The Threat of Nuclear, Biological or Chemical Weapons and Terrorism Essay Example

conventional weapons and lethal gamma radiation. Upon detonation, these weapons emit an intensely bright flash that surpasses the brightness of the sun followed by an atomic fireball that ultimately transforms into a mushroom cloud carried away by atmospheric winds.

The yield of a nuclear explosion, which is the enormous amount of energy released, can be measured by the equivalent level of TNT required to generate it. The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001 were a reminder for us to confront and address the danger posed by nuclear terrorism.

The Nuclear Control Institute focuses on assessing the dangers related to nuclear terrorism and promoting awareness among policymakers and the public regarding this risk. In 1987, Iran threatened to attack US reactors. Testimony during a trial suggested that al Qaeda's training camps led by Osama bin Laden instructed on urban warfare tactics aimed at enemy installations such as power plants.

It is crucial to acknowledge that al Qaeda soldiers have the ability to launch attacks on nuclear power plants for maximum impact. Evidence indicates that Bin Laden actively pursued nuclear explosive materials and knowledge, with the intention of creating atomic bombs and other harmful nuclear substances. These could potentially be used in dirty bombs, combined with conventional explosives to spread radioactivity. To learn about early symptoms of a biological attack that may resemble common illnesses, please refer to early symptoms of a biological attack appearing like common illnesses.

Can terrorists build a nuclear weapon?

To manufacture a nuclear bomb less than 18 pounds of plutonium or 55 pounds

of highly enriched uranium are required; these materials are commonly used in civilian nuclear trade by the tonnage. A study conducted by five former U.S intelligence officers was carried out on behalf of Nuclear Control Institute.

As per S. nuclear weapons designers, it is feasible for a proficient terrorist group to generate an operational nuclear bomb by utilizing pilfered plutonium or highly enriched uranium. This could lead to yields as massive as a kiloton, which is equal to 1,000 tons of TNT. To give perspective, a megaton weapon equals 1,000,000 tons of TNT. The utilization of reactor grade plutonium (found in global civilian nuclear trade) can result in the creation of potent and destructive weapons (nci.org).

Al Qaeda has attempted to acquire nuclear material and unclear weapon design information, while dirty bombs (also known as radiation dispersal devices) use conventional explosives to spread radioactive materials, which can amplify the damage caused by an explosion. The capacity for significant destruction caused by an RDD depends on the type of radioactive material used and the dissemination method employed. Past terrorist attempts at producing weapons of mass destruction have shown the difficulty in weaponizing chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear material for mass disruption or destruction. The Aum Shinrikyo attack highlights the uncertain nature of chemical weapons and their distribution issues.

Biological Hazards at Work

At work, employees can come into contact with different biological hazards such as bird flu, blood-borne viruses and anthrax. The latter is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis which produces spores causing an infectious disease. Usually, individuals catch it from animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria.

The US Postal Service has been

a channel for sending Anthrax to various recipients such as public officials, broadcasters, and newspapers. Poultry experts have confirmed that the highly communicable Avian flu or H5N1, which is carried by birds, has reached epidemic levels in some Asian poultry populations. Although there are uncertainties linked with the infection of this virus, experts strongly recommend culling of both infected and exposed birds as the primary approach to defend human health and minimize agricultural losses.

Botulism often arises from the ingestion of preserved foods. In July 2007, Castleberry's Food Company situated in Augusta, Georgia had to withdraw more than 80 varieties of canned chili and meat products from distribution due to hospitalizations caused by botulism in Indiana and Texas. The illness leads to muscle paralysis induced by a toxin generated by Clostridium botulinum, a type of bacteria commonly present in soil.

According to reports, terrorists are exploring the possibility of using botulinum toxin as a biological weapon. Meanwhile, contaminated food can lead to illnesses caused by a variety of sources like viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, metals and prions. The symptoms resulting from these illnesses range from mild gastrointestinal problems to severe neurological, hepatic and renal syndromes. Although many cases can be treated, health officials worldwide admit that contaminating the food supply is an easy task.

