Gruinard Island Biological Warfare Testing

The UK received information in the 1930's, and several countries participated in activities related to biological warfare. Continuing information concluded that these countries may have acquired this capability. In 1942, the cabinet of war approved outdoor experiments on biological weapons. And the Nazis and possibly the Japanese were afraid they might attack Britain with biological or chemical weapons. The choice of anthrax is because it is one of the most terrible things in the most famous biological weapons.

In 1942, scientists at the Porton Down Military Research Center in the UK started experiments using Bacillus anthracis as biological weapons. In infamous cases, they tested biological weapons with Groniad sheep on a deserted island near Scottish coast. After thorough decontamination work, the government's quarantine of Gruinard did not end until 1990. These experiments create a strange name called Operation Vegetarian aimed at dispersing flaxseed cakes infected with Bacillus anthracis in Germany. Once the plan is carried out, the cow will eat the cake, dead to spread the anthrax to the civilians, and will also take away important food sources from Germany.

Anthrax spores have been used and can be used as biowefighting weapons. The field of actual biological weapons research in this field has a long history. For example, in 1942, the UK biological warfare test heavily polluted Vollum-14578 strain Anthracis spores at Scottish Grunade and it became a restricted area until 1990 when it was refined. Extensive release has many economic implications. Anthrax includes loss of life and compensation directly to the family. In addition, health care, property damage, decontamination, evacuation and returning home. After the attack in 2001, cleaning costs for postal facilities and offices took about 130 million dollars, 26 months.

Unlike chemical weapons that disperse with decontamination time, biological substances can grow and proliferate over time. Anthrax can maintain activity in soil for at least 40 years and is very resistant to eradication. (Source: Biological warfare: historical perspective) However, Gruinard Island contaminated with British anthrax has been purified - it can be decontaminated with chemicals, heat or ultraviolet light. The use of biological weapons and chemical weapons has been condemned by the International Declaration and the Convention, in particular the Hague Convention of 1907 (4) on the laws and customs of land war, in particular. Efforts to strengthen this ban resulted in the conclusion of the "Geneva Protocol" in 1925. It prohibits the use of asphyxic, toxic or other gases, often called chemical weapons, and the use of warfare methods of bacteria.