit the use of WMD. In 1899, at the initiative of Russia, the first peace conference was convened in The Hague. It adopted several documents, including a declaration “On the prohibition of the use of projectiles that have the sole purpose of spreading asphyxiating or harmful gases”, which was signed by representatives of 26 countries. Nevertheless, by the beginning of the First World War, the warring parties possessed these weapons.

In the summer of 1925, representatives of 37 states signed the Protocol on the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Similar Gases and Bacteriological Agents (the Geneva Protocol). This document legally prohibited the use of chemical, biological and toxic weapons, but did not restrict their development, production and stockpiling.

What is a chemical weapon

On April 22, 1915, a yellow-green cloud moved to the junction of the French and British positions – German troops released about 168 tons of chlorine. About 15,000 people were affected by the gas, at least 5,000 of them died. The episode, which went down in history as the second battle of Ypres, is considered the first case of the use of chemical weapons (CW), which led to mass deaths.

British dancers rehearsing in 1940

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

This type of WMD refers to weapons whose action is based on the toxic properties of poisonous substances (CW). The means of delivery and use of these substances can be bombs, rockets, artillery shells, grenades and mines. According to the nature of the impact on the human body, agents are divided into nerve paralytic, blistering, asphyxiating, general poisonous, irritating and psychochemical.

In addition to World War I, chemical weapons were also used in other conflicts. In particular, it was used by Japan during the war with China, Italian troops during the war with Ethiopia, and Iraq used mustard gas during the Iran-Iraq war. Poisonous substances also became a weapon of terrorist attacks: in March 19For 95 years, members of the Aum Senrikyo sect (banned in Russia) left 11 packets of sarin, which is a nerve agent, in Tokyo subway train cars. This led to the death of 13 people, and another 50 people were seriously injured. In total, about 5.5 thousand victims applied for medical help.

The use of chemical weapons in military conflicts has become evidence of the need for new international agreements that could prevent the use of chemical weapons in the future. At 19In 1968, discussions began on the question of the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons, which was carried out by the Committee on Disarmament. It was later transformed into the Conference on Disarmament, which in 1992 provided the UN General Assembly (GA) with an annual report containing the text of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction. On November 30, 1992, the GA adopted the Convention, and on January 13, 1993, the UN Secretary General opened it for signature.

Photo: The U.S. National Archives

The convention, which supplements the Geneva Protocol, prohibits its participants from producing and using chemical weapons, and also obliges to destroy all stocks of weapons. 193 states have become parties to the Convention, and the OPCW monitors compliance with the provisions of the Convention. In 2021, the head of the organization, Fernando Arias, said that the OPCW could confirm the destruction of 98.9 percent of the world’s chemical weapons stockpiles. The only member of the OPCW that has not completed the destruction of chemical weapons is the United States. In May 2022, the Pentagon announced the destruction of the last M55 rocket with the VX nerve agent. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control Kingston Rife noted that the US has reached a key milestone on the path to complete chemical disarmament. Russia completely destroyed chemical weapons in 2017.

What is a bacteriological weapon

Viruses, bacterial toxins, pathogenic microorganisms or their spores, intended for mass destruction of enemy personnel and population, are classified as bacteriological weapons (BW). Also, bacteriological weapons include means of delivery of pathogenic microorganisms and animal vectors.

When using BO, there is almost always an incubation period during which the disease does not manifest itself. This exacerbates the ability of certain diseases to be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person, leading to epidemics. Microbes and toxins are odorless, colorless, or tasteless, and bacteria and viruses can only be detected after laboratory testing, which takes time. All this complicates the timely adoption of measures to prevent epidemic diseases.

Related materials:

Surviving a nuclear strike: how to find shelter, what you need to know about nuclear weapons and is it possible to survive during an attack?

Is nuclear war possible: who has nuclear weapons, who can use them, and what will happen then?

There are nine nuclear powers in the world: who has the most nuclear weapons and who can compete with Russia?

BO is one of the oldest types of WMD. It is believed that it was used in ancient Rome, throwing the corpses of those who died from the plague over the walls of besieged cities. This could cause an epidemic among the defenders. One of the first cases of the use of bacteriological weapons in the war is considered to be the transfer of smallpox-infected blankets by the British military to the Indians who besieged Fort Pitt in 1763.

During the Second World War, Detachment 731 of the Japanese Armed Forces worked on the creation of bacteriological weapons. The goal of scientists was to create an epidemic chain of the spread of the plague. By the end of the war, they had developed special ammunition with plague bacteria. They exploded at a certain height, providing the largest radius of destruction.

The use of bacteriological weapons, like chemical weapons, was first attempted to be prohibited by the Geneva Protocol of 1925. The shortcomings of the document required a new agreement, which was the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BTWC). Open for signing at 19The 72nd Convention was the first international treaty that banned the production of an entire class of weapons. The first article of the BTWC stipulates that each state party to the Convention undertakes never to develop, produce, stockpile, acquire or retain biological agents or toxins not intended for peaceful purposes. The BTWC also affects weapons, equipment and delivery vehicles intended for the use of BW in conflicts.

When were nuclear weapons used?

Nuclear weapons are the youngest type of WMD. The first nuclear explosive device, called the Gadget, was tested by the United States on July 16, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

The city of Nagasaki after the bombing

Photo: The U.S. National Archives

The action of nuclear weapons is based on the destructive energy that is obtained from nuclear fission reactions or a combination of fission and fusion reactions. Nuclear weapons allow a large amount of energy to be released from a relatively small amount of matter. For example, the American B61 bomb is 3.5 meters long and 33 centimeters in diameter. An explosion with a yield of 20 kilotons is capable of creating a zone of complete destruction of about one kilometer, and the modern version of the B61 can carry a charge of up to 50 kilotons.

In the entire history of nuclear weapons in military operations, this type of WMD was used twice – at the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped the atomic bomb “Kid” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and “Fat Man” on the city of Nagasaki. In the late 1940s, Japan estimated that two explosions claimed the lives of 200,000 people. Reiko Nada, who lived in Nagasaki and was nine years old in 1945, said she was able to survive because a mountain separated her home and the epicenter of the explosion.

A dazzling light hit my eyes, in which khaki, yellow and orange colors were mixed. A moment later, the light turned bright white. I remember I felt like I was alone in the world. Then there was a deafening roar. And I passed out

Reiko Nagasaki’s Dealer

After the American bombing of Japan, nuclear weapons were not used, but in 1962 the confrontation between the USSR and the USA, which went down in history as the Cuban Missile Crisis, created a direct threat of the use of nuclear weapons. This episode demonstrated the need for nuclear disarmament. In 1963, the USSR, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty on the Ban on Nuclear Tests in the Atmosphere, Outer Space and Under Water. Later, they wanted to expand it to an unconditional framework with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which was signed by 41 of the 44 states required for the treaty to enter into force.

There is also the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which is designed to stop the expansion of the circle of nuclear powers, and in 2021 the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into force. The agreement, designed to ban the development, testing, storage, acquisition, transport and use of nuclear weapons, entered into force in 2021.