Radiation Inactivation of Bioterrorism Agents (NATO science series. Series I, Life and behavioural sciences, 1566-7693 ; v. 365).

L.G. Gazsó, C.C. Ponta

ISBN 10: 158603488X / ISBN 13: 9781586034887

Published by uuuu-uuuu., 2005

About this Item

Hardcover. Versand aus Deutschland / We dispatch from Germany via Air Mail. Einband bestoßen, daher Mängelexemplar gestempelt, sonst sehr guter Zustand. Imperfect copy due to slightly bumped cover, apart from this in very good condition. Stamped. Sprache: Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 45270HB

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Radiation Inactivation of Bioterrorism Agents (NATO science series. Series I, Life and behavioural sciences, 1566-7693 ; v. 365).
• Publisher: uuuu-uuuu.
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 158603488X
• ISBN 13: 9781586034887
• Binding: Hardcover
• Seller catalogs:
  • Varia

About this title

Synopsis

The use of and problems associated with biological weapons have been of concern to NATO and non-NATO military organizations for many years. Until recently, most of the readily available literature addressed the military issues associated with the possible use of biological weapons on the battlefield, the medical effects of the various agents, and what was known about medical prophylaxis and treatments. Information on other needed countermeasures, such as decontamination, or public health issues associated with exposure of civilian populations, were largely overlooked. This perspective changed dramatically after the contamination of the U.S. Mail system with powdered anthrax spores. The contaminated mail was treated with ionizing radiation while the contaminated government buildings were treated with vapor/gas-phase chemicals. Both the decontamination of the mail and establishing a process for prophylactic treatment of the mail, were solved relatively quickly. This was in large part due to the robust radiation biology and technical base derived from the industrial use of ionizing radiation. Contributing to the speed of response was the fact that the attack occurred within the United States and in the "home town" of many of the technical experts and decision makers, allowing official response to be coordinated rapidly.

From the Inside Flap

The use of and problems associated with biological weapons have been of concern to NATO and non-NATO military organizations for many years. Until recently, most of the readily available literature addressed the military issues associated with the possible use of biological weapons on the battlefield, the medical effects of the various agents, and what was known about medical prophylaxis and treatments. Information on other needed countermeasures, such as decontamination, or public health issues associated with exposure of civilian populations, were largely overlooked. This perspective changed dramatically after the contamination of the US Mail system with powdered anthrax spores. Among the significant problems and defensive weaknesses that the anthrax attack revealed was the importance, but lack of established industrial-scale decontamination methods for large volumes of heterogeneous objects or for complex physical environments. Ultimately, these two microbial decontamination problems were solved in very different ways. The contaminated mail was treated with ionizing radiation while the contaminated government buildings were treated with vapor / gas-phase chemicals. Both the decontamination of the mail and establishing a process for prophylactic treatment of the mail, were solved relatively quickly. This was in large part due to the robust radiation biology and technical base derived from the industrial use of ionizing radiation. Contributing to the speed of response was the fact that the attack occurred within the United States and in the 'home town' of many of the technical experts and decision makers, allowing official response to be coordinated rapidly.