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Biological Weapons Defense

Effect Levels

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Book cover Biological Weapons Defense

Part of the book series: Infectious Disease ((ID))

Abstract

Many toxins and replicating agents have the potential for malevolent use. Of prime concern is the use of agents or toxins that would affect large populations. Delivery of these agents through food or water is of concern but is restricted by the quantity of agent required, thus limiting use to objectives where less than mass morbidity is intended. Contrary to popular perception, dilution factors and modern food supply refinement (to include water purification) significantly limit the efficient use of biological agents by the oral route of exposure (1). Biological threat agents are most likely to be effectively delivered covertly and by aerosol in a biological warfare or terrorism scenario. Estimations of potential exposure levels have been derived to assist medical planners, logisticians, and field officers in predicting biological warfare contingency requirements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxinology and Aerobiology Division, Frederick, MD

    Ross D. LeClaire DVM, PhD (Chief)

  2. US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Camp Zama, Japan

    Ross D. LeClaire DVM, PhD (Chief)

  3. Department of Aerobiology and Product Evaluation, Toxinology and Aerobiology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD

    M. Louise M. Pitt PhD

Authors
  1. Ross D. LeClaire DVM, PhD
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  2. M. Louise M. Pitt PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, Fort Detrick, MD

    Luther E. Lindler PhD  & George W. Korch PhD (Deputy Director) &  (Deputy Director)

  2. Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD

    Luther E. Lindler PhD

  3. Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD

    Frank J. Lebeda PhD

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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LeClaire, R.D., Pitt, M.L.M. (2005). Biological Weapons Defense. In: Lindler, L.E., Lebeda, F.J., Korch, G.W. (eds) Biological Weapons Defense. Infectious Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-764-5:041

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-764-5:041

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-184-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-764-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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