Biological weapons are toxic materials produced from pathogenic organisms (usually microbes) or artificially manufactured toxic substances that are used to intentionally interfere with the biological processes of a host. These substances work to kill or incapacitate the host.
Biological weapons may be used to target living organisms such as humans, animals or vegetation. They may also be used to contaminate nonliving substances such as air, water and soil.
Biological Weapons
There are a variety of microorganisms that can be used as biological weapons. Agents are commonly chosen because they are highly toxic, easily obtainable and inexpensive to produce, easily transferable from person to person, can be dispersed in aerosol form, or have no known vaccine. Below is a list of a few potential biological organisms that may be used as biological weapons.
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Microbe
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Natural Habitat
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Target Host
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Mode of Contraction
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Diseases/Symptoms
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Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis
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Soil |
Humans, Domestic Animals |
Open Wounds,
Inhalation |
Pulmonary Anthrax
Septicemia, Flu-like symptoms
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Clostridium botulinum
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Soil |
Humans
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Contaminated Food or Water,
Inhalation
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Weakness, Double Vision and Vertigo, Difficulty in Speaking, Swallowing, and Breathing, Muscle Weakness
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Clostridium perfringens
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Intestines of humans
and other animals, Soil
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Humans, Domestic Animals
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Open Wounds
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Gas gangrene, Severe Abdominal Cramps,
Diarrhea
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RICIN
Protein toxin
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Extracted from Castor Bean Plants
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Humans
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Contaminated Food or Water,
Inhalation,
Injection
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Severe Abdominal Pain,
Watery and Bloody Diarrhea, Vomiting, Weakness, Fever, Cough, and Pulmonary Edema
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Smallpox
Variola Virus
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Eradicated from Nature,
Now Obtained from Laboratory Stockpiles
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Humans
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Direct Contact with Bodily Fluids or
Contaminated Objects,
Inhalation
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Persistent Fever, Vomiting, Rash on Tongue and in Mouth, Rash and Bumps on Skin
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While it is possible to develop biological weapons from microbes, finding a means of distributing the substances is difficult. One possible way is through aerosols. This can be ineffective as the materials often get clogged when spraying. Biological agents distributed by air may also be destroyed by UV light or rain may wash them away. Another method of distribution may be to attach the toxins to a bomb so that they may be released upon explosion. The problem with this is that the microbes will most likely be destroyed by the explosion as well.
For more information on biological weapons please see:
Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page
Potential Biological Weapons Threats
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