James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction with training & analysis

Return to the CBW Resource homepage.

Characteristics, Mitigation Strategies, and Demilitarization of Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapon Agents: A Compilation of Select Resources

Updated: January 17, 2008

Comprehensive Information Sources

• Chemical and Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization Programs
  Official website of the Office of the Special Assistant, Chemical and Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization Programs.

• The Biological and Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation and Response Program
  The Henry L. Stimson Center.
  This website is the homepage of the Stimson Center's research program on chemical and biological weapons. Research and news links are available.

Chemical and Biological Agent Preparedness

• Emergency Preparedness & Response
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  This website is intended to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Information is available in eleven non-English languages. Links are available for in-depth coverage of Bioterrorism Emergencies and Chemical Emergencies.

• National Security Emergencies: What To Do If There Is A Chemical And Biological Attack
  U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  This website is a chemical and biological agent resource for children.

Chemical Agents

• What is a Chemical Weapon?
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

• Chemical Agents
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Chemical Weapons: Documents, News, and Analysis
  Arms Control Association.
  This website offers key documents in PDF, as well as an archive of topical Arms Control Today articles on chemical weapons issues.

• U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency
  The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency works to store, treat, and dispose of U.S. chemical weapons. This website provides weekly updates and occasional news from U.S. chemical agent disposal facilities.

• FAQs About Nerve Agents
  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

• Nerve Agents
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website offers information on the properties, mechanism of action, symptoms of exposure, antidotes and treatments, toxicity, and binary technology related to cholinesterase-inhibiting lethal organophosphates.

• Facts about Cyanide
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Hydrogen Cyanide
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website provides a brief overview of hydrogen cyanide as a poisoning agent.

• Mustard Agents
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website provides information on the properties, mechanism of action, symptoms of exposure, antidotes and treatments, and injury types associated with sulfur and nitrogen mustard agents.

• Arsines
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website briefly discusses arsenic-containing substances as potential chemical weapons agents, particularly lewisite.

• Psychotomimetic Chemical Weapons
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website provides an overview of chemical weapons acting on the mind.

Biological Agents

• Bioterrorism Agents/ Diseases
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Biological Weapons: Documents, News, and Analysis
  Arms Control Association.
  This website offers key documents in PDF, as well as an archive of topical Arms Control Today articles on biological weapons issues.

• Epidemiology of Bioterrorism
  Julie A. Pavlin, Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 5, No. 4 (July-Aug. 1999).

• Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency
  The Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency works to enhance military medical readiness and protect human health, by synchronizing information, delivering education, enhancing scientific understanding, promoting quality, and coordinating military immunization programs worldwide. The MILVAX Agency supports all five Armed Services, from its offices with the Army Surgeon General's Office. This website offers numerous educational resources about vaccines and diseases, many of which are considered to be potential biological weapons agents.

• Smallpox Vaccine Overview
  Fact Sheet, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Smallpox Vaccination Program
  Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency.
  This website provides information on the smallpox disease, threat, and vaccine. It includes an extensive anthrax resource center, as well as reporting on safety and adverse effects of the vaccine.

• Smallpox: An Attack Scenario
  Tara O'Toole, Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 5, No. 4 (July-Aug. 1999).

• Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program
  Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency.
  This website provides information on the anthrax disease, threat, and vaccine. It includes an extensive anthrax resource center, as well as reporting on safety and adverse effects of the vaccine.

• Anthrax: A Possible Case History
  Thomas V. Inglesby, Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 5, No. 4 (July-Aug. 1999).

• Anthrax as a Weapon of Terrorism and Difficulties Presented in Response to its Use
  Defence Journal, December 1998.

• Interview with Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov (Ken Alibek)
  "Plague War" on PBS's Frontline, aired October 13, 1998.

Toxin Agents

• What is a toxin?
  Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary.

• Toxins
  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  This website provides details on bacterial toxins, plant toxins, and bioregulators.

• Defense Against Toxin Weapons
  David R. Franz, DVM, PhD, Colonel, Veterinary Corps, U.S. Army; U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command; first printing 1994, revised 1997.
  The manual accessible at this link provides basic information on toxins to military leaders and healthcare professionals at all levels.

• Facts About Ricin
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Botulism
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  This website provides overviews, information for health professionals, and laboratory, surveillance, and investigation resources on botulism, the disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.