The volume provides a detailed analysis of nine weapons and explosives of war that are used in armed conflicts, examining their impact on the people and the environment. It covers the weapons of mass destruction which include nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, controversial weapons like depleted uranium, white phosphorous, cluster munitions and anti-personnel landmines. It delves into their military applications. It details the consequences of the weapons in wars in the twentieth century, notably the two world wars, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the ‘war on ‘terror’ in Afghanistan. It views the legal regimes and their efficacy where minimising the damage caused by the weapons on environment and health is concerned. It describes the principles of international humanitarian law that need to be used by the international community to ban the weapons.