Weapon of mass destruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) are a class of weapons with the potential to cause large-scale death and destruction. The term is often used to cover several weapon types, including nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons.

Definition

The term "weapon of mass destruction" is controversial, with no universally agreed definition. The term is used in international treaties such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, but these documents do not define the term.

Types of WMDs

Nuclear weapons

Nuclear weapons are devices that use nuclear reactions to release large amounts of energy. They are the most destructive weapons currently known.

Biological weapons

Biological weapons use pathogens or toxins to cause disease and death. They can be naturally occurring or artificially created.

Chemical weapons

Chemical weapons use toxic chemicals to cause harm. They can be lethal or non-lethal, and can cause a range of effects from temporary incapacitation to death.

Radiological weapons

Radiological weapons use radioactive material to cause harm. They are often referred to as "dirty bombs".

History

The concept of weapons of mass destruction has been in existence since the invention of gunpowder, but the term itself was first used in reference to aerial bombing in the 1930s. The term was later used to refer to nuclear weapons in the 1940s, and has since been expanded to include other types of weapons.

See also

• Nuclear proliferation
• Biological warfare
• Chemical warfare
• Radiological warfare

Weapon of mass destruction Resources
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