Biological weapons of mass destruction (BW) are designed to destroy the personnel of military units, the population, animals, agricultural land, damage water sources, military equipment and certain types of weapons on enemy territory.

Biochemical weapons are represented by toxins, viruses, microorganisms and the consequences of their vital activity. It is delivered by all types of rocket and artillery weapons, aviation. Spread by disease vectors (humans, animals, natural processes).

The use of biological weapons of mass destruction in history

Viruses have been used as weapons of mass destruction since time immemorial. Below is a table that lists the first reports of biological weapons used by adversaries in military conflicts.

The history of the creation of biological weapons and their use, as can be seen from the table, contains many facts of the use of combat viruses.

Definition and classification of biological weapons

Biological weapons are distinguished from other types of mass destructive weapons by the following:

• Biological bomb causes epidemics. The use of BO is accompanied by massive contamination of living beings and territories in a short amount of time;
• Toxicity. Small doses of the causative agent of the disease are needed to defeat;
• Propagation speed. The transfer of BO components is carried out through the air, direct contacts, mediation by objects, and so on;
• incubation period. The appearance of the first signs of the disease can be observed after a long period of time;
• Conservation. In certain states, pathogens have a long latent period before activation conditions arise;
• Area of ​​infection. BW propagation simulation showed that even aerosols in limited quantities can infect targets at a distance of up to 700.0 km;
• Psychological action. Panic, people's fear for their own lives, and the inability to perform daily tasks have always been recorded in areas where weapons of this nature have been used.

Types of biological weapons (briefly)

To understand what is included in the composition of biological weapons, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the data given in the table.

WMD protection

Protection against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is represented by a set of measures aimed at minimizing the impact of enemy bacteriological (nuclear, chemical, biological) weapons on residents, military formations, economic facilities, as well as environment.

Events involve:

• reconnaissance units of all branches of the armed forces;
• engineering, motorized rifle units;
• military (civilian) physicians;
• chemical, veterinary and other services;
• management of administrations and enterprises and other officials, where their duties are related to the population.

Protection of the population. It provides:

• teaching the basics of WMD;
• construction of protective structures;
• pre-preparation of food and essentials;
• evacuation of the population to suburban areas;
• timely notification;
• rescue operations;
• providing medical assistance to victims;
• provision of personal protective equipment;
• monitoring of the state of the area, reconnaissance and change control.

Farm Animal Protection includes:

• dispersal of the animal fund among farms with air filtration equipment;
• feed and water preparation;
• processing by veterinary means;
• organization of work to prevent recurrence of infections;
• vaccination, other means of preventing infection;
• monitoring of the state and timely detection of deviations from the norm of health.

plant protection presented:

• growing crops resistant to harmful environments;
• measures to preserve the seed fund;
• carrying out preventive measures;
• destruction of areas where crops could receive pathogenic effects due to the use of agents and biological agents.

Food Protection:

• equipment of storage facilities, taking into account the possible use of weapons of mass destruction;
• dispersal of available food stocks;
• moving in specially equipped wagons;
• use of special packaging;
• carrying out activities for decontamination (disinfection) of food and packaging.

Protection of water sources presented:

• when organizing centralized water supply, take into account the likelihood of using WMD;
• open water sources deepen;
• systems are equipped with additional special filters;
• preparation of reserve watercourses is underway;
• their round-the-clock protection is organized;
• a constant check of the state of water is carried out with an in-depth analysis.

Timely receipt of intelligence information about WMD, which includes all types of biological weapons, from the enemy significantly reduces the onset of possible consequences, gives time to carry out comprehensive protective measures.

Biological Weapons Convention

Convention on the Prohibition of Exploitation, Production and Stockpiling bacteriological means mass destruction (modern biological weapons) and their destruction (BTWC) - is the result of many years of international activity after the Protocol adopted in Geneva (signed on 06/17/1925, entered into force on 02/08/1928) on the prohibition of the use of asphyxiating, poisonous or other similar gases in war and bacteriological agents (Geneva Protocol).

countries have signed the terms of the BTWC

The terms of the BTWC (signed on 04/10/1972, entered into force on 03/26/1975) have been adopted in 163 countries. The United States joined the BTWC in 1972, but refused to sign protocols that provide for a number of measures to control its implementation.

Further work of the international community in organizing BTWC events is based on the results of the Review Conferences:

To date, effective control mechanisms have not been established to verify information about the absence of development of biological weapons. With a certain degree of confidence, it can be argued that such research has not been stopped by specialists from certain foreign states. For example, NATO laboratories are developing a biological rifle with explosive bullets that can create local foci of bacteriological contamination of enemy military units.

This is evidenced by periodic outbreaks of epidemic diseases in different parts peace. But the mechanisms of international deterrence guarantee the security of the population of Russia.

Throughout its difficult history, mankind has waged a great many wars and experienced an even greater number of devastating epidemics.

The term "biological weapon", oddly enough, causes many attempts various interpretations. I came across, for example, people who tried to interpret it as broadly as possible, calling "biological weapons" and dogs with an explosive charge on their backs, and bats with phosphorus grenades, and fighting dolphins, and even horses in the cavalry. Of course, there are no reasons for such an interpretation and cannot be - it is initially curious. The fact is that all the examples listed (and similar ones) are not weapons, but means of delivery or transportation. The only, perhaps, successful examples of all I have met (and even then in the order of curiosity) could be war elephants and guard dogs. However, the first remained in the mists of time, and the second simply does not make sense to classify in such a strange way. So, what is meant by biological weapons?

Biological weapons- this is a scientific and technological complex, which includes the means of production, storage, maintenance and prompt delivery of a biological damaging agent to the place of application. Bioweapons are often referred to as bacteriological, meaning not only bacteria, but also any other disease-causing agents. In connection with this definition, several more important definitions related to biological weapons should be given.

A biological formulation is a multicomponent system containing pathogenic microorganisms (toxins), fillers and stabilizing additives that increase their stability during storage, use and being in an aerosol state. Depending on the state of aggregation, the recipes can be dry or liquid.

