Scope

This Research Guide focuses on chemical and biological weapons in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Issues include: bioterrorism and security; weapons inspection; use of these weapons during war; treaties and disarmament; and emergency preparation and response.

Overview

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History
College Library Reference Collection: U 793 W427 2005

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

(anthrax or smallpox) and terrorism
bioterrorism and preparedness
biological weapons and Iraq
chemical weapons and Persian Gulf War
chemical weapons and Vietnam War
biological weapons and inspection
chemical weapons and arms control
"Chemical Weapons Convention"
"Biological Weapons Convention"

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Biological and Agricultural Index 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains citations to articles, book reviews, symposia, conference papers, and selected letters to the editor in more than 266 English-language periodicals on biology and agriculture. Basic instructions for Biological and Agricultural Index

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

General Science Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 150 popular and scholarly periodicals, as well as the Science section of the New York Times. Subjects include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environment, nutrition, genetics, medicine and health. Basic instructions for General Science Full Text

Global NewsBank 1996 - to date (updated monthly)
Global NewsBank covers issues and events in Africa, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Pacific Rim, Central and South America and the Middle East. It is ideal for researching a wide variety of international developments related to politics, economics, science and business. The full-text news articles are from more than 1,500 international sources. Basic instructions for Global NewsBank

Health and Wellness Resource Center 1994 - to date (updated daily)
Provides health information for nursing and allied health students, as well as consumer health research. It offers full text for more than 150 periodicals, six reference books, and over 500 pamphlets.

ProQuest Newspapers Dates Vary (updated weekly)
Indexes articles from 41 national and Wisconsin newspapers; includes full text for most. The truncation symbol is a question mark (?). Basic instructions for ProQuest Newspapers

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on chemical and biological weapons can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

bioterrorism and prevention
(anthrax or smallpox) and terrorism
"biological warfare" and "United States"
"chemical weapons" and "weapons of mass destruction"
"Persian Gulf Syndrome"

Internet Sites

U.S. Chemical Weapons Convention Site
http://www.cwc.gov/
The 1993 CWC is an international agreement to prohibit the "development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons." This site is designed for chemical manufacturers, but contains useful information on treaties, legislation, documents, reports and activities related to the Convention.

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Site
http://www.opbw.org/
The 1972 BTWC is an international agreement to ban the "development, production, stockpiling, acquisition and retention of microbial or other biological agents or toxins" for the making of weapons. This site contains documents and reports related to the Convention, links, and information on related conventions on security, health and the environment.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Emergency Preparedness & Response
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
This site contains facts about specific chemical and biological agents, as well as information for civilians and professionals on health and vaccines, safety and emergency response. Includes links, articles, and reports.

U.S. Department of State - Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
http://www.state.gov/t/isn/
This site contains information about the nonproliferation strategies and actions of the United States government. Includes documents, legislation and press releases.

Statistics

Statistical Universe 1973 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains the full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications. Lexis-Nexis Statistical Universe is available to UW-Madison registered users.

Videos

Bioterror
College Library Main Collection: HV 6431 B568 2003

XXI Century: Part 6, Blood and Oil
College Library Main Collection: E 902 A1256 2003

Organizations

Center for Nonproliferation Studies
http://cns.miis.edu/index.htm
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 647-4154