Ref 1, 4, 6
Botulin
Botulin toxin is a neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This means it affects the nerve cells. For example interfering with the impulse at the synapses and causing paralysis. It is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances in the world, and it is the most toxic protein. Though it is highly toxic, it is used medically and in small doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment in some parts of the world. It is sold commercially under the brand names Botox, Dysport, and Myobloc for this purpose. Botulin is found in three main forms, foodbourne, airbourne, and waterbourne. No one knows a lot about Botulins’ effect on humans as a weapon other then its foodbourne status as it has not been effectively used to any great effect of humans, though extensive research has been carried out on animals. The only known example of human inhalational Botulin occurred when three German laboratory scientists were accidentally exposed during an animal experiment. Other known trials of Botulin occurred in the early 1990’s by a Japanese cult called Aum Shinrikyo which attempted to spread it as an aerosol 3 times; and in the years foremost to the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq had a Biological Weapons programme that produced significant amounts of Botulin.
Botulin has been feared as a weapon because it can take a dangerous form in both water and air. Drinking water can be contaminated with Botulin, potentially wiping out a whole army or city, however this is easily countered by chlorine and most public water is treated with chlorine anyway. Botulin is not contagious through physical contact. Once contracted Botluin travels to the nerve synapses which is the gap between two neurons, it latches onto the Neurotransmitters stopping them from diffusing across the synapse as a result the nerve impulse is stopped, and the message does not reach the control centre (Brain or Spinal Chord). Symptoms often occur about 6-8 hours after contraction, slurred speech, blurred and double vision, dry mouth as well as breathing and swallowing difficulties. The body is slowed down symmetrically and down as Botulin multiply by mitosis, muscle reflex stops and paralysis occurs. This is fatal because it causes the stomach, diaphragm (and other breathing requirements), and the “controls” to homeostasis to becomes useless as the hypothalamus not stimulated. The main treatment for Botulin is antibodies, these latch to the Botulin and render the cells useless, however the cells can still reproduce and mutate. An additional Antibiotic can be taken to kill the bacterium. Botulin is cheap to produce which makes it an effective weapon and a major threat to our own country.
The Synapse
Smallpox
Smallpox does not exist organically. This means that it can only be found in the Lab, it has theoretically been wiped off the face of the earth by vaccinations, treatments and isolation.
The Smallpox virus can infect humans by ingestion, inhalation and injection. Once released Smallpox can be harboured in humans, clothes and blankets. Without a host Smallpox cannot survive for more then a week. When inhaled Smallpox “bides its time” in the mucus in the lungs. 3-4 days after initial infection the Smallpox virus invades bone marrow where it reproduces, 5-6 days after initial infection Smallpox enters the blood stream. This triggers the first symptoms of Smallpox. Blood vessels near the skin swell and sometimes burst, small red
Smallpox victim
lesions form on the inside of the mouth, tongue and throat, these then become pus filled blisters and pimples. The victim is now highly contagious. Influenza like symptoms then occur, such as headaches fever and fatigue at this stage the pimples and blisters spread to the arms, legs and torso. Over the next few weeks the virus will continue to multiply and damage the body. If the victim survives to the last pimples and rashes have scabbed over to heal and fall off they are then “un contagious.” Permanent effects will be, scarring, blindness, arthritis and internal bleeding. The mortality rate of small pox is over 95%. Treatment for Smallpox is scarce; many vaccines have unacceptable side effects. Ref 1, 4
Fluids are administered to patients to make them more comfortable, and help them through to the last stage of Smallpox. Euthanasia is a common wish among Smallpox’s victims. Some health experts think that Smallpox was responsible for more human deaths then all other diseases put together. The Soviet Union, 1980-mid 1990’s, created a strand of Smallpox variola that caused death within 4 days as opposed to the usual 15. Smallpox is no longer organic; it must be obtained from a Lab or produced in a complicated procedure with an incubated chicken egg, by circulating different cells to get a correct mutation. However, Small Pox is also relatively cheap to produce. As a result it is always kept at Level 4 (the highest) Lab security in the US and UK.
Ref 1, 4, 6
Where Does Research Continue In The UK?
The British MoD have there own research centre for Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, and Radiological (CBNR) warfare.
This research centre is called Porton Down and is situated north of Porton near Salisbury Plain. When the organisation was first set up there were only a few cottages on the Down at Porton, there is now a vast military camp. Over 1000 ranks and officials pass through the guarded gates every few days. The essential idea behind Porton is that it practises research into Chemical Biological Nuclear Radiological warfare. The Laboratories are some of the few of which contain inorganic diseases (Such as Smallpox), this means that Britain has the means to manufacture and use Biological weapons, hence one of the issues connected to research into Biological warfare. Porton Down has been in the papers recently, headlining actually. In 2007 a supposed broken drainage pipe unleashed a wave of foot and mouth onto our cattle. The Government was very quick to hush the whole thing up. When the press asked for passage into Porton and information about what was actually going on inside the barbed wire and patrolled checkpoints they got an ACCESS DENIED stamp return. This can only add to the curiosity of the public and other countries. So are we manufacturing Biological Weapons in secret? And are we abusing power by using them as a deterrent? Or perhaps making the pathogens available to anyone? One thing can be said for certain, since 2007 the security at Porton down has increased considerably.
