Abstract
Many toxins and replicating agents have the potential for malevolent use. Of prime concern is the use of agents or toxins that would affect large populations. Delivery of these agents through food or water is of concern but is restricted by the quantity of agent required, thus limiting use to objectives where less than mass morbidity is intended. Contrary to popular perception, dilution factors and modern food supply refinement (to include water purification) significantly limit the efficient use of biological agents by the oral route of exposure (1). Biological threat agents are most likely to be effectively delivered covertly and by aerosol in a biological warfare or terrorism scenario. Estimations of potential exposure levels have been derived to assist medical planners, logisticians, and field officers in predicting biological warfare contingency requirements.
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LeClaire, R.D., Pitt, M.L.M. (2005). Biological Weapons Defense. In: Lindler, L.E., Lebeda, F.J., Korch, G.W. (eds) Biological Weapons Defense. Infectious Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-764-5:041
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-764-5:041
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