The international community has pledged to curtail development and use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) in several agreements, beginning with the 1925 Geneva Protocol, but several nations are not honoring these pacts. Critics argue that CBW are crueler than traditional warfare methods and that they harm innocent civilians. But some experts say that CBW are less of a threat when compared to nuclear weapons. The authors of the viewpoints in this informative resource examine the use and efficacy of chemical and biological weapons, address who is using them, and suggest ways to prevent their use.

Introduction --Chemical and biological weapons around the world. -- In Syria chemical weapons are in use / Cindy Vestergaard ; -- In the United States bioterrorism is a threat / Jack Spenser and Michael Scardaville ; -- Throughout the world many countries possess or have possessed chemical and biological weapons / Daryl Kimball ; -- Could biological agents gain traction as weapons? / Oliver Meier ; -- In the United States counterterrorism experts expect WDM attacks by Al-Qaeda / Rolf Mowatt-Larssen -- The effects of chemical and biological warfare. In Russia law enforcement's use of chemical agents on innocent civilians is a slippery slope / Michael Crowley and Malcolm Dando ; -- In Rhodesia and Syria chemical and biological weapons have been used against insurgents / Glenn Cross ; -- In Iran and Iraq researchers seek to help chemical warfare victims / Richard Stone ; -- In the United States experts raise concerns about biowarfare / Margaret Steen ; -- In Britain bioloical agents research is recognized as beneficial / Julian Turner ; -- Researchers hope to develop treatments to save lives after poisoning / Janice Chambers -- Why do terrorists use chemical and biological weapons? -- Countries may be circumventing the verification regime of the Biological Weapons Convention / Mike Nartker ; -- The Ebola virus probably won't make an effective weapon, but instilling fear might be enough / Jamie Doward ; -- Chemical and biological terrorism can cause more damage than conventional terrorism / Aimee Amiga and Ruth Schuster ; -- Bioterrorism is difficult to control / Tim Newman ; -- Easy availability of materials increases the threat of chemical and biological warfare / Nuclear Threat Initiative -- The future of chemical and biological warfare. -- In the United States improvements to infrastructure are needed to prevent bioterrorism / Margaret A. Hamburg ; -- Is it possible to control or regulate the weaponization of biology? / Filippa Lentzos ; -- Will Syria continue to use chemical weapons? / Paul B. Stares ; -- In Syria a chemical weapons attack prompts US airstrikes / Mika Hayashi ; -- A watchdog group to monitor bioweapons development is essential / Patrick Tucker -- For further discussion -- Organizations to contact.