Ryzyko zagrożeń chemicznych, biologicznych i radiologicznych

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have been the most powerful and the most dangerous set of weapons for many years. Since their beginnings, the main aim to use them was to be the massive extermination of enemy soldiers on the battlefield, or, in case of nuclear weapon, solving „the problem” due to a massive attack on selected towns or other objects. However, the collapse of bipolar political and military arrangement of the world has led to postponing the ideas to use WMD and to resolve conflicts in a more peaceful way. Nevertheless, a new opponent has entered the international arena, namely various terrorist groups aiming at changing the existing world order. It has also appeared that they have not neglected the WMD huge destructive potential. The article is an attempt to present the idea and level of threat risk generated by chemical, biological and radioactive agents. In order to facilitate understanding, all WMD components and how they can be currently used are discussed. Moreover, their real destructive power and possibilities of practical use in combat and terrorist operations are described. The identification of the mentioned above threats is presented in three periods of the state functioning, i.e. war, crisis and peace. Additionally, probable external conditions that influence their perception and evaluation are defined.