The Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions (CB-FAQ) book is designed to assist those who suddenly need to quickly develop a working knowledge of chem-bio terrorism or who need a quick refresher on various aspects of chem-bio. The 164 page 5 x 6.5 inch pocket-sized book is in a question and answer format and has been written for people who do not have a scientific background in chem-bio.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
For those individuals with a beginning interest in chemical and biological agents, those suddenly thrust into the position of critical incident first responder, or those desiring a refresher course Ben Venzke's Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions (Tempest Publishing) is the perfect solution. The text is split into three different sections, one dealing with biological, one with chemical and a separate appendix answering general questions.
Included in the biological and chemical chapters are sections regarding the specific agents which can be used in an attack, the effects, treatment, production, delivery methods, physical properties, detection, defense, decontamination and disposal of the agents.
The appendix contains definitions for abbreviations and medical terminology frequently used in describing biological and chemical agents and their effects.
Despite the books title, it gives in depth analysis as well as basic information. This publication will thoroughly verse the newcomer to the field and establish their knowledge base. The FAQ format of this book makes it a good accompanying volume to the First Responder Chem-Bio Handbook. -- Crime & Justice International - January 1999
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chemical and biological weapons have been used since antiquity. The first recorded use of chemical weapons occurred more than 2400 years ago in a war between Sparta and Athens. Dating back to the Old Testament, wells were poisoned by dropping putrefying corpses into them. In 15th century Crimea, the Mongols catapulted corpses infected with bubonic plague into Genoese settlements.
It has only been in modern times that these weapons have been rendered sufficiently deadly to become regarded as "weapons of mass destruction" (WMDs) or, in a phrase commonly used, the poor man's atomic bombs. Today, a few pounds of these agents can cause thousand or hundreds of thousands of deaths and crippling poisoning or disease. Recently the capability to produce these weapons has moved from being the sole possession of governments to being within the means of terrorist organizations and even, in some cases, individuals. This migration of technology has raised the threat that the average citizen may be exposed to these weapons to a level unprecedented in history.
This book is intended to help those charged with meeting this threat by helping them to understand it. It is an overview of the essentials of biological and chemical weapons - what they are, what they do, and what (in broad terms) can be done about them. It is expected that different people will use this information in different ways. A reporter may wish to review the information on specific agents to allow an incident to be placed in perspective and described both clearly and correctly, the planner may wish to review the descriptions of the specialized terms - vector, contamination density, and LD50 - that the experts use when talking about these weapons, the trainer may wish to use some of the descriptions to clarify points or help make them memorable, and the First Responder may use it to assess what is happening if faced with these agents and to communicate with experts who may be attempting to assist in the response.
To meet the needs of this diverse group of users, we have organized this book into two major sections covering, respectively, biological and chemical weapons. Each major section is further divided into subsections in which topics related to a single theme are grouped. Finally, discussions of major points related to a theme are offered as responses to frequently asked questions - hence, the title of this book - Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions.
The answer to each question is written so that it can stand alone without referring to other parts of the book (although related sections may be referenced). Thus, it is possible to simply look for the question related to what you want to know, read the answer, and move on. However, it is expected that this book will be used for education prior to an incident rather than as a reference during an incident (although some of the tables in the appendix may be useful for incident management). For such use, the authors suggest that the best results will be obtained by reading the general material in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 first, and then reading the other subsections in an order determined by the needs and interests of the individual.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The basics, clearly and concisely presented,
By A Customer
This review is from: Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions (CB-FAQ) (Paperback)
This book contains all the basic background information needed to bring someone up to speed on the essential principles of CBW written in a reader-friendly question-and-answer format. Each section moves from the general to the specific, and technical issues are explained in ways that make them understandable to those without Ph.D.'s in chemistry or medicine. Among the good stuff:* The tables of potential agents derived from toxins and microorganisms and their properties (and the little table of proper singular and plural forms of the names that gave the impression that the author had seen it wrong just once too often). * A section on the so-called Novichok agents that gives a very concise overview of what is known about these agents (at least to those without a security clearance). * The footnote to the table of "How many drops does it take to kill a man?" which puts this information into perspective. A minus - while the acronym table was probably fairly complete when the book was being written, there has been an explosion of new acronyms, and it could stand to be expanded. It would also be useful (in future editions, perhaps) to include a few case studies beyond the obligatory nod to the Tokyo Subway incident. While it appears to be intended as a training companion to Tempest's "First Responder Chem-Bio Handbook," it can also stand alone (and should probably be required reading for reporters, judging from a recent radio report in which anthrax was misidentified as a chemical agent - and don't forget that table of plural forms).
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting & Informative - But Not detailed,
By Heath Gibson (ddhrg@hunterlink.net.au) (Newcastle, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions (CB-FAQ) (Paperback)
I found this pocket-sized book to be an interesting and handy reference for getting an overview of the general area of Chem-Bio, but lacking in detail about specific weapons and delivery methods.This book would make an excellent jargon-buster, and probably serves best as a reference and jargon buster when reading more detailed books and publications. A good introduction to the general issues and a handy jargon-buster, but perhaps a little overpriced given its size and lack of detail.
0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Why pay for this?,
By A Customer
This review is from: Chem-Bio: Frequently Asked Questions (CB-FAQ) (Paperback)
Yes, the information is presented clearly, but why pay for a pocket-sized volume like this when a vast amount of similar content is already available for free on the Internet (with more becoming available almost daily)?
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