Nuclear, radiological and chemical weapons, radiation and chemical accidents

Abstract

The monograph is intended both for the general public and especially for the needs of students of the study programme entitled Population Protection. It can also be used for the needs of other university students as a supplementary textbook. Where appropriate, it can also be used for educating members of individual basic and other components of the Integrated Rescue System of the Czech Republic. In addition to a technical description relating to the history of the development and use of nuclear, radiological and chemical weapons, and the cases of radiation and chemical accidents, their destructive effects and principles of protection against them, the monograph also includes original case studies. These case studies are concerned with the consequences of nuclear accidents and incidents such as Three Mile Island (USA, 1979), Chernobyl (Ukraine, 1986), Fukushima (Japan, 2011) and also with hitherto known and potential scenarios of the so-called CBRN terrorism. This title will be followed by another monograph dealing with the issues of biological warfare agents and toxins. A considerable number of publications, technical periodicals and other open domestic and foreign information sources were used in developing this monograph, especially in the field of weapons of mass destruction and protection against them. Moreover, the rich professional experience of all authors of the publication was used since they regularly participate in both domestic and foreign conferences, workshops and symposia focusing on CBRN issues. For the sake of completeness, it is possible to add that the published material was developed on the basis of open information sources only. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the most valuable information on the CBRN field is published mainly in intelligence studies and analyses.