Radiological weapons

A reference to the possibility of “radioactive material weapons” can be found in a United Nations document adopted as early as in 1948,' but radiological weapons — as they have been called in recent years — are not known to have been developed as yet. These weapons, if they were produced, would be intended to disperse radioactive substances in the target area in order to cause injury to humans independently of nuclear explosions. With regard to that possibility, the international community has perceived a chance to ban a weapon of mass destruction before its actual construction.

Related Subject(s): Disarmament