Agentes NRBQ | CBRN – Deathclean

NRBQ | CBRN EVENTS

NRBQ or CBRN events (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) are actions or occurrences that can lead to the release and dispersion of dangerous agents (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological or Chemical), in quantities and under circumstances that place individuals or groups at significant risk.

Although these events are rare, the CBRN risk is indisputable and permanent, so the possibility of an emergency occurring in Portugal involving CBRN agents is real and would have disastrous consequences.

THE DEATHCLEAN® holds international certification specialized in NRBQ | CBRN, and is currently the only private company specialized and with effective training in the decontamination of spaces where NRBQ events have occurred (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical).

The taxonomic grouping of these different materials as “CBRN or CBRN agents” is standard international practice, although the exact term or abbreviation may vary, hence it is often referred to as “CBRN, NBQ, CBRN or CBRNe agents”.

When we talk about CBRN threats, they can originate from nuclear, radiological, biological or chemical agents. These agents can be dispersed in the air we breathe or on the surfaces we physically come into contact with.

These agents are called hazardous materials and can be of natural origin or artificially produced, which cause significant adverse effects on human health, including serious illness or even death, depending on the nature of the agent and the circumstances of exposure.

Intentional or unintentional actions or occurrences, including accidents, can give rise to exposure to nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical agents.

Of particular concern are events involving the confirmed or alleged use of CBRN weapons or agents and any threat (explicit or implicit) of the use of such weapons or agents. Therefore, the term CBRN or CBRN is used to refer to situations in which a threat is manifested by the presence or use of these agents in any physical state and form.

When incidents are not intentional, we refer to incidents involving Hazardous Materials, in the English acronym, HAZMAT, where there are accidental leaks of chemical, biological or radioactive material, as a result of an accident.

TOXICITY

It describes the ability of a substance to cause harmful effects or even death. The term “toxicity” is generally used for chemical agents. For biological agents, the most common terms are “morbidity”, “mortality” and “lethality”. For nuclear and radiological agents, the most common terms are “deterministic effects” and “stochastic effects”.

1. TOXICITY

LATENCY

Latency is the interval between exposure to a CBRN agent and the first signs or symptoms of disease. Factors that influence this interval include the type of agent, the concentration, the amount of exposure, and the individual’s response to the agent. In the case of biological agents, the latency period is often referred to as the “incubation period.”

2. LATENCY

PERSISTENCE

It is the ability of a CBRN agent, once released, to remain capable of causing significant damage for a prolonged period of time, also reflecting its ability to persist in the environment. This characteristic depends on two factors: the inherent physical or chemical stability of the agent and its propensity to degrade depending on certain environmental conditions (temperature, humidity and UV radiation levels).

3. PERSISTENCE

TRANSMISSIBILITY

Transmissibility is used to describe whether an agent can be transmitted from one individual to another. The most common form of transmission is through cross-contamination and direct physical contact, but in the case of biological agents it can also include direct non-contact transmission (through the air) or indirect transmission (through vectors such as insects).

4. TRANSMISSIBILITY

DID YOU KNOW…?

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE AGENTS?

In general, toxicity and latency are the main characteristics to be evaluated during the treatment of patients who have been exposed to CBRN agents. However, persistence, as well as transmissibility, are key considerations in the management of CBRN events, as their assessment allows the risk of contamination to be reduced, especially for first responders, thus preventing the occurrence of more victims.

INTERVENTION IN NRBQ EVENTS (CBRN).

Although these events are by no means frequent, when they do occur, there is an emerging need to resort to companies with specialized decontamination teams, and currently in Portugal the DEATHCLEAN^® the only company with the capacity and specialized training that can guarantee the correct decontamination of spaces contaminated by NBRQ agents.

WHAT IS BIOTERRORISM?

The European Commission defines bioterrorism as the threat of deliberate attacks using biological agents. This type of event can be considered a serious accident or even a catastrophe, as it causes economic destabilisation, loss of human life and deterioration of health and health services, which may justify the exceptional mobilisation of aid from outside the community or the affected area.

ARE TERRORIST ATTACKS AN EMINENT DANGER?

Although threats using CBRN agents are not limited to terrorist scenarios, it is something that we must always take into account, not only because it is a reality, but also because terrorist events have occurred in the past, where CBRN agents were used, including the attack on the United States post office with Anthrax (a biological agent) and the attack on the Tokyo subway, with Sarin gas, a chemical agent.

