Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
were released from air, from ships, and from shore. The following agents
were tested:
Francisella tularensis, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Bacil-
lus globii,
staphylococcal enterotoxin Type B,
Puccinia graminis
var.
tritici
(stem rust of wheat), and simulants. Agents and simulants were usually
discharged in aerosol form from disseminators, bomblets, or spray tanks.
Monkeys were used as test subjects. The tests were used to determine the
effectiveness of these agents in various conditions, including the effec-
tiveness of “selected protective devices in preventing penetration of a na-
val ship by a biological aerosol,” the impact of “meteorological conditions
on weapon system performance over the open sea,” the penetrability of
jungle vegetation by biological agents, “the penetration of an arctic inver-
sion by a biological aerosol cloud,” “the feasibility of an offshore release
of
Aedes aegypti
mosquito as a vector for infectious diseases,” “the feasibil-
ity of a biological attack against an island complex,” and the decay rates
of BW agents under certain conditions.
91
Ironically, given the rather cavalier approach to testing simulants in ur-
ban areas, a good deal of sensitivity was shown in the Pacific Ocean oper-
ations. Concern regarding ecological effects and the possible spread of
BW agents via seabirds led to a series of protocols. Safeguards were estab-
lished and requirements set by the Kennedy administration.
92
Land-based dissemination tests continued. In May 1965, SOD covert
agents carried out two localized tests with an anthrax simulant, dried
Ba-
cillus globigii,
disseminated by spray generators in specially built brief-
cases. One test was carried out at the Greyhound bus terminal in Wash-
ington, D.C.; the other at the north terminal of the National Airport. Air
samples taken subsequently revealed that if lethal agents had been used,
the effects would have been deadly.
93
From 7 through 10 June 1966 tests were carried out in the New York
City subway system by SOD agents.
94
Neither the New York Transit Au-
thority nor the New York Police Department was informed.
95
The agent
used was
Bacillus subtilis
var.
niger,
which was disseminated by dropping
germ-filled light bulbs from platforms between cars of the express trains
along the tracks of three lines.
96
The report on the New York tests showed
that the Army was clearly satisfied with the results: “Dropping an agent
device onto the subway roadbed from a rapidly moving train proved an
easy and effective method for the covert contamination of portions of
subway lines...Testresults show that a large portion of the working
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