Columbus Supply

AirBoss: About CBRN

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear

Worldwide governments and publics are viewing with growing concern the potential threat posed by Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear (CBRN) weapons in the hands of terrorists. A wide range of potentially deadly chemical and biological (CB) agents may be relatively easy to produce or otherwise acquire.

It is not a secret; terrorist attacks are increasingly being seen throughout the world, whether in England, USA, Spain, Japan or the Middle-East.

A recent Canadian Intelligence Services publication analyzing the current CBRN threat found the following conclusions:

• Although it is impossible to estimate the precise timing of a chemical agent terrorist attack, the technical obstacles to such an attack are by no means impossible to overcome;
• The threat appears to be growing;
• Despite increased attention to the threat since the Tokyo subway attack, society remains highly vulnerable to such attacks;
• It is not necessary to use commonly referenced agents such as Mustard Gas or Sarin, as attacks on local industrial chemical stockpiles can themselves be used as weapons;
• Even hoaxes—which are increasing in number and becoming progressively more credible—can cause enormous disruption to society, in some cases perhaps achieving the ends of the terrorist even without an actual attack.

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