Biological agents - a generalized concept of biological formulations and infectious vectors. According to the effect of exposure, biological agents are divided into lethal(for example, based on the causative agents of plague, smallpox and anthrax) and disabling(for example, based on pathogens of brucellosis, Q fever, cholera). Depending on the ability of microorganisms to spread from person to person and thereby cause epidemics, biological agents based on them can be contagious And non-contagious actions.

Biological damaging agents - pathogenic microorganisms or toxins that perform the functions of damaging people, animals and plants. As such, they can be used bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi,bacterial toxins. There is a possibility of using prions (perhaps as a genetic weapon). But if we consider war as a set of actions that suppress the enemy’s economy, then biological weapons should also include insects capable of quickly and effectively destroying crops.

On a note: To date, there is no consensus on whether to classify bacterial toxins as biological or chemical weapons (sometimes they are isolated into toxin weapons). That's why everything existing conventions concerning restrictions and bans on these types of weapons, invariably mention bacterial toxins.

Technical means of application - technical means that ensure the safe storage, transportation and conversion of biological agents (capsules, destructible containers, air bombs, cassettes, pouring aviation devices, sprayers) into a combat state.

Delivery means - combat vehicles that ensure the delivery of technical means to the target (aviation, ballistic and cruise missiles). This also includes sabotage groups that deliver special containers equipped with radio command or timer opening systems to the area of ​​application.

bacteriological weapon has a high combat effectiveness, allowing you to hit large areas with little effort and resources. However, its predictability and controllability are often unacceptably low - much lower than that of chemical weapons.

Selection factors and classification

All known developments of biological weapons are related to recent history and therefore quite accessible for analysis. When choosing biological agents, the researchers were guided by certain criteria. Here we should get acquainted with some concepts related to microbiology and epidemiology.

pathogenicity- this is a specific property of an infectious agent to cause a disease of the body, that is, pathological changes in organs and tissues with a violation of their physiological functions. The combat applicability of an agent is determined not so much by the pathogenicity itself, but by the severity of the disease caused and the dynamics of its development. Leprosy, for example, causes the most severe damage to the human body, but the disease develops over many years and is therefore unsuitable for combat use.

Virulence is the ability of an infectious agent to infect a specific organism. Virulence should not be confused with pathogenicity (the ability to cause disease). Eg, herpes simplex virus type 1 It has high virulence but low pathogenicity. Numerically, virulence can be expressed in terms of the number of infectious agent units required to infect an organism with a certain probability.

contagiousness- the ability of an infectious agent to be transmitted from a diseased organism to a healthy one. Contagiousness is not equivalent to virulence, since it depends not only on the susceptibility of a healthy organism to an agent, but also on the intensity of the spread of this agent by the diseased. Far from always high contagiousness is welcomed - the risk of losing control over the spread of infection is too great.

Sustainability to the influence of the environment - very important factor when choosing an agent. This is not about achieving maximum or minimum stability - it should be required. And the requirements for sustainability are determined, in turn, by the specifics of the application - climate, season, population density, expected exposure time.

In addition to the listed properties, the incubation period, the possibility of cultivating the agent, the availability of treatment and prevention tools, and the ability to stable genetic modifications are certainly taken into account.

There are many classifications of biological weapons - both offensive and defensive. However, the most concise, in my opinion, is the strategic defensive classification using A complex approach to biological warfare. The set of criteria used in the creation of known samples of biological weapons made it possible to assign to each biological agent a certain threat index- a certain number of points characterizing the likelihood of combat use. For simplicity, military doctors divided all agents into three groups.

1st group- high probability of use. These include smallpox, plague, anthrax, tularemia, typhus, Marburg fever.

2nd group- use is possible. Cholera, brucellosis, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria.

3rd group- use is unlikely. Rabies, typhoid fever, dysentery, staphylococcal infections, viral hepatitis.

History of man-made epidemics

In essence, the intensive development of biological weapons began only in the twentieth century, that is, covered by recent history. And it is difficult to call all of its past even history - these were separate and unsystematic attempts to use it. The reason for this state of affairs is obvious - without knowing anything about pathogens and relying only on the phenomenological approach, mankind intuitively used biological weapons from time to time. However, in the twentieth century it was used a few times, but we will talk about this separately. In the meantime - the chronology of the distant past.

In the III century BC, the Carthaginian commander Hannibal used in sea ​​battle against the Pergamon fleet of Eumenes I shelling with clay pots filled with poisonous snakes. It is difficult to say whether these biological weapons were effective, or if they were purely demoralizing.

The first reliably known case of the purposeful use of bacteriological weapons occurred in 1346, when the troops of the Golden Horde under the command of Khan Dzhanibek kept the Genoese fortress of Kafa under siege. The siege lasted so long that a plague broke out in the camp of the Mongols, unaccustomed to settled life. Of course, the siege was lifted, but in parting, the Mongols threw several dozen corpses behind the fortress walls, which caused the epidemic to spread to the population of Kafa. There is speculation that this precedent played an important role in the spread of the well-known Black Death pandemic across Europe.

The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes in 1520 took revenge on the Aztecs for the devastating "Night of Sorrows" by infecting them with smallpox. The Aztecs, who were not immune, lost more than half the population. The Aztec leader Cuitlahuac, who led the attack on the "Night of Sorrow", also died of smallpox. The powerful state of the Aztecs was destroyed in a matter of weeks.

The year 1683 can be considered the starting point of preparation for the future development of biological weapons. This year Anthony van Leeuwenhoek discovered and described bacteria. However, more than two hundred years remained before the first purposeful experiments in this area.

The name of British General Geoffrey Amherst is associated with the first use of biological weapons in North America. In correspondence with his officer, Henry Bucat, he offered in response to the Pontiac rebellion in 1763 to donate blankets to the Indians, which had previously covered smallpox patients. The result of the action was an epidemic that resulted in the death of several thousand Indians.

During the First World War, France and Germany repeatedly infected cattle and horses with anthrax and glanders, after which they drove them to the side of the enemy. There is evidence that during the same period Germany tried to spread cholera in Italy, the plague in St. Petersburg, and also used aviation bacteriological ammunition against Great Britain.