Exposure to the dried droppings, urine, or saliva of mice and rats can result in humans contracting Hantavirus. Those who work in infested buildings or laboratories are at higher risk for this disease. The primary carriers of Hantavirus are the white-footed mouse and deer mouse, which can be found throughout the United States.

There are different ways for individuals in Vermont to contract Hantavirus,

such as inhaling dust containing dried urine or feces from contaminated rodents, or by coming into direct contact with fresh or dry materials polluted with infected rodent feces through breaks in the skin, eyes, nose, or mouth. While it is possible to get the virus through a bite from an affected rodent, this mode of transmission is not common. It should be noted that insects and domestic pets cannot transmit Hantavirus to humans. Additionally, in 2001 a single terrorist spread Anthrax spores throughout the United States.

Five deaths and seventeen injuries resulted from a biological attack on the U.S. postal system, which caused significant psychological stress in addition to physical harm. The perpetrator, Dr. Bruce Ivins, was a microbiologist employed by the DOD.

The global pandemic caused by the H1N1 flu strain in 1918 resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 to 40 million people, surpassing the casualties of World War I. Despite being called the Spanish Flu, this virus was given that name incorrectly as Spain was a neutral country during the war, did not engage in censorship and was the first to openly report the outbreak of this epidemic. This outbreak has been regarded as the most catastrophic epidemic recorded throughout history.

Chemical weapons throughout history

Throughout history, chemical weapons have been employed in warfare. Early religious wars and military battles involving the Romans saw the use of primitive chemical agents. To disrupt the enemy's operations, sulfur was burned upwind of enemy positions, with the odor being carried downwind to their enemies. The sulfur emitted an irritating odor which had a disruptive impact on their enemies.

Despite the Hague Declaration of 1899 that prohibited European nations from

using chemical-filled projectiles to attack other countries, Germany bypassed this agreement during World War I by releasing chlorine gas through cylinders and using the wind to carry it over to their enemies. This act was seen as a violation of the spirit of the declaration by Britain, who then voided the agreement. As a result, they retaliated by using phosgene gas in their artillery shells against the Germans and later employed choking, blood, and vomiting agents. The devastating use of these chemicals resulted in 1.3 million injured and 91,000 dead with Russia suffering most casualties.

During World War II, Nazi Germany had nerve gas which could have given them an advantage in chemical warfare. Despite possessing it, they refrained from using it as they suspected their enemies also had access to the same technology and were capable of retaliation. It was only when the Russians pushed the Nazis through Poland that Hitler ordered his generals to use the nerve gas. The generals refused to entertain this idea as neither side had a protective device against such weapons at that time. If Germany had used nerve gas during WWII, it may have changed the course of history (FM 3-4).

The use of chemical weapons by the Aum Shinrikyo domestic terror group in 1995 serves as a prime example. Their attack on a Tokyo subway resulted in the loss of 12 lives and injured 5,500 individuals. Although limited in scope, this attack caused mass panic. Terrorists' previous attempts to produce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have revealed the difficulties involved in weaponizing chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear materials for mass destruction or disruption. The Aum Shinrikyo's attack highlights

the unpredictable nature of chemical weapons and problematic issues regarding their dissemination.

The utilization of nerve gas is hindered by its difficulty in containment and transportation, but it is suspected that those who employ it are attempting to surpass these challenges. If released as aerosol, the dispersion of such toxins could prove fatal, and a series of coordinated attacks across various locations would result in an incomprehensible number of casualties (Barton, 2008). Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons during the Kurdish campaign from 1987-1988 encompassed approximately forty strikes with mustard gas, sarin, tabun, and VX nerve agents dispensed through bombs, rockets, aircraft sprayers, and conventional artillery shells (Moilanen, 2009). The possibility of chemical assaults by terrorists arises from their acquisition of delivery systems and chemical weaponry along with their ability to produce improvised chemical agents and dissemination techniques.

In Conclusion

Terrorist groups pose a greater threat due to their possession of dual use material and advanced technologies. Biological weapons are composed of harmful microorganisms and toxins.