In this course we looked into the different kinds of toxins that affect the nervous, cardiovascular and endocrine system (Lu, Kacew, & Lu, 2003). The political, religious and social tension among different countries and communities, poses a constant threat of terrorism and war. Use of biological weapons like bacteria, viruses or toxin in the war is called biological warfare. Staphylococcus toxin and Botulinum toxin are the commonly used toxin in biological warfare. The use of biological warfare is an age old practice. There are several recordings in the history where biological toxins like ergot poison, hellebore, Barbarossa, human feces, leprosy patients’ blood, etc., were used to make the enemies sick. Some of the stories of biological torture and warfare are extremely cruel, disturbing, inhuman and soul denying. Most of these soul grueling warfare happened before World War II. A number of treaties were signed followed world war II, that helped to reduce the use of mass destructive weapons and to limit wars. The 1925 Geneva protocol, prohibits Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and Bacteriological Methods of Warfare.
There has not been any planned, systematic study to evaluate the long term effects of biological agent. Nevertheless, these toxins are destructive and pathogenic. For example, botulinum toxin affects both the central and peripheral nervous system (Lu, Kacew, & Lu, 2003). It can cause short term and long term effects. Initial symptoms of the toxin are blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty in speech, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Progressive muscle weakness is another characteristic symptom of botulinum intoxication. If untreated patients, compete paralysis occurs and the patient usually dies from respiratory failure. It is comparatively easy to use botulinum toxin in biological warfare, as it can be readily be obtained from soil bacteria, and transported in a stable form. The spores of the bacteria can be distributed through the air. It causes long term sickness in man and animals.
References
Lu, F., Kacew, S., & Lu, F. (2003). Lu's basic toxicology. London: Taylor & Francis.