In 1925, the Geneva Protocol was signed - the first international agreement in force, including a ban on the use of biological weapons during hostilities. By this time, France, Italy, the USSR and Germany were actively researching in the field of biological weapons and protection against them.

The article presents data on the use of biological and chemical weapons. It is concluded that the assessment of the impact (consequences of application) of chemical and biological agents is associated with enormous difficulties. The results of studies are often affected by the ambiguity of various variables, since to distinguish between the true long-term effects of exposure and the manifestations of the same symptoms associated with a wide range for other reasons, it can be extremely difficult. The likely use of a variety of biological and chemical agents in combination with a range of other factors, leading to a wide range of long-term symptoms of adverse effects (including carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and a range of non-specific somatic and psychological symptoms), is thought to be related to exposure. chemical substances along with other possible reasons.

biological weapons

biological and chemical preparations

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Among the many emergencies or disasters that public health authorities have or will have to respond to include the deliberate use of biological weapons to release biological or chemical agents. This problem worldwide for public health is currently one of the priorities. The history of mankind has preserved information about the poisoning of wells during numerous wars, the infection of besieged fortresses with plague, the use of poison gases on the battlefield.

Back in the 5th century BC. the Indian Law of Manu forbade the military use of poisons, and in the 19th century A.D. the civilized colonizers of America gave infected blankets to the Indians to cause epidemics in the tribes. In the 20th century, the only proven fact of the deliberate use of biological weapons was the Japanese infection of Chinese territories with plague bacteria in the 30s and 40s.

Some experts believe that the United States used biological weapons during the Vietnam War, where over 100,000 tons of herbicides and defoliants were sprayed, primarily affecting vegetation. In this way, the Americans tried to destroy the greenery on the trees in order to see the partisan detachments from the air. Such use of biological weapons is called ecosystem use, since pesticides do not have a completely selective effect. So, in Vietnam, damage was done freshwater fish, the catch of which until the mid-80s. remained 10-20 times lower than before the use of pesticides for military purposes. The soil fertility of the affected lands also remained 10-15 times lower; as a result of the use of herbicides, more than 5% of the country's agricultural lands were destroyed. Direct health damage was caused to 1.6 million Vietnamese. More than 7 million people were forced to leave areas where pesticides were used.

The development, production and use of biological and chemical weapons is prohibited international treaties which are signed by the majority of WHO Member States. These treaties include the Geneva Protocol of 1925, the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993, and others. Given the fact that the treaties are not signed by all world state-countries, there are well-founded fears that someone might try to use such weapons. In addition, non-state actors may also try to take possession of it for terrorist or other criminal purposes.

Use of poison gases (mustard and nerve gas) during the war between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1988, two cases of the use of sarin (in 1994, 1995) by the Aum Shinrikyo religious sect in public places in Japan, ( including in the Tokyo subway), the spread of anthrax through the United States postal system in 2001 (causing the death of five people), clearly confirms the need to be prepared for a situation with a deliberate release of chemical or biological agents

Recognizing this need, the World Health Assembly, at its 55th session in May 2002, adopted resolution WHA55.16, which urged Member States to “treat any, including local, deliberate use of biological and chemical agents and nuclear radiation to harm as global threat public health and to respond to such threats in other countries by sharing experience, providing materials and resources in order to quickly contain the impact and mitigate the consequences.”

Biological (bacteriological) weapons (BW) - a type of weapon of mass destruction, the action of which is based on the use of the pathogenic properties of biological combat agents - pathogens of people, animals and plants. Biological weapons include biological (bacterial) means and means of their delivery to inflict damage on the enemy. The means of their delivery can be missile warheads, shells, aircraft containers and other carriers. According to foreign experts, an important feature of biological weapons is their high destructive effectiveness at very low doses required for infection, as well as the ability of some infectious diseases to spread epidemically. The appearance as a result of the use of biological weapons of even a relatively small number of patients in the future can lead to the spread of an epidemic of large masses of troops and the population. The relative persistence and duration of the damaging effect of biological weapons is due to the resistance of some pathogens of infectious diseases in the external environment, especially if they are used in the form of spores. As a result, long-lasting foci of infection can be created. The same effect can be achieved by the use of infected vectors - ticks and insects. A specific feature of biological weapons, which distinguishes them from all other types of weapons, is the presence of an incubation period, the duration of which depends on the nature of the infectious disease caused (from several hours to 2-3 weeks or more). Small doses of biological agents, the absence of color, taste and smell, as well as the relative complexity and duration of special indication methods (bacteriological, immunological, physicochemical) make it difficult to detect biological weapons in a timely manner and create conditions for their covert use. According to foreign experts, one of the properties of biological weapons is their strong psycho-traumatic effect on the civilian population and troops. A feature of biological weapons is also their reverse (retroactive) effect, which can manifest itself when using pathogens of contagious diseases and consists in the spread of epidemic diseases among the troops who used these weapons.

The basis of the damaging effect of biological weapons are bacterial agents - bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi and toxic products of their vital activity, used for military purposes with the help of live infected disease vectors (insects, rodents, ticks, etc.) or in the form of suspensions and powders. Pathogenic microbes are colorless, odorless and extremely small in size, measured in microns and millimicrons, which excludes their visibility to the naked eye. Bacteria, for example, can only be directly detected using electron microscopes. Biological weapons cause disease, and often death, when they enter the body in negligible amounts.

Infectious diseases caused by the use of biological weapons, under certain conditions, can spread from one source of infection to another, causing epidemics. Infection of humans and animals can occur as a result of inhalation of air contaminated with bacterial agents, contact with pathogenic microbes and toxins on mucous membranes and damaged skin, bites from infected vectors, consumption of contaminated food and water, contact with contaminated objects, injury from fragments of bacterial munitions, and also by contact with infectious patients.

Consequences the use of biological or chemical weapons can be divided into short-term and long-term.

The most characteristic short-term result of the use of biological and chemical weapons is a large number of casualties. A huge demand for medical resources is growing given the fact that the psychological reaction of the civilian population to an attack using biological or chemical weapons, (including possible panic and horror), can be much more pronounced than the reaction resulting from an attack using conventional weapons. A clear example of the nature of the short-term consequences of an attack with the use of chemical weapons in an urban environment is the 1994-1995 attack. terrorist attack in Japan, during which the nerve agent sarin was used. United States episode with anthrax letters in late 2001

The possible long-term consequences of the use of biological and chemical weapons, including delayed, prolonged and environmentally mediated health effects, over time and far from where these weapons were used, are generally less certain and less understood.

