Chemical and Biological Warfare

Due to the highly toxic nature of chemical and biological weapon agents, and the ready availability of their precursors, the threat of Chemical and Biological Warfare (CBW) poses special security risks for military and civilian planners. Although the 1925 Geneva protocol banned all forms of gas warfare, and the Biological Weapon Convention and Toxin treaty has been in force since 1972, such international agreements have had uneven success in preventing the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Chemical and Biological Warfare provides essential background on these agreements, as well as CBW. The author covers the history of this form of warfare, including first-hand experiences in the World Wars. Subsequent chapters give information on chemical agents themselves, and annotations provide commentary on component structures. A representative listing of scientific research on CBW, extending as far back as 1940 is organized under categories of CBW agents and their corresponding subheadings. Later chapters delve into the ongoing battle for regulation of CBW, controls, disposal policies, and the potential for their use in terrorism or by rogue states. Includes a chapter on the internet sources available, an appendix with additional sources on CBW, and an index.