Biochemical terrorism

Chapter 78 Biochemical terrorism



Biochemical terrorism is defined as the use of biological or chemical agents to intimidate, incapacitate or eradicate crops, livestock, civilian and military personnel.1 It is well suited for attack by poorer nations against the rich, and is known as a poor man’s atom bomb, or asymmetric method of attack. The large scale use of mustard and nerve gases in the Iran/Iraq war,2 the dissemination of nerve gas sarin on the Tokyo underground,3 and the discovery by UN inspectors in Iraq of SCUD missiles, rockets and aerial bombs primed with Botulinum and aflatoxins4,5 have highlighted the need for planning.



CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS (TableS 78.1 and 78.2)


Intended target effects are due either to infection with disease-causing micro-organisms and other replicative entities, including viruses, fungi and prions, or to the toxins they elaborate. Their effects depend on the ability to multiply in the person, animal or plant attacked.6 Sequelae depend on host factors (state of nutrition, immunocompetence) and environment (sanitation, temperature, humidity, water quality, population density).7


Table 78.1 Potential weapons











































































Biological diseases Chemical agents
Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) Blisters/vesicants
Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism) Distilled mustard (HD)
Yersinia pestis (plague) Lewsite (L)
Variola major (smallpox) Mustard gas (H)
Francisella tularensis (tularaemia) Nitrogen mustard (HN-2)
Viral haemorrhagic fever Phosgene oxime (CX)
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) Blood
Brucella melitensis (brucellosis) Arsine (SA)
Burkholderia mallei (glanders) Cyanogen chloride (CK)
Ricin toxin (Ricinus communis – castor beans) Hydrogen chloride
Staphylococcus enterotoxin B Hydrogen cyanide (AC)
Niaph virus Choking/pulmonary damage
Hantaviruses Chlorine (CL)
  Nitrogen oxide (NO)
  Phosgene (CG)
  Nerve
  Sarin (GF)
  Soman (GD)
  Tabun (GA)
  VX
  Incapacitating
  LSD
  Cannabinoids

Table 78.2 Criteria for a successful biological weapon6















Assailant

Target population


Bioweapon









CLASSIFICATION


Although classification of biological weapons can be taxonomy based (e.g. bacterial/viral/fungal), it is also useful to examine particular features such as:









Another useful classification system available is that from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta:







SPECIFIC AGENTS



ANTHRAX


Anthrax8 is an acute infectious zoonosis caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacillus. The infective dose is 8000–50 000 spores and routes of transmission include inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. Person-to-person transmission does not occur for the pulmonary form but secondary cutaneous lesions may occur after direct exposure to vesicle secretions. As spraying by aircraft is a potential threat to a large city, pulmonary exposure is the most likely route in a mass casualty situation.



Jul 7, 2016 | Posted by in CRITICAL CARE | Comments Off on Biochemical terrorism

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