Some biological and chemical agents can cause physical or mental illness that persists or manifests months or even years after the weapon itself is used. Such an impact is considered generally recognized and has repeatedly been the subject of special scientific monographs. It can contribute to the spread of damage caused by biological or chemical weapons beyond the area intended for attack, both in time and space. In the case of most agents, it is not possible to make specific predictions because so far very little is known about their long-term effects.

The long-term effects of releases of biological and chemical agents may include chronic disease, late symptoms, new infectious diseases that become endemic, and effects from environmental change. Possibility of chronic disease after exposure to certain toxic chemicals is well known. The occurrence of chronic debilitating lung disease in mustard gas attack victims was noted after World War I. Similar information is also contained in the case reports in Iran following the use of mustard gas by Iraq during the war between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 1980s. Observation of victims in Iran revealed debilitating chronic diseases of the lungs (chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, asthmatic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, obstruction of the pulmonary ducts), eyes (delayed onset of keratitis leading to blindness) and skin (dryness, pruritus with numerous secondary complications). , pigmentation disorders and structural disorders ranging from hypertrophy to atrophy). cases fatality with pulmonary complications occurred more than 10 years after the cessation of any exposure.

When using biological agents as weapons, the most likely to be used are the causative agents of plague, smallpox, anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, glanders, melioidosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, American equine encephalomyelitis, yellow fever, Q fever, deep mycosis, and botulinum toxin. To infect farm animals, pathogens of foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, African swine fever, anthrax, glanders can be used; for infecting plants - pathogens of wheat stem rust, etc. Biological agents, including those that are of particular concern, can cause long-term diseases.

Brucella melitensis infections, for example, are more severe than brucellosis caused by B. suis or B. abortus and particularly affect bones, joints, and the heart (endocarditis). Re-infection, weakness, weight loss, general malaise and depression are the most common symptoms. infections associated with Francisella tularensis, also lead to long-term illness and debility and can last for many months. Viral encephalitis can have irreversible consequences for the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Delayed manifestations in individuals who have been exposed to certain biological or chemical agents, may include, depending on the dose received, carcinogenesis, teratogenesis and mutagenesis. Some biological and chemical agents are also a clear cause of cancer in humans. However, it is not yet known whether an infection transmitted by those microorganisms suitable for biological weapons can be carcinogenic to humans. With regard to the possibility of certain classes of chemicals to cause cancer, mainly in animals on which experiments are carried out, there is also little data on this issue. For example, some chemicals of particular interest, such as mustard gas, are alkylating agents, and many such substances have been found to be carcinogenic. According to literature data, the occurrence of carcinogenesis after a single active episode associated with exposure to sulfur mustard is doubtful. However, there is sufficient evidence to indicate a significant increase in respiratory tract cancer among workers as a result of long-term exposure to low doses of mustard gas during industrial production. The results of animal experiments and epidemiological data on population groups show that the incidence of carcinogenesis caused by many carcinogens depends on the strength and duration of exposure. Therefore, single exposures would be expected to be much less carcinogenic than long-term exposures of the same total dose over many months or years. Some chemicals and infectious agents can cause significant harm to the human fetus. Fine famous examples of this phenomenon are thalidomide and rubella virus. It is not known which specific chemicals or biological agents discussed here are teratogenic when dosed to pregnant women in exposed civilian populations. Little attention has hitherto been given to the question of whether known chemical and biological agents can be the cause of dangerous hereditary changes in humans. According to some reports, many chemicals can cause such changes both in experimental organisms and in human cell cultures. If biological agents are used to cause diseases that are not endemic in the country that has been attacked, this may lead to disease becomes endemic both for humans and possible vectors such as arthropods and other intermediate hosts such as rodents, birds or livestock. For example, controversy Bacillus anthracis very stable when released into the environment and can persist for a very long time, especially in the soil. Infecting and multiplying in the body of animals, they can create new foci. Create existing for a long time foci can also be microbes that cause gastrointestinal infections in humans, such as Salmonella And Shigella. Strains Salmonella may also be present in domestic animals. A particular problem may be that deliberate release for hostile purposes of the virus Variola may lead to the re-emergence of smallpox, which was eventually eradicated from its natural occurrence in the 1970s, with particular benefit to developing countries. Finally, there are possible consequences due to environmental changes. New disease foci may be created as a result of environmental changes caused by the use of biological agents that are infectious to humans and animals, or as a result of the use of defoliants. This can lead to long-term harmful consequences for human health, manifested in a reduction in the quantity and quality of food of plant and animal origin. In addition, it may entail serious economic consequences, either as a result of a direct impact on Agriculture or as a result of indirect impacts on trade and tourism.

In addition to their ability to cause physical injury and illness, biological and chemical agents may well be used in psychological warfare (a military term for undermining morale, including terror), given the horror and fear they evoke. Even when these agents are not actually used, the threat of their use may cause violations. normal life and even panic. The exaggeration of such impact is due to the exaggerated perception of the threat of biological and chemical weapons, which can arise in some cases. In addition, sometimes people have a better idea of ​​the harmful effects associated with conventional weapons than those associated with toxic and infectious materials.

The advent and spread of long-range missile delivery systems has increased the fear of biological and chemical attack in cities where the population considers itself somewhat defenseless, which in turn further increases the potential for psychological warfare. For example, in Tehran during the “war of the cities” in the final phase of the war between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 1980s, when the threat (never a reality) that rockets could be used to deliver chemical weapons reportedly caused more alarm than warheads containing powerful explosive charges. Another example is the war in Persian Gulf 1990-1991, when there was a threat that Scud missiles aimed at Israeli cities could be equipped with chemical warheads. In addition to military and civil defense personnel, many citizens received protective equipment against chemical attack and training to protect themselves in the event of the use of chemical warfare agents. There was also great concern that all rocket attacks were always considered a chemical attack until proven otherwise, even though no chemical warheads were actually used by Iraq.