For example, you decide you want to go and get a firsthand look at Anthrax, ok, no problems. You flash your security pass (If you can get one) at the gate, full body check, enter a room and strip down, sterilised, pull on a full pressurised sterile suit, another ID check, past armed guards, down a full surveillance corridor, through two airlocks, tap in the security code to the magnetically sealed full pressurised safe, to finally pull out a jar that looks like it holds nothing. Now try getting out without employees thinking you haven’t got a case of the bacterium up your sleeve, sound easy? I don’t even need to mention the paperwork you have to have filled out to get anywhere near the labs. To be granted access to the labs you must be the registered scientist on the current project or have VERY significant standing the armed forces or the MoD. This tight security is put in place to counter any abuse of the facilities and the pathogens themselves.
Another issue related to Porton Down and subsequently Biological Warfare is its use of Human and Animal testing. Animal testing is common among all drug companies and so it’s the same for a CBNR Lab. In my research I have stumbled across a website of testifying “victims” of Porton Down. The subjects are mostly EX forces or workers/residents of Porton Down. Most of them seemed to have no idea of what was actually going to happen to them, they are only told very limited information. I have enclosed this document at the back.
Ref 2, 6, 3
What Do We Gain From This Research?
Defence capability gained from research is vast. Currently we are fighting wars in which both Chemical and Biological warfare are players. Researching the weapons has lead to advances in how to counter and cure the diseases. Those most affected by Bio Weapons are our troops. Research into Biological Warfare has provided information to design systems like gas masks, and reconnaissance vehicles which give the troops the ability to continue their job and survive in uninhabited or hostile conditions. Another fruit of the research is a Biological weapons detection system, installed on tanks, at outposts and at ports around Britain. These detections systems can detect both infected personnel and the diseases themselves. They have the potential to save thousands of civilian lives. With these systems we have the ability to protect our country’s people, and achievements.
Ref 5
Enhanced attack capability gained from research is always going to be a concern with people who are against this type of research. However it is true that from learning about these weapons and the use of warfare we could in turn use them for our own good. Having the capability can act as a deterrent, like Nuclear Weapons do, but would we ever use Biological Weapons? This is where our morals kick in and we say strongly that we wouldn’t. “With great power comes great responsibility.” (Spiderman) It is no lie that from the research our attack capability as a country has increased. Issues connected to this are; will we always do the right thing? Will it cause/pressure other countries to research into Biological Warfare Research and subsequently cause them to abuse it. Do the Pro’s outweigh the Con’s and is research into Biological warfare necessary to survive in this modern world. I have summarised the Pro’s and Cons in a table.
The Pro’s And Cons Of Continuing Biological Weapons Research.
My Conclusions
It is very clear that Bio Weapons are extremely dangerous weapons of mass destruction. They are easy for other countries to manufacture, especially third world countries. This means they can easily get into the hands of, or are made by Terrorists. All that is needed is a shed to start growing potential weapons of mass destruction. Primarily a Government is there to protect and serve its people, the Government of this country has a duty to prepare and protect its army and its people to these threats. In continuing Biological Weapons research it can give benefits into medicines, lots of other diseases and give other scientific benefits, there is lots of potential. This research also gives the Government a Biological Weapon capability, which can act as a deterrent. However should we continue this research? Would our government abuse this power, like other governments and powerful tyrants in the past have done. For example Saddam Hussein used nerve Gas on the Iranians during the Iran and Iraq war and on his own people and US and British troops during the more recent Iraq war. So the danger of these biological weapons being used upon members of our commonwealth is a real threat. This evidence suggests we should keep research into biological weapons. However, there are yet more arguments against. For example what would happen if our research specimen escaped into the country or cities by accident, this, in fact, did happen when the foot and mouth virus accidently escaped into the Surrey countryside. Porton Down was put under a lot of criticism from the press. (Example sourced from The Guardian). There is a problem with all the sources I have used to gain information about Biological Warfare. Largely the Biological Warfare information is kept secret. This immediately creates limitations with all the references I have written from as their information may be assumed or conjured up entirely and I have no way of telling. I did however exercise my British right of information and wrote to the Ministry of Information to gain some strong reliable evidence. Using all of this information I believe that we should continue research into Biological Warfare as it protects our people and our economy from a very modern and very real threat. The “by product” of this research is to have the capability to create our own Biological weapons, but I consider it extremely unlikely that we would ever manufacture such weapons ourselves.
US troops during Operation Desert Shield, Iraq
Bibliography:
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FAS- Federation of American Scientists: contains fact sheets and other scientific information. Reliability: Unbiased information. However tends to make America out to be superior to other countries. This may affect the results but not the facts. There are many different authors; this means the reliability of the information can vary. http://www.fas.org
- MoD Document and written information is written facts about Porton Down by an EX British Army officer. His information is correct and matches other sources, it is reliable. It is not from a biased or unbiased point of view. It is very monotonic and just states facts and figures.
- The Times Article, Porton Down – The Terrible Secret: Very biased, not actually fully against the research but against being used as tool for research. Describes what people don’t like about Bio Weapons and the effects. This is useful as it fully explains a downside to research into Biological Warfare. But it is only a handful of people.
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BUPA is a healthcare service based in 3 countries with over 7 million customers. There information matches FAS. However they are trying to sell themselves to the public, this means that they will alter figures so make themselves seem better. It is biased information. However the facts about diseases and medications are correct. www.bupa.co.uk
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British Army website is a reliable source. However the webpage tends to make Britain out to be superior to other countries. This may affect the results but not the facts. Therefore I can conclude reliable facts from this site. http://www.army.mod.uk
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Wikipedia’s reliability is very variable. It has a reliability vote which readers can vouch for information being corrects. I have tried to make sure I have only used high reliability pages. http://en.wikipedia.org
