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journal Military Physician discussed the prospects for rapid microbiological diagnosis of diseases caused by BW agents. The Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology found that more rapid growth of bacterial cultures resulted within cytochrome C and amino acids were added to the conventional medium. Such growth cut down on identification time but it was by no means an "express method" because traditional methods were required after obtaining the initial isolate. The article reviewed research done with indirect hemagglutination reactions, immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence, and virus sampling procedures by which pathogens were propagated in either young animals or in tissue culture. It was found that there were many problems to be resolved in rapid BW identification and diagnosis, particularly with viral agents. The article cautioned that regardless of the rapid methods envisioned for use in field laboratories, all results should be confirmed by using conventional methods. Further, it was stated that in some instances virulent strains of microorganisms may give negative results when the rapid method is tried; therefore, only conventional methods remain for identification. Polish findings in these areas are the same as those reached in the West at this time.
The infection of food and other crops is a subtle but economically significant form of BW. Reports indicated that the Poles are achieving a good capability in defensive anti-crop BW. Their crop infectivity and susceptibility experiments also could be exploited for offensive purposes if necessary.
Offensive research on toxic chemicals is concerned chiefly with organophosphorus compounds and bacterial toxins. Polish scientists are competent, have performed some excellent work in these fields, and have acquired a very good potential for the development of nerve agents. Research has been conducted with botulinum toxin, one of the most toxic substances known; scientists have isolated a culture from C. botulinum, Type F, that is capable of producing a toxin 10 times more lethal than the parent strain. Antigenic analysis of the toxin showed a serological relationship with botulinum toxins, Types B and E. Poland is not known to have conducted research on new types of equipment or methods for dissemination of CW agents. Flame and smoke warfare research is negligible.
Defensive CW research is directed primarily toward therapeutic agents, with some effort toward protective clothing. Work is underway on the detection of and immunization against botulinum toxins. Research is being conducted on new therapeutic drugs to combat nerve agents and antimetabolite poisoning, as well as studies on the mechanism of action of therapeutics and prophylactics in nerve agent poisoning. The therapeutic use of pyridinium aldoxime methiodide (PAM) for toxic doses of organophosphorus compounds was found to be more effective when used with atropine sulfate. Polish scientists continue to conduct research along these lines in an effort to develop improvements in this method of treating nerve agent casualties.
The Polish Army continues CW research and development work on decontamination vehicles and protective masks. As a result of Polish research, the IRS decontamination vehicle was modified to fit Polish needs. This improved vehicle was first supplied in 1970 to Polish Army chemical troops to replace Soviet decontamination vehicles. Also, Polish Army researchers have developed the new R-20 protective mask with reduced bulk and improved breathing. It is probably that the Polish R-20 protective mask is a copy of the Czechoslovak M-10.
3. Atomic energy (C)
Poland has a modest nuclear energy program commensurate with the technical and industrial capabilities of the country. Efforts in basic and applied research are rather limited but there is an extensive program on the applications of radioactive isotopes. The long-range objective of the program is the development of the economic uses of nuclear energy, particularly for power production. Poland has essentially no capability to develop nuclear weapons, and its nuclear program will be under the safeguards system of the IAEA under the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The nuclear energy program began in 1955 with the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the U.S.S.R. through which the Poles acquired a research reactor and a cyclotron and received assistance in training personnel. Poland also has benefited from its membership in the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research at Dubna in the Soviet Union. It has concluded bilateral agreements for cooperation in the nuclear field with a number of countries and carried out a program for reactor research with Norway and Yugoslavia under the auspices of the IAEA.
In June 1955 the Polish Government established the Institute of Nuclear Research (IBJ) under the auspices of the PAN. The IBJ has research facilities in Swierk, Warsaw, and Zeran, and a laboratory at Lodz. Overall direction of the nuclear program is given by the High Commissioner for Atomic Energy.
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070028-8
