Ways People Have and are Adressing the Issue of Chemical and Biological Weapons

Much concern has been raised about the disposal of stockpiled chemical and biological weapons. From the beginning of World War I, stockpiles of weapons that had never seen use have piled up. Many of these weapons were stockpiled during and after World War I, World War II and Vietnam War. The reasons for stockpiling weapons was the idea held by the American government and other nations that in the event of an attack with chemical or biological weapons, the attacked government could strike back with equal or greater force. While this idea has been seen in other areas, such as nuclear stockpiles, it still raises the question of how to dispose of outdated technology.

Like I had mentioned in previous post that during World War II Germany had amassed seventy-eight thousand tons of chemical agents. Of these, eleven thousand tons were disposed of by dumping into the Baltic sea, resulting in the poisoning of the water, sea floor and making many species at risk and inedible for human consumption. The dangers are escalating as more and more of these weapons are corroding at the bottom of the sea causing larger amounts of the chemicals to leak out. Over seven hundred of the weapons have been brought to the surface by fishermen’s nets causing weapons to leak onto the fisherman, resulting in chemical injury.

Questions have been raised of how to dispose of the weapons that remain on the sea floor. This is still an ongoing debate within European nations involved. Most of the other weapons were released into the air during routine dismantlement of rockets, bombs and artillery. Others were dumped into pits in the ground followed by a covering of bleach powder decontamination. Still other portions of chemical weapons seized during the war were taken by Allied forces and added to their own stockpiles. Other areas though, where biological weapons had been tested remained an issue. The testing of anthrax weapons on the Gruinard Island by the British during World War II had resulted in the contamination of the island for decades. The island was finally decontaminated by the British government in 1986 after much protest.

During the late sixties growing discontent about the use, stockpiling and testing of chemical and biological weapons resulted in the dismantling of American chemical weapons. These weapons were encased in concrete that were loaded into boats, after which were then sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor. These chemicals weapons consisted of mustard agents, sarin and anti-plant agents. After the disposal, many questions were raised about the safety of this process. This resulted in the prohibition of chemical weapons sea dumping. To this day the debate continues as more and more research is done in the contaminated areas.

 In 1972 the United States dismantled its biological weapons program and signed the treaty to end the stockpiling, creation and production of biological and toxic weapons. This was followed in 1975 by the signing of the treaty of the 1925 Geneva protocol prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. Lastly in 1997 the United States signed the chemical weapons convention treaty. This has resulted in the destruction of seventy percent of the known stockpiles of chemical weapons as of 2011.

Many countries continue to produce chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. This has resulted in many UN conferences and inspections of such countries. While the methods of the American military and other nations are brought into question because of the use of force to stop terrorist or factions, it is one of the few options available.