Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Bioterrorism:
The use of biological agents in a terrorist operation. Biological toxins
would include anthrax, ricin, botulism, the plague, smallpox, and tularemia.
Bioterrorism Act:
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and
Response Act of 2002.
Biowarfare:
The use of biological agents to cause harm to targeted people either
directly, by bringing the people into contact with the agents, or indirectly,
by infecting other animals and plants which would in turn cause harm to
the people.
Blister agents:
Agents that cause pain and incapacitation instead of death and might
be used to injure many people at once, thereby overloading medical facili-
ties and causing fear in the population. Mustard gas is the best known blis-
ter agent.
Blood agents:
Agents based on cyanide compounds; more likely to be used for
assassination than for terrorism.
Botulism:
An illness caused by the botulinum toxin, which is exceedingly lethal and
quite simple to produce. It takes just a small amount of the toxin to destroy
the central nervous system. Botulism may be contracted by the ingestion
of contaminated food or through breaks or cuts in the skin. Food supply
contamination or aerosol dissemination of the botulinum toxin are the two
ways most likely to be used by terrorists.
Bush Doctrine:
The policy that holds responsible nations that harbor or support
terrorist organizations and says that such countries are considered hos-
tile to the United States. From President Bush's speech: “A country that
harbors terrorists will either deliver the terrorist or share in their fate. …
People have to choose sides. They are either with the terrorists, or they're
with us.”
BWC:
Officially known as the Convention on the Prohibition of Development,
Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin
Weapons and Destruction, the BWC works toward general and complete
disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of
weapons of mass destruction.
Camp X-Ray:
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which houses al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners.
Carrier:
A person or animal that is potentially a source of infection by carrying on
infectious agent without visible symptoms of the disease.
Cascading event:
The occurrence of one event that causes another event.
Causative agent:
The pathogen, chemical, or other substance that is the cause of
disease or death in an individual.
Cell:
The smallest unit within a guerrilla or terrorist group. A cell generally consists
of two to five people dedicated to a terrorist cause. The formation of cells
is born of the concept that an apparent “leaderless resistance” makes it dif-
ficult for counterterrorists to penetrate.
Chain of custody:
Tracking and documenting the physical control of evidence.
Chemical agent:
A toxic substance intended to be used for operations to debilitate,
immobilize, or kill military or civilian personnel.
Chemical ammunition:
A munition, commonly a missile, bomb, rocket, or artillery
shell, designed to deliver chemical agents.
