Originating in the armed forces of the early 20th century, weapons based on chemical, biological, or nuclear agents have become an everpresent threat that has not vanished after the end of the Cold War. Since the technology to produce these agents is nowadays available to many countries and organizations, including those with terrorist aims, civil authorities across the world need to prepare against incidents involving these agents and train their personnel accordingly.
This book is an introductory text on NBC CBRN weapons and agents. It leads the reader from the scientific basics to the current threats and strategies to prepare against them. After an introductory part on the history of NBC CBRN weapons and their international control, the three classes of nuclear/radiological, biological, and chemical weapons are introduced, focusing on agents and delivery vehicles. Current methods for rapidly detecting NBC CBRN agents are introduced, and the principles of physical protection of humans and structures are explained.
The final part addresses more general issues of risk management, preparedness, and response management, as well as the set of tools that authorities and civil services will need in a future CBRN scenario and the likely future scenarios that authorities and civil services will be faced with in the coming years.
This book is necessary for Health Officers, Public Health Agencies, and Military Authorities.