Thus, the assessment of the impact (consequences of application) of chemical and biological agents is associated with enormous difficulties. The results of studies are often affected by the ambiguity of various variables, since it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between the true long-term effects of exposure and the manifestations of the same symptoms associated with a wide range of other causes that occur in the background.

The likely use of a variety of biological and chemical agents in combination with a range of other factors, leading to a wide range of long-term adverse effects (including carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and a range of non-specific somatic and psychological symptoms), is thought to be related to chemical exposure. substances along with other possible causes.

Conflicting data and inconclusive results currently lead to the fact that it is simply impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions. .

Reviewers:

Gromov M.S., Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, General Director of LLC "Honest Clinic No. 1", Saratov;

Abakumova Yu.V., Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Clinical Medicine, Saratov Medical Institute REAVIZ, Saratov.

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Incredible Facts

At one time or another, people have tried to use every opportunity to find a new viable option for destroying each other. We have torn down forests, "turned over" religion, philosophy, science and even art in order to feed the desire of mankind to drink more blood from each other. Along the way, we have even constructed some of the most formidable viral, bacterial, and fungal weapons.

The use of biological weapons dates back to ancient world. In 1500 B.C. the Hittites in Asia Minor understood the power of a contagious disease and sent a plague to enemy lands. Many armies also understood the full power of biological weapons, leaving infected corpses in the enemy's fortress. Some historians even say that the 10 biblical plagues that Moses "summoned" against the Egyptians may have been biological warfare campaigns rather than acts of divine vengeance.

Since those early days, advances in medical science have led to a vast improvement in our understanding of how harmful pathogens work and how our immune system fights them. However, while these advances have led to the emergence of vaccinations and treatments, they have also led to the further militarization of some of the most destructive biological "agents" on the planet.

The first half of the 20th century was marked by the use by both the Germans and the Japanese of such biological weapons as anthrax. Further it began to be applied in the USA, Great Britain and Russia. Today, biological weapons are outlawed, as their use was banned in 1972 by the Biological Weapons Convention and the Geneva Protocol. But at a time when a number of countries have long since destroyed their stockpiles of biological weapons and stopped research on this topic, the threat still remains. In this article, we will look at some of the top threats from bioweapons.

© Ivan Marjanovic / Getty Images

The term "biological weapons" tends to conjure up mental images associated with sterile government labs, special uniforms, and test tubes full of bright liquids. Historically, however, biological weapons have taken much more mundane forms: paper bags full of plague-infected fleas, or even a blanket, as happened during the 1763 French and Indian War.

On the orders of Commander Sir Jeffrey Amherst, British troops brought smallpox-infected blankets to Indian tribes in Ottawa. Native Americans were particularly susceptible to the disease because, unlike the Europeans, they had not been exposed to smallpox until then, and therefore had no corresponding immunity. The disease "cut" the tribes like wildfire.

Smallpox is caused by the variola virus. In the most common forms of disease, death occurs in 30 percent of cases. Signs of smallpox are high fever, body aches, and a rash that develops from fluid-filled sores. The disease is predominantly spread through direct contact with the skin of an infected person or through bodily fluids, but can also be spread through the air in tight, confined environments.

In 1976, WHO led efforts to eradicate smallpox through mass vaccination. As a result, in 1977, the last case of smallpox infection was recorded. The disease was virtually eradicated, however, laboratory copies of smallpox still exist. Both Russia and the US have WHO-approved smallpox specimens, but since smallpox has played its part as a biological weapon in several nations' special programs, it is not known how many clandestine stockpiles still exist.

Smallpox is classified as a Class A bioweapon due to its high mortality rate and also because it can be airborne. While a smallpox vaccine exists, generally only medical workers and military personnel are vaccinated, which means that the rest of the population is at potential risk if this type of biological weapon is used in practice. How can a virus be released? Probably in aerosol form, or even the old-fashioned way: by sending an infected person directly to the target area.

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In the fall of 2001, letters containing white powder began to arrive at the offices of the US Senate. When word spread that the envelopes contained spores of the deadly bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax, panic set in. Anthrax letters infected 22 people and killed five.

Due to its high mortality and resistance to environmental change, anthrax bacteria are also classified as a class A bioweapon category. The bacterium lives in soil, and animals that graze on it often come into contact with the spores of the bacterium while searching for food. A person can become infected with anthrax by touching the spore, inhaling it, or swallowing it.

In most cases, anthrax is transmitted through skin contact with spores. The most deadly form of anthrax infection is the inhaled form, in which the spores enter the lungs and are then transported by immune system cells to the lymph nodes. There, the spores begin to multiply and release toxins, which lead to the development of problems such as fever, breathing problems, fatigue, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Among those infected with the inhalation form of anthrax, there is the highest mortality rate, and, unfortunately, all five victims of the 2001 letters fell ill with this form.

The disease is extremely difficult to pick up under normal conditions, and it is not transmitted from person to person. However, healthcare workers, veterinarians, and military personnel are routinely vaccinated. Along with the lack of widespread vaccination, "longevity" is another feature of anthrax. Many harmful biological bacteria can only survive under certain conditions and for a short period of time. However, anthrax bacteria can sit on a shelf for 40 years and still pose a deadly threat.

These properties have made anthrax the "favorite" bioweapon among relevant programs around the world. Japanese scientists conducted experiments on humans using aerosolized anthrax bacteria in the late 1930s in occupied Manchuria. British troops experimented with an anthrax bomb in 1942, and in doing so they managed to contaminate the Greenard Island test site so thoroughly that 44 years later it took 280 tons of formaldehyde to decontaminate the soil. In 1979 Soviet Union accidentally released anthrax into the air, killing 66 people.

Today, anthrax remains one of the best-known and most dangerous biological weapons. Numerous bioweapons programs have worked over the years to produce and improve anthrax, and as long as there is a vaccine, mass vaccination will only be viable if there is a mass attack.

