CBRNE

Historically, different acronyms have been used for weapons of mass destruction:

• - ABC (Atomic, Biological, Chemical)
• - NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical)
• - CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)

Currently, CBRNE is the most commonly used acronym for all weapons of mass destruction, where the E stands for Explosives. Explosives are generally not considered true weapons of mass destruction (although this is a matter of definition), but combinations of explosives with dangerous CBRN compounds or materials are often considered the greatest threat.

Protection against CBRNE attacks or incidents is one of the most complex and delicate matters. Roughly, protection against CBRNE can be divided into several areas:

• - Threat analysis
• - Detection, including fast alarm detection and monitoring detection
• - Physical protection, including tents, filters, clothing, masks, and other means of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• - Identification and analysis
• - Medical countermeasures, including profylactic measures (e.g. vaccines) or therapeutic measures (treatment)
• - Decontamination and disinfection, of materials and people
• - Recovery and cleanup