Biological, Chemical & Radiological Weapons A dirty bomb is in no way similar to a nuclear weapon. 11/29/06 Courtesy of FEMA with excerpts Courtesy of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Respond to this story Email this story to a friend As one member of a HAZMAT rescue team approaches a disinfectant pool, other members of a decontamination team tend to a .. .. Biological agents are infectious microbes or toxins used to produce illness or death in people, animals or plants. Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. Terrorists may use biological agents to contaminate food or water because they are extremely difficult to detect. Biological, Chemical & Radiological Weapons Biological &. Chemical Weapons Chemical agents kill or incapacitate people, destroy livestock or ravage crops. Some chemical agents are odorless and tasteless and are difficult to detect. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days). Biological and chemical agents have been used primarily to terrorize unprotected civilian populations and not as weapons of war. This is because of fear of retaliation and the likelihood that the agent would contaminate the battlefield for a long period of time. The Persian Gulf War in 1991 and other confrontations in the Middle East were causes for concern in the United States regarding the possibility of chemical or biological warfare. While no incidents occurred, there remains a concern that such weapons could be involved in an accident or be used by terrorists. Facts About Terrorism The Department of Defense estimates that as many as 26 nations may possess chemical agents and/or weapons and an additional 12 may be seeking to develop them. The Central Intelligence Agency reports that at least ten countries are believed to possess or be conducting research on biological agents for weaponization. Radiological Weapons (Excerpts Courtesy of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Basically, the principal type of dirty bomb, or Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), combines a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material. In most instances, the conventional explosive itself would have more immediate lethality than the radioactive material. At the levels created by the most probable sources, not enough radiation would be present in a dirty bomb to kill people or cause severe illness. For example, most radioactive material employed in hospitals for diagnosis or treatment of cancer is sufficiently benign that about 100,000 patients a day are released with this material in their bodies. However, certain other radioactive materials, dispersed in the air, could contaminate up to several city blocks, creating fear and possibly panic and requiring potentially costly cleanup. Prompt, accurate, non-emotional public information might prevent the panic sought by terrorists. A second type of RDD might involve a powerful radioactive source hidden in a public place such as a trash receptacle in a busy train or subway station where people pressing close to the source might get a significant dose of radiation. A dirty bomb is in no way similar to a nuclear weapon. The presumed purpose of its use would be, therefore, not as a Weapon of Mass Destruction but rather as a Weapon of Mass Disruption Courtesy of FEMA Rodney says, "There remains a concern that chemical, biological or radiological weapons could be involved in an accident or be used by terrorists."