Chemical Biological Radiation Warfare Described 1955

The conventional CBRN spectrum includes three main pillars; biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. CBRN weapons are also known as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). A fourth pillar is the possible use of Toxic Industrial Compounds (TICs) or Toxic Industrial Materials (TIMs) in a weaponized form to create a mass casualty situation. CBRN weapons present a dual-purpose threat as they can cause both physical and psychological devastation. For a time it was common to refer to chemical and biological weapons in the same context. However, during the 1990s it became apparent that chemical and biological weapons should be viewed individually. Chemical warfare
agents are chemical substances designed to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate humans and animals. Chemical agents can also deny or hinder the use of areas, facilities, and materials. The second CBRN pillar is the Biological threat. Biological warfare (BW) is defined as the employment of biological agents to produce casualties in man or animals or damage to plants. There are multiple examples of attacks using Biological Weapons throughout history as they are extremely effective and relatively cheap. By 1969, the US had weaponized the agents causing anthrax, botulism, tularemia, brucellosis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and Q fever. These agents are easily procured from the environment, universities, biological supply houses, and clinical specimens. Known biological weapons include: ricin, anthrax, botulism, small pox and certain pathogens. All if used properly can cause massive casualties. Radiological/nuclear materials are the third pillar. Radiological materials are used to make what is commonly referred to as a dirty bomb. The threat occurs from the initial explosion and radiological contamination rather than that of the actual bomb detonation. A nuclear bomb requires a significant support system to develop and the material required is rare and easily tracked. The facilities and requirements to construct a nuclear device are tremendous and require the resources that only a state can afford. A dirty bomb allows an adversary to avoid the support system but still have the capability to deliver the WMD effects. Radioactive materials that could be used for such attacks are stored in thousands of facilities around the US, many of which may not be adequately protected against theft by determined terrorists. Some of this material could be easily dispersed in urban areas by using conventional explosives or by other methods. Toxic industrial compounds (TICs) and Toxic industrial Materials (TIMs) are hazardous materials that can be defined as a dual-purpose material and constitute the fourth CBRN pillar. These compounds are conventional and legal materials that have the potential to be weaponized. For more on CBRNE, go to the Army monograph, Preparing for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Threat within the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE), at http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA429171&Location=U2&doc=Get... . This clip is from the 1950s episode, the Unseen Weapon, from the The Big Picture documentary television program which ran on the American Broadcasting Company from 1953 to 1959. The program consisted of documentary films produced by the United States Army Signal Corps Army Pictorial Service.

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• Chemical
• biological
• radiation
• warfare
• agent
• WMD
• CBRNE
• CBR
• chlorine
• hazard
• history
• industrial
• hygiene
• military
• weapon
• DOD
• DOE
• EPA
• NIOSH
• OSHA
• NIEHS
• Hazwoper
• safety
• first
• responder
• homeland
• security
• TIC
• TIM

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A CLASSIC!