Biological

• Natural odourless occurrence

• Obtained synthetically with characteristic odour

• Invisible particles normally dispersed through aerosol spray

• Normally volatile in nature and dispersed either through mists or aerosol sprays

• Entry through inhalation or ingestion

• Entry through inhalation or dermal absorption

• Pre-exposure treatment confers or enhances immunity through use of toxoids, vaccines, antibacterial protective clothing, biosensors and smoke-detectors

• Pre-exposure treatment relies on use of gas masks, antichemical protective clothing and use of chemosensors for toxic substances

• Post-exposure treatment relies on antibiotics or in combination with vaccines

• Post-exposure treatment relies on use of antidotes and neutralising agents

• Effects of biological agents and toxins are diverse resulting in incapacitation or death occurring after contraction of disease resulting from infection by a specific biological agent e.g. anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis and plague caused by Yersinia pestis

• Effects of chemical agents are either instantaneous or delayed for a few hours, with the onset of symptoms such as allergy, respiratory discomfort, intense irritation of mucous membranes, malfunctioning of physiological processes, resulting in dose-dependent death or incapacitation

• Can be weaponized into artillery rounds, cluster bombs, and missile warheads

• Long history of use as poison bombs, in artillery rounds, and in missile warheads

• Production methods are simple and cheap relying on non-sophisticated technology and easily obtainable knowledge in biology, genetics engineering, medicine and agriculture

• Simple and complex production methods needing appropriate corresponding equipment and technology for simple and sophisticated chemical synthesis, purification and development of lethal doses

• Not easily detected in export control and searches by routine detection systems, e.g. X-rays

• Detection facilitated through odour escape, and packaging in inert metallic containers showing up on X-ray screens