DEFENDING SUBWAYS AGAINST BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

In the 1960s, the US Army conducted a simulation of a biological weapon attack. At that time and with that simulation, the evidence suggested that almost 3,000,000 New Yorkers would have been exposed to the biohazard being introduced in a subway station and further disseminated through ventilation shafts and station entrances. The authors re-examine the potential of a biological weapon attack and the resulting effects. Subways are very vulnerable and easy targets for any terrorist. Subways provide a dissemination mechanism: they travel at great speeds between stations, propel contaminated air from station to station, ventilate air to the outside through numerous and efficient air shafts and transport contaminated passengers to all parts of the city. To protect against the possible disaster, the authors suggest better detection capabilities, such as a smart particle detector which could measure particle sizes and antomatically destroy those of respirable size. Ventilation shafts could have filters to prevent contaminated air from escaping. Taking into account the potential cost in terms of lost wages, the toll in human lives and the social disruption, the cost to upgrade security on subway lines would seem to be well worth the investment.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: https://www.library.northwestern.edu/find-borrow-request/requests-interlibrary-loan/lending-institutions.html
• Supplemental Notes:
  • TRANSIT POLICING, V. 8, NO. 2 (FALL 1998), P. 7-10.
• Authors:
  • SIEGRIST, DAVID
  • LEJEUNE, PETER
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 7-10
• Serial:
  • TRANSIT POLICING
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Canadian Pacific Railway

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biological and chemical weapons; Biological materials; Rapid transit; Security; Subways; Terrorism; Transit safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Homeland defense
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00894585
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Northwestern University, Evanston
• Files: TLIB
• Created Date: Oct 21 2001 12:00AM