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Another known killer exists in the form of the Ebola virus, one of a dozen different types of hemorrhagic fevers, nasty illnesses that cause profuse bleeding. Ebola made headlines in the 1970s when the virus spread to Zaire and Sudan, killing hundreds of people in the process. In the decades that followed, the virus maintained its deadly reputation, spreading in lethal outbreaks across Africa. Since its discovery, at least seven outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Europe and the United States.

Named for the region of the Congo where the virus was first discovered, the virus is suspected to normally live in its native African host, but the exact origin and range of the disease remain a mystery. Thus, experts were able to detect the virus only after it infected humans and primates.

An infected person transmits the virus to others through contact. healthy people with the blood or other secretions of an infected person. In Africa, the virus has performed particularly adeptly, as it is transmitted there through hospitals and clinics. The incubation period of the virus lasts 2-21 days, after which the infected person begins to show symptoms. Typical symptoms include headache, muscle pain, sore throat and weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some patients suffer from internal and external bleeding. Approximately 60-90 percent of cases of infection end in death after the course of the disease for 7-16 days.

Doctors don't know why some patients recover faster than others. They also do not know how to treat this fever, since there is no vaccine. There is only one vaccine for one form of hemorrhagic fever: yellow fever.

Although many doctors worked to develop methods to treat the fever and prevent its outbreaks, a group of Soviet scientists turned the virus into a biological weapon. Initially, they faced the problem of growing Ebola in the laboratory, they managed to achieve more success in this field by cultivating the Marburg hemorrhagic fever virus. However, in the early 1990s they managed to solve this problem. While the virus is usually spread through physical contact with the secretions of an infected person, researchers have observed it spread through the air in a laboratory setting. The ability to "release" weapons in aerosol form only strengthened the position of the virus in class A.

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The Black Death wiped out half the population of Europe in the 14th century, a horror that continues to haunt the world even today. Named " big death", the mere prospect of the return of this virus shocks people. Today, some researchers believe that the world's first pandemic may have been hemorrhagic fever, but the term "plague" continues to be associated with another Class A biological weapon: the bacterium Yersinia Pestis.

Plague exists in two main strains: bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic plague is usually spread through the bites of infected fleas, but can also be spread from person to person through contact with infected body fluids. This strain is named after the swollen glands in the groin, armpits and neck. This swelling is accompanied by fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. Symptoms appear after two to three days, and usually last one to six days. If you do not start treatment within 24 hours after infection, then in 70 percent of cases a fatal outcome cannot be avoided.

The pneumonic form of plague is less common and spreads by airborne droplets. Symptoms of this type of plague include high fever, coughing, bloody mucus, and difficulty breathing.

Plague victims, both dead and alive, have historically served as effective bioweapons. In 1940, there was an outbreak of plague in China after the Japanese dropped bags of infected fleas from planes. Scientists in several countries are still investigating the possibility of using the plague as a biological weapon, and since the disease is still found in the world, a copy of the bacterium is relatively easy to obtain. With appropriate treatment, the death rate for this disease is below 5 percent. There is no vaccine yet.

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Death from infection with this infection occurs in five percent of cases. A small gram-negative rod is the causative agent of tularemia. In 1941, the Soviet Union reported 10,000 cases of the disease. Later, when the fascist attack on Stalingrad took place the following year, this number rose to 100,000. Most cases of infection were recorded on the German side of the conflict. Former Soviet bioweapons researcher Ken Alibek argues that this spike in infection was not an accident, but was the result of biological warfare. Alibek would continue to help Soviet scientists develop a tularemia vaccine until he fled to the US in 1992.

Francisella tularensis occurs naturally in no more than 50 organisms and is especially common among rodents, rabbits and hares. Humans usually become infected through contact with infected animals, insect bites, or ingestion of contaminated food.

Symptoms usually appear after 3-5 days depending on the route of infection. The patient may experience fever, chills, headache, diarrhea, muscle pain, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. Pneumonia-like symptoms may also develop. If left untreated, respiratory failure and death follow. The illness usually lasts no more than two weeks, but during this time infected people are mostly bedridden.

Tularemia is not transmitted from person to person, is easily treated with antibiotics, and can be easily avoided by getting a vaccine. However, this zoonotic infection spreads very quickly from animal to person and is also easy to catch if it is spread by aerosol. The infection is especially dangerous in aerosol form. Because of these factors, after the end of World War II, the US, UK, Canada and the Soviet Union began to work on making it a biological weapon.

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Take a deep breath. If the air you just breathed contains botulinum toxin, you won't know it. Deadly bacteria are colorless and odorless. However, after 12-36 hours, the first symptoms appear: blurred vision, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. At this point, your only hope is to get botulinum antitoxin, and the sooner you get it, the better for you. If left untreated, paralysis of the muscles occurs, and later paralysis of the respiratory system.

Without breathing support, this poison can kill you within 24-72 hours. For this reason, the deadly toxin is also classified as a class A biological weapon. However, if the lungs are given help and support at this moment, then the mortality rate immediately drops from 70 percent to 6, however, it will take time to recover, since the poison paralyzes the nerve endings and muscles, effectively cutting off the signal from the brain. For full recovery the patient will need to "grow" new nerve endings, and this takes months. Although a vaccine exists, many experts are concerned about its effectiveness and side effects, so it is not widely used.

It is worth noting that this neurotoxin can be found anywhere the globe, especially a lot of it in soil and marine sediments. Humans are primarily exposed to the toxin as a result of tainted food, especially canned foods and meat products (such as canned fried mushrooms and fish).

Its potency, availability, and curative limitations have made botulinum toxin a favorite among bioweapons programs in many countries. In 1990, members of the Japanese sect Aum Shinrikyo sprayed a toxin to protest some political decisions, but they failed to cause the mass deaths they expected. When the cult, however, switched to sarin gas in 1995, they killed dozens and injured thousands.

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Numerous biological organisms prefer cultivated food crops. Ridding cultures of their enemies is an important task for man, because without food, people will start to panic, unrest.

A number of countries, especially the US and Russia, have devoted much research to diseases and insects that attack food crops. The fact that modern agriculture is usually focused on the production of a single crop only complicates matters.

