Since the first edition of this handbook, written in 1999, the awareness of threat scenarios—and the technical knowledge and capabilities from toxicological and medical treatment perspective—have only advanced and, largely, improved. The Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents, Third Edition, Two Volume Set is structured to provide rapid access to key data needed by response professionals and decision-makers on a broad range of agents and pathogens that have been developed by the military, used or threatened to be used by terrorists, or industrial materials determined to be of significant concern.

The body of information in this new edition exceeds a size that can comfortably be handled in a single volume. As such, Volume 1 contains those classes of military chemical agents that were developed for their lethal effects as, well as toxic industrial materials that are considered a potential threat for use as improvised agents. Volume 2 contains chemicals that were developed for their potential as non-lethal agents, as well as all classes of biological and mid-spectrum agents. Chapters are formatted to offer rapid access to key information required by early in a response, without overwhelming them with inessential details.

The information presented for every class detailed in this edition has been updated and expanded, containing more information on health effects and on the chemical, physical and biological properties of individual agents. There has been a significant increase in the number of individual agents described, as well as in the number of components, precursors, and decomposition products detailed. This edition also contains chapters on bioregulators and non-vector entomological agents, two new classes of agents not previously addressed

The information provided is a compilation gathered from numerous sources and arranged into the current, easy-to-access format. In order to ensure accuracy, all data has been cross-checked over the widest variety of military, scientific, and medical sources available. The Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents, Third Edition remains the gold-standard reference detailing the widest variety of military, scientific, and medical sources available