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NBC - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical

Chemical hazards are the unintended or deliberate release of a substance that is potentially harmful to humans or the environment (e.g. nerve and blistering agents, toxic industrial chemicals).

Biological hazards, according to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (1972), include germs, toxins and viruses that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops (UNODA, 1972).

Nuclear hazards involve the accidental or intentional release of potentially harmful radioactive materials from nuclear fission or fusion, such as those associated with  power plants, research reactors or nuclear weapons (HIP; IFRC).

Latest NBC additions in the Knowledge Base

Update

Wildfire threat to Texas nuclear weapons facility highlights intersecting risks

As climate change increases the frequency or intensity of extreme events such as wildfires, there is an increase in the potential for different types of risks to coincide or for a climate-related event to trigger a cascade of non-climatic consequences.
Union of Concerned Scientists
Update

Lessons from Libby: Understanding the impact of asbestos exposure

Jean C. Pfau, Scientific Consultant at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, shares the devasting story of asbestos exposure occurring in a Rocky Mountain town of Montana and the critical lessons that can be learned from this event.
Open Access Government
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Documents and publications

Leveraging social media and crowdsourcing in disaster risk management processes in Europe

This report presents novel approaches rooted in co-created and tested processes to navigate complexity in using social media and crowd-sourcing in disasters primarily for organisations.
Update

Over 270 hazardous chemical incidents have occurred in the United States this year alone, highlighting need for stronger chemical safety regulations

Over 825 hazardous chemical incidents – including fires, explosions and harmful chemical releases – have occurred since the beginning of 2021, and over 270 incidents have occurred this year alone.
Coming Clean, Inc.
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Documents and publications

Key Findings: Chemical Incident Tracking 2021-2023

This reports summarizes key findings from data on hazardous chemical incidents collected between 1 January 2021 and 15 October 15.
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Documents and publications

Managing the public health impact of chemical incidents in the Republic of Korea: case study

The Republic of Korea has fortified its response to chemical incidents, aligning with WHO guidelines and the International Health Regulations. Korea’s commitment to managing chemical incidents and public health is demonstrated.
Firemen conducting regular fire and evacuation drills. Building employees, workers leaving office in alert
Update

International exercise builds resilience for emergency preparedness

The IAEA together with 62 countries and international organizations came together to simulate a global response to a nuclear emergency and examine whether these arrangements are robust and fit for purpose in the event of a severe nuclear accident.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Update

The climate threat to California’s stored nuclear waste

Sea level rise could eventually erode a Humboldt Bay bluff where 37 tons of nuclear waste are stored underground.
Yale Climate Connections
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