The acronym NRBQ | CBRN, which in the past was practically restricted to the military field, after these terrorist events, became a concern for governments with internal security, given the possibility of the use of nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical agents by terrorist groups.

Certification

THE DEATHCLEAN^®HOLDS SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATION TO LEGALLY INTERVENE IN SITES WHERE ATTACKS USING NUCLEAR, RADIOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL AGENTS (NRBQ) HAVE BEEN POSED.

OUR TRAINING

DEATHCLEAN INTERVENTION

THE DEATHCLEAN^® holds all the material, equipment and operational safety procedures, which are essential for the correct decontamination of sites contaminated by NRBQ | CBRN agents.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

We use all personal protective equipment recommended for NRBQ | CBRN environments.

SPECIFIC PRODUCTS

We decontaminate affected areas using specialized products.

CERTIFICATION

We have certified, specialized and experienced technicians to intervene in contaminated environments.

WARRANTY AND SECURITY

We ensure safe delivery to affected locations, free from contamination by CBRN agents.

RELATED SERVICES

Decontamination

Dry Chemical Powder

NRBQ | CBRN EVENTS

THE DEATHCLEAN^® holds international certification specialized in NRBQ | CBRN, and is currently the only private company specialized and with effective training in the decontamination of spaces where NRBQ events have occurred (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical).

We are not obligated or responsible for the first intervention in response to a CBRN emergency (CBRN First Responders), but we have all the necessary training and accreditation to intervene in the decontamination of places affected by NRBQ agents, after the intervention of emergency and rescue resources.

MEANING OF NRBQ | CBRN

The use of CBRN agents is also related to the development and classification of a new type of weapons of war, namely Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) – Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD), this designation is attributed to the use of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological weapons, used mainly for military purposes, they have also become highly sought after by terrorist groups, where we can associate Bioterrorism, which is the deliberate release of biological agents, such as viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms, with the intention of causing illness or death in people, animals or plants.

HAZMAT VS NRBQ?

Intentional or unintentional actions or occurrences, including accidents, can give rise to exposure to nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical agents.

NRBQ or CBRN events are considered deliberate or aggressive acts with the specific intention of inciting terror or causing physical and environmental damage.

Taking into account the incidents or events that have occurred and analyzing the intent (accidental or deliberate/intentional acts), the risk (low or high level) and the scope of the same, we can thus determine whether we are facing an incident with Hazardous Materials or a CBRN event.

In most incidents involving Hazardous Materials, the hazard present is identifiable or, in some cases, prior information on the type of substance is already available. In CBRN events, on the other hand, unknown or unidentified substances are often involved, and it is therefore necessary to identify them through sampling and collection.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AGENTS

1. Toxicity

2. Latency

3. Persistence

4. Transmissibility

DID YOU KNOW?

What are the characteristics of NRBQ | CBRN agents?
In general, toxicity and latency are the main characteristics to be evaluated during the treatment of patients who have been exposed to CBRN agents. However, persistence, as well as transmissibility, are key considerations in the management of CBRN events, as their assessment allows the risk of contamination to be reduced, especially for first responders, thus preventing the occurrence of more victims.

Intervention in NRBQ | CBRN events
Although these events are by no means frequent, when they do occur, there is an emerging need to resort to companies with specialized decontamination teams, and currently in Portugal the DEATHCLEAN^® the only company with the capacity and specialized training that can guarantee the correct decontamination of spaces contaminated by NBRQ agents.

What is Bioterrorism?
The European Commission defines bioterrorism as the threat of deliberate attacks using biological agents. This type of event can be considered a serious accident or even a catastrophe, as it causes economic destabilisation, loss of human life and deterioration of health and health services, which may justify the exceptional mobilisation of aid from outside the community or the affected area.

Are terrorist attacks an imminent danger?
Although threats using CBRN agents are not limited to terrorist scenarios, it is something that we must always take into account, not only because it is a reality, but also because terrorist events have occurred in the past, where CBRN agents were used, including the attack on the United States post office with Anthrax (a biological agent) and the attack on the Tokyo subway, with Sarin gas, a chemical agent.

Certification

THE DEATHCLEAN^® HOLDS SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATION TO LEGALLY INTERVENE IN SITES WHERE ATTACKS USING NUCLEAR, RADIOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL AGENTS (NRBQ) HAVE BEEN POSED.