Weapons of Mass Destruction

What You Should Know: A Citizen's Guide to Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Agents & Weapons

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

Introduction 1

Challenges/Future 2

The Role of Government 2

CHAPTER 2: BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS: A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 3

Introduction 3

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 3

Biological weapons Technology 3

History of Biological Weapons & Recent Developments 5

Biological Material Production 8

Stabilization, Dissemination and Dispersion 9

Detection, Warning and Identification 11

Biological Defense Systems 11

CHEMICAL WEAPONS 12

Chemical Weapons Technology 12

Chemical Material Production 16

Chemical Weapons Delivery 19

Dissemination, Dispersion and Weapons Testing 20

Detection, Warning and Identification 21

Chemical Defense System 22

RADIOLOGICAL & NUCLEAR WEAPONS 22

Introduction 22

Nuclear Weapons Technology 23

Testing of Nuclear Weapons 25

INTERNATIONAL REGIMES, TREATIES, PROTOCOLS & CONVENTIONS 26

CHAPTER 3: TERRORISM 33

About Terrorism, Prior to September 11, 2001 33

Terrorism in the United States 34

Dealing with Terrorism (before, during and after) 34

CHAPTER 4: RESPONDING TO BIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL ATTACKS 39

Introduction 39

The Threat 39

Warning Signs of an Attack or Incident 40

What to Do in the Case of Attack 41

Preparing a Safehaven 41

Choosing a Safehaven 42

Suggested Safehaven Equipment 42

CHAPTER 5: BIOLOGICAL DISEASES/BIOLOGICAL WAREFARE AGENTS 43

Anthrax 43

Botulism 61

Plague 63

Smallpox 71

Tularemia 79

Ricin (See Chapter 6), 166

Rift Valley Fever 81

Q-Fever 83

Brucellosis 85

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers 87

Arenaviruses 90

Filoviruses 92

Lassa Fever 93

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever 95

Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever 98

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome 100

Lymphocytic choriomenigitis 104

Glanders 106

Melioidosis 108

Psittacosis 110

Typhus Fevers 110

Viral Encephalitis 111

Eastern Equine Encephalitis 111

Western Equine Encephalitis 112

Hendra Virus Disease and Nipah Virus Encephalitis 112

Tick-Borne Encephalitis 114

Typhoid Fever 115

Shigellosis 117

Foodborne Illneses 121

Salmonellosis 131

Cholera 135

CHAPTER 6: CHEMICAL AGENTS/CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS 137

Nerve Agents 137

Soman (GD) 139

Tabun (GA) 141

Sarin (GB) 144

VX 146

Blister or Vesicant Agents: 148

Lewisite (L) 148

Nitrogen Mustards (HN-1, HN-2, HN-3) 152

Sulfur Mustard (Yperite)- Mustard Gas (HD) 153

Phosgene Oxime (CX) 155

Choking/Lung/Pulmonary Agents: 157

Phosgene (CG) 157

Chlorine (CL) 158

Phosphine 160

White Phosphorus 161

Biotoxins 163

Abrin 163

Ricin 166

Strychnine 168

Blood Agents: 171

Arsine (SA) 171

Cyanide 172

Metals 176

Arsenic 176

Mercury 177

Thallium 179

Organic Solvents 181

Benzene 181

Riot Control Agents 183

Other Chemical Agents 186

Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol 186

Fluoride, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine 187

Ammonia 187

Paraquat 191

Sodium Azide 194

PERSONAL CLEANING AND DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED CLOTHING 198

EVACUATION 199

SHELTERING IN PLACE DURING A CHEMICAL DISASTER/ATTACK 200

What “sheltering in place” means 200

How to prepare to shelter in place 200

What to do 201

CHAPTER 7: RADIOLOGICAL/NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS & EXPOSURE 203

Radiation 203

Radiation & Health Affects 203

Protecting & Minimizing Against Radiation Exposure 203

Health Effects of Radiation Exposure on Unborne Babies 205

Other Risks from Radiation Exposure 205

Radiological accidents & Emergencies (Before, During & After) 206

Nuclear Terrorism & Health Effects 208

Nuclear Power Plant Emergency 208

Preparing For an Emergency 209

Emergency Classification levels 210

If You are Alerted 211

SHELTERING IN PLACE DURING A RADIATION EMERGENCY 214

Preparing Emergency Supplies 215

Tips Before Entering a Shelter 217

DIRTY BOMBS 217

Acute Radiation Syndrome 219

Potassium Iodide 220

Prussian Blue 222

CHAPTER 8: REFERENCES & SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 225

GLOSSARY & DEFINITIONS 229

APPENDIXES 240

APPENDIX A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 240

APPENDIX B: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 243

APPENDIX C: Radioactive Isotopes (Radioisotopes) 250

Americium - 241 (Am-241) 251

Celsium-137 (Cs-137) 251

Cobalt-60 (C0-60) 254

Iodine (I-129 & I-131) 258

Plutonium-239 (Pu-239) 262

Strontium-90 (Sr-90) 267

Uranium-235 (U-235) and Uranium-238 (U-238) 271

APPENDIX D: TABLES & CHARTS 276

Table 1: Australian Group Biological Agents 276

Table 2: Biological Warfare Agents (Partial List) 278

Table 3: Bioterrorism: Selected Agent Summary 279

Table 4: Biological Weapons Foreign Technology Assessment Summary 280

Table 5: Biological Material Production Technology Parameters 281

Table 6: Chemical Warfare Agents 282

Table 7: Chemical Weapons Conventions Schedule of Chemicals 284

Table 8: Chemical Weapons Foreign Technology Assessment Summary 285

Table 9: Nuclear Weapons Foreign Technology Assessment Summary 287

Table 10: Selected Regime Participants 288