One such biological weapon is rice blast, a disease caused by the deficient fungus Pyricularia oryzae. The leaves of the affected plant become grayish in color and filled with thousands of fungal spores. These spores multiply rapidly and spread from plant to plant, significantly impairing their performance or even destroying the crop. While breeding disease-resistant plants is a good protective measure, rice blast is a serious problem, because you need to breed not one strain of resistance, but 219 different strains.

This type of biological weapon does not work for sure. However, it can lead to severe starvation in poor countries, as well as financial and other losses and problems. A number of countries, including the United States, use this rice disease as a biological weapon. By this time, a huge amount of a harmful fungus had been collected in the United States for potential attacks on Asia.

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When Genghis Khan invaded Europe in the 13th century, he accidentally introduced a terrible biological weapon into it. Rinderpest is caused by a virus that is closely related to the measles virus and it affects cattle and other ruminants such as goats, bison and giraffes. The condition is highly contagious, causing fever, loss of appetite, dysentery, and inflammation of the mucous membranes. Symptoms persist for approximately 6-10 days, after which the animal usually dies of dehydration.

For centuries, people have constantly brought "sick" cattle to various parts of the globe, thereby infecting millions of cattle, as well as other domestic and wild animals. Occasional outbreaks in Africa have been so severe that they have turned starving lions into cannibals and driven herders to commit suicide. However, thanks to a massive vaccination program, rinderpest has been brought under control in most parts of the world.

Although Genghis Khan came into possession of this bioweapon by accident, many modern countries such as Canada and the United States are actively researching this type of bioweapon.

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Viruses adapt and evolve over time. New strains emerge, and sometimes close contact between humans and animals allows life-threatening diseases to "jump" to the top of the food chain. With the constant increase in the number of people on earth, the emergence of new diseases is inevitable. And every time a new outbreak appears, you can be sure that someone is sure to begin to consider it as a potential bioweapon.

The Nipah virus falls into this category because it only became known in 1999. The outbreak occurred in a region of Malaysia called Nipah, infecting 265 and killing 105 people. Some believe that the virus develops naturally in fruit bats. Accurate character transmission of the virus is uncertain, however, experts believe that the virus can be spread through close physical contact or through contact with body fluids of a sick person. No cases of person-to-person transmission have yet been reported.

The illness usually lasts 6-10 days, causing symptoms ranging from mild, flu-like to severe, similar to encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. In some cases, the patient is characterized by drowsiness, disorientation, convulsions, moreover, a person may even fall into a coma. Death occurs in 50 percent of cases, and there is currently no standard treatment or vaccination.

The Nipah virus, along with other emerging pathogens, is classified as a class C biological weapon. While no country is officially investigating this virus for possible use as a bioweapon, its potential is wide and its 50% mortality rate makes it a must-watch virus.

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What happens when scientists start digging into the genetic structure of dangerous organisms, redesigning it?

In Greek and Roman mythology, a chimera is a combination of the body parts of a lion, a goat, and a snake into one monstrous form. Late medieval artists often used this image to illustrate the complex nature of evil. In modern genetic science, a chimeric organism exists and contains the genes of a foreign body. Given his name, you probably assumed that all chimeric organisms must be terrible examples of man's intrusion into nature to further his nefarious goals. Fortunately, this is not the case. One such 'chimera', which combines genes from the common cold and polio, could help treat brain cancer.

However, everyone understands that the abuse of such scientific achievements is inevitable. Geneticists have already discovered new ways to increase the killing power of biological weapons such as smallpox and anthrax by specifically tweaking their genetic structure. By combining genes, however, scientists can create weapons that can cause two diseases to develop at the same time. In the late 1980s, Soviet scientists worked on Project Chimera, during which they explored the possibility of combining smallpox and Ebola.

Other possible abuse scenarios are the creation of multiple strains of bacteria that require specific triggers. Such bacteria subside for a long period of time until they become active again with the help of special "irritants". Another possible variant a chimeric biological weapon is the effect of two components on a bacterium so that it begins to work effectively. Such a biological attack would not only lead to higher human mortality, but could also undermine public confidence in health initiatives, humanitarian workers and government officials.

A biological or bacteriological weapon is a type of weapon of mass destruction (WMD) that uses various pathogens to destroy the enemy. The main purpose of its use is the mass destruction of the enemy’s manpower, in order to achieve this, epidemics of dangerous diseases are provoked among his troops and civilians.

The term "bacteriological weapon" is not entirely correct, since not only bacteria, but also viruses and other microorganisms, as well as toxic products of their vital activity, are used to inflict damage on the enemy. In addition, the composition of biological weapons includes the means of delivery of pathogens to the place of their application.

Sometimes entomological weapons are distinguished as a separate species, which use insects to attack the enemy.

Modern war is a whole complex of actions aimed at destroying the enemy's economy. Biological weapons fit perfectly into his concept. After all, it is possible to infect not only enemy soldiers or its civilian population, but also to destroy agricultural crops.

Biological weapons are the most old view weapons of mass destruction, people tried to use it in ancient times. This was not always effective, but sometimes led to impressive results.

Currently, biological weapons are outlawed: a number of conventions have been adopted prohibiting their development, storage and use. However, despite all the international conventions, information about new developments of these prohibited weapons regularly appears in the press.

Many experts believe that bacteriological weapons are in some ways even more dangerous than nuclear ones. Its properties and features are such that they may well lead to the complete destruction of the human race on the planet. Despite modern advances in the field of medicine and biology, it is not yet possible to talk about the victory of mankind over diseases. We still cannot cope with HIV infection and hepatitis, and even a banal flu leads to regular epidemics. The action of biological weapons is not selective. A virus or a pathogenic bacterium does not make out where its own and someone else's, and once they are free, they destroy all life in their path.

History of biological weapons

Mankind has repeatedly faced devastating epidemics and waged a huge number of wars. Often these two disasters went hand in hand. Therefore, it is not surprising that ideas about using infections as weapons came to the mind of many military leaders.

It should be noted that high levels of morbidity and mortality were common in the armies of the past. Huge crowds of people, vague ideas about sanitation and hygiene, poor nutrition - all this created excellent conditions for the development of infectious diseases in the troops. Very often, much more soldiers died from diseases than from the actions of the enemy army.

