Biological toxin warfare: threat, proliferation, and the effects of neutron energy on BTW agents

Abstract

The threat of biological weapons presents a special military challenge. Biological toxin warfare (BTW) agents are more potent than chemical warfare agents. Depending on the yield of the nuclear weapon, a biological weapon also can have a higher lethality than nuclear weapons. This thesis examines existing international restricions on the proliferation of BTW technology and identifies their shortcomings. These loopholes contribute to the eay availability of the technology necessary to examine military means for neutralizing or destroying biological pathogens and toxins in both the production and weaponization phases. One such method, enhanced radiation weaponry, is examined in this thesis and is shown to be a viable means of neutralizing pathogens and toxins.