Chernobyl, Fukushima, weapons of mass destruction, chemical meltdown... These words inspire fear. But what are the real risks involved? Who could really be affected by a future event, and how does reality compare to fiction? What represents real dangers — nuclear plants, industrial centres, government laboratories — and how can regional or even global crises be handled by private individuals? Finally, what equipment and preparations really make sense in our world of potential catastrophes, and which of them are just a waste of time and money?

CBRN makes an immensely complicated subject accessible to non-specialist readers, covering the most pressing threats in the arena of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disasters, and providing the know-how and the necessary information to distinguish myth from reality — and to quickly and capably identify real risks, assess real situations and manage real emergencies, to keep us and our families safe.

Translator’s Foreword

Preface by Dmitry Orlov

Introduction

NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL RISKS

1. Radioactivity

2. Scientific Foundations

3. Exposure to Radioactivity

4. Scenarios

5. Nuclear Power Plants

6. Atomic Bombs

7. Myths

BIOLOGICAL RISKS

1. Living Organisms

2. The Biological Threat

3. Examples of Biological Agents

4. Biological Weapons

5. Pandemic

6. Scenarios

CHEMICAL RISKS

1. A History of Chemical Warfare Agents

2. The Chemical Threat

3. Conclusion

4. Scenarios

CBRN INCIDENTS: REACTIONS AND PROTECTION

1. Familiarise Yourself with the Dangers

2. Adequate Behaviour

3. Fallout Shelters

4. Improvised Shelters

5. Nuclear Attacks

6. Alimentary Protection

KITS AND EQUIPMENT

1. General Kits and Equipment

2. Protection Equipment

3. Detection Equipment

4. CBRN Kits

Conclusion