A CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) incident is a release of harmful materials that can occur accidentally or intentionally. Chemical incidents include spills, leaks, and airborne releases, while radiological events may involve radioactive dispersal devices or explosives. Nuclear incidents may result from terrorist actions or technological failures. Intentional releases can also be the result of terrorism or criminal activity, such as purposeful dumping by industries to avoid regulation and environmental protection.
Depending on the substance, the impact of a CBRN event can be catastrophic. It can kill large numbers of people instantly, injure or incapacitate many more, and disrupt the economic and social life of affected populations. In addition, contaminated water and soil can pollute the environment, leading to long-term effects on wildlife, plants, and humans. The occurrence of such events requires a response that includes prevention, detection, and decontamination operations and emergency medical care.
The nature and intensity of the impact varies according to the type of material and its characteristics: for example, gases, vapours and aerosols can be inhaled, causing poisoning or a respiratory reaction; liquid and solid agents enter the body through skin contact, often resulting in a corrosive effect; and radiation penetrates tissues to cause damage or potentially fatal cancers. The occurrence of such incidents necessitates the use of protective equipment for firefighters and other emergency services and the ability to isolate and transport those affected to safe environments.
A significant challenge is that the emergence of hybrid threats combines conventional methods with CBRN material, which can be employed to create ambiguity, delay or prevent attribution and impair decision-making. The Salisbury assassination attempt with Novichok nerve agent and the Russian 2022 invasion of Ukraine with a full spectrum of WMDs highlighted this nexus, but it can also be used in other forms.
NATO and its partners have a responsibility to protect civilians, soldiers and police from these attacks. These threats must be defended against using the Alliance’s full range of capabilities, including military, civilian, and partner assets. This includes the Alliance’s Centres of Excellence, such as the JCBRN Defence COE in the Czech Republic, which provides NATO with a focus for CBRN defence-related analysis and programming without duplicating or competing with existing NATO capabilities.
The CBRN subcommittee of the GNDA also publishes common Rad/Nuc terms, data elements and messaging protocols to support interoperability across the global threat landscape. Its stewardship is shared by the CBRN Community of Interest and CWMD, with a particular emphasis on harmonizing information-sharing within the framework of the GNDA. It is complemented by the work of other international bodies, such as the OECD and UN, to develop common standards and terminology. This is essential to ensure that all countries can contribute to an effective, collective response to WMD threats and proliferation. cbrn
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