Therefore, the first attempts to use infections to defeat enemy troops were made several thousand years ago. The Hittites, for example, simply sent people sick with tularemia into the camp of the enemy. In the Middle Ages, they came up with new ways to deliver biological weapons: the corpses of people and animals who died from some deadly disease were thrown into besieged cities with the help of catapults.

The most terrible result of the use of biological weapons in antiquity is the epidemic of bubonic plague in Europe, which broke out in the 14th century. During the siege of the city of Kafa (modern Feodosia), the Tatar Khan Dzhanibek threw the corpses of people who died from the plague over the walls. An epidemic broke out in the city. Some of the townspeople fled from her on a ship to Venice, and in the end they brought the infection there.

Soon, the plague literally wiped out Europe. Some countries have lost up to half of the population, the victims of the epidemic were in the millions.

In the 18th century, European colonialists supplied the North American Indians with blankets and tents, which had previously been used by smallpox patients. Historians still debate whether this was intentional. Be that as it may, the epidemic that broke out as a result practically destroyed many native tribes.

Scientific progress has given mankind not only vaccinations and antibiotics, but also the possibility of using the most deadly pathogens as weapons.

The process of rapid development of biological weapons began relatively recently - approximately at the end of the 19th century. The Germans during the First World War unsuccessfully tried to induce an anthrax epizootic in enemy troops. During World War II, Japan created a special secret unit - Detachment 731, which carried out work in the field of biological weapons, including experiments on prisoners of war.

During the war, the Japanese infected the population of China with bubonic plague, as a result, 400,000 Chinese died. The Germans actively and quite successfully spread malaria in the territory of modern Italy, and about 100 thousand Allied soldiers died from it.

After the end of World War II, these weapons of mass destruction were no longer used, at least no signs of their large-scale use were recorded. There is information that the Americans used biological weapons during the Korean War - but to confirm given fact did not succeed.

In 1979, an anthrax epidemic broke out in Sverdlovsk on the territory of the USSR. It was officially announced that the cause of the outbreak was the consumption of meat from infected animals. Modern researchers have no doubt that the real reason for the defeat of the population by this dangerous infection was an accident at a secret Soviet laboratory where biological weapons were being developed. In a short period, 79 cases of infection were registered, 68 of which ended in death. This good example effectiveness of biological weapons: as a result of accidental infection, the mortality rate was 86%.

Features of biological weapons

Advantages:

1. High application efficiency;
2. Difficulty in timely detection by the enemy of the use of biological weapons;
3. The presence of a latent (incubation) period of infection makes the fact of the use of this WMD even less noticeable;
4. A wide variety of biological agents that can be used to defeat the enemy;
5. Many types of biological weapons are capable of epidemic spread, that is, the defeat of the enemy, in fact, becomes a self-sustaining process;
6. The flexibility of this weapon of mass destruction: there are diseases that temporarily make a person incapacitated, while other ailments lead to death;
7. Microorganisms are able to penetrate into any premises, engineering structures and military equipment also does not guarantee protection against infection;
8. The ability of biological weapons to infect people, animals, and agricultural plants. Moreover, this ability is very selective: some pathogens cause human diseases, others infect only animals;
9. Biological weapons have a strong psychological impact panic and fear instantly spread to the population.

It should also be noted that biological weapons are very cheap, it is not difficult to create them even for a state with a low level of technical development.

However, this type of WMD also has significant disadvantage, which limits the use of biological weapons: they are highly indiscriminate.

After the application of a pathogenic virus or anthrax, you cannot guarantee that the infection will not devastate your country as well. Science is not yet able to provide guaranteed protection against microorganisms. Moreover, even a pre-made antidote can be ineffective, because viruses and bacteria are constantly mutating.

That is why biological weapons have practically not been used in recent history. It is likely that this trend will continue in the future.

Classification of biological weapons

The main difference between different types of biological weapons is the pathogen used to defeat the enemy. It is he who determines the main properties and characteristics of WMD. Various pathogens can be used: plague, smallpox, anthrax, Ebola, cholera, tularemia, dengue, and botulism toxins.

Various means and methods can be used to spread infections:

• artillery shells and mines;
• special containers (bags, packages or boxes) dropped from the air;
• aviation bombs;
• devices that disperse aerosols with an infectious agent from the air;
• contaminated household items (clothes, shoes, food).

Entomological weapons should be singled out separately. This is a type of biological weapon in which insects are used to attack the enemy. At various times, bees, scorpions, fleas, Colorado potato beetles and mosquitoes were used for these purposes. The most promising are mosquitoes, fleas and some types of flies. All these insects can carry various diseases man and animals. At various times there have been programs to breed agricultural pests to cripple the economy of the enemy.

WMD protection

All methods of protection against biological weapons can be divided into two large groups:

• preventive;
• emergency.

Preventive methods of struggle are the vaccination of military personnel, civilians, farm animals. The second direction of prevention is the creation of a whole range of mechanisms that allow to detect infection as quickly as possible.

Emergency methods of protection against biological threats include various methods of treating diseases, preventive measures in emergency cases, isolation of the focus of infection, and disinfection of the area.

During the Cold War, exercises were repeatedly conducted to eliminate the consequences of the use of biological weapons. Other modeling methods have also been used. As a result, it was concluded that a state with a normally developed medicine is able to cope with any famous species similar weapons of mass destruction.

However, there is one problem: modern work on the creation of new types of combat microorganisms is based on the methods of biotechnology and genetic engineering. That is, the developers create new strains of viruses and bacteria with unprecedented properties. If such a pathogen breaks free, it can lead to the start of a global epidemic (pandemic).

Recently, rumors about the so-called genetic weapons have not subsided. Usually, it means genetically modified pathogenic microorganisms that are capable of selectively infecting people of a certain nationality, race or gender. However, most scientists are rather skeptical about the idea of ​​such a weapon, although experiments in this direction have definitely been carried out.

Biological Weapons Convention

There are several conventions prohibiting the development and use of biological weapons. The first of them (the Geneva Protocol) was adopted back in 1925 and expressly forbade doing such work. Another similar convention appeared in Geneva in 1972; as of January 2012, 165 states have ratified it.

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