Chemical and Biological Weapons: Use in Warfare, Impact on Society and Environment

• NCJ Number: 194515
• Author(s): Gert G. Harigel
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Sale Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded April 29, 2002

Annotation

This document discusses chemical and biological weapons and the Chemical/Biological Weapons Convention (CBWC) aimed to eliminate them.

Abstract

The term “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) is used to encompass nuclear (NW), biological (BW), and chemical weapons (CW). The term is actually misleading since protection is possible against chemical and biological weapons. Only nuclear weapons are indiscriminate by their explosive power, heat radiation, and radioactivity, and only they should be called a WMD. Chemical and biological weapons are better designated as weapons of terror and intimidation. Chemical weapons have been used since 431 BC during the Trojan War and, most recently, in Iraq between 1980 and 1988. The CWC, a document signed by 122 states-parties in 1999, is an agreement prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Chemical arms create regional rather than global security problems. Chemical weapons can be masked as pesticides, fertilizers, dyes, herbicides, or defoliants. As early as 300 BC, biological weapons have been used as weapons of war. Production of biological warfare agents can be done in any hospital or small basement rooms, for chemicals it requires larger plants. Inspections of biological agents are expected to elicit more resistance by the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industry than the chemical industry. The efficiency of chemical and biological weapons depends heavily on their dispersion, the weather conditions, and the exposure and lethality for the combatants. The fear of the public is largely unjustified concerning terrorist attacks with chemical or biological weapons, their impact on daily life, their frequency, and number of people possibly affected. However, the arsenal of unused weapons in storage or “disposed” presents a considerable danger on the short- and long-term for humans and the environment. The CBWC is an important treaty that should be fully implemented as quickly as possible. 42 references