Deck 2: Threats From Biological, Chemical, Nuclear, and Radiological Weapons

Question 1

The target of which of the following is typically the civilian population or resources that might affect the civilian economy?

A) Bioterrorism
B) Agroterrorism
C) Biological warfare
D) Biological combustion

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The fact that the total disruption caused by the "Amerithrax" attack was due to the equivalent of about a sugar packet amount of anthrax demonstrates how disruptive biological weapons can be.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Is a toxin a chemical weapon?

Answer 3

Yes, but it can also be considered a biological weapon.

Question 4

What is chemical warfare?

Question 5

Name three historical uses of chemical weapons.

Question 6

What was the largest chemical accident?

Question 7

When did the U.S. offensive biological weapons program begin?

Question 8

When did the U.S. offensive biological weapons program end?

Question 9

Name three historical examples of biological weapons use.

Question 10

Name a traditional, or Category A, biological agent.

Question 11

What type of weapons are most directly linked to the public health and medical communities through detection, response, and recovery?

A) Chemical weapons
B) Biological weapons
C) Radiological weapons
D) Nuclear weapons

Question 12

What type of chemical weapon primarily causes seizures and respiratory and cardiac failure in high doses? Hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen cyanide are examples.

A) Blood agents
B) Nerve agents
C) Choking agents
D) Blister agents

Question 13

Which of the following are nonliving poisons produced by living entities such as plants, fungi, insects, and animals?

A) Prions
B) Toxins
C) Carcinogens
D) Teratogens

Question 14

If what type of weapon was released, there would be no need for a public health response because the chances of survival would be minimal?

A) Chemical weapons
B) Biological weapons
C) Radiological weapons
D) Nuclear weapons

Question 15

The most serious radiation accidents have been associated with which of the following?

A) Medical procedures
B) Dirty bomb explosions
C) Nuclear power plants
D) Intentional poisonings

Question 16

For the purposes of arms control and legal international obligations, countries do not always agree on how toxins should be categorized.

Question 17

Biological weapons are unique from other weapons of mass destruction in that the agents themselves are relatively available, as many occur naturally and may be endemic in some parts of the world.

Question 18

Agroterrorism refers to the knowing or malicious use of radioactive agents to affect the agricultural industry or food supply.

Question 19

As with chemical and radiological threats, there is a long history of intentional use of biological agents.

Question 20

The United States does not consider defoliants to be chemical weapons; therefore, it does not consider the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War to be chemical warfare.

Question 21

What category of chemical agents also include fourth-generation chemical weapons, known as novichok agents, which are thought to be much more lethal than VX?

A) Blood agents
B) Nerve agents
C) Blister agents
D) Choking agents

Question 22

What type of chemical agent produces a temporary, usually nonfatal irritation of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract (not considered to be chemical weapons by the U.S. government)?

A) Blood agents
B) Choking agents
C) Nerve agents
D) Riot control agents

Question 23

What type of weapon, if released, would instantly destroy people, buildings, and anything else in the vicinity?

A) Chemical weapons
B) Biological weapons
C) Radiological weapons
D) Nuclear weapons

Question 24

Which of the following refers to the military use of a biological agent to cause death or harm to humans, animals, or plants?

A) Bioterrorism
B) Agroterrorism
C) Biological warfare
D) Biological combustion

Question 25

What type of biological agent has been altered to circumvent medical countermeasures (includes agents that are resistant to antibiotics)?

A) Traditional agents
B) Enhanced agents
C) Emerging agents
D) Advanced agents

Question 26

A nuclear weapon that involves fission (the splitting of atoms) requires an increased role for the public health community.

Question 27

Even a small dose of radiation can lead to acute radiation syndrome (ARS).

Question 28

Unlike biological warfare, the target of bioterrorism is typically governments, armed forces, or resources that might affect the ability of a nation to attack or defend itself.

Question 29

Intentional attacks of biological weapons may be very difficult to detect and differentiate from a naturally occurring event, thus allowing for plausible deniability on the part of the offender.

Question 30

The public health response to chemical events will range depending on the event itself, its origin, and the location.