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

Documents and publications

10 April 2023

Novel Google Maps and Google Earth application for chemical industry disaster risk assessment during complex emergencies in Eastern Ukraine

This paper aims to study the disaster risk of chemical industrial facilities and its effects on public health and the environment during complex emergencies in Eastern Ukraine.

Documents and publications

21 March 2023

Inclusive urban development to reduce biological hazards and disaster risks: a case study of Bharatpur, Nepal

This brief summarizes findings of a case study of Bharatpur, Nepal, that examined ways to undertake inclusive urban development to reduce biological hazards and disaster risks.

Update

23 February 2023

Chemical disasters will keep happening

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying cancer-causing chemicals derailed near the small town of East Palestine in Ohio — resulting in a toxic explosion, large fire and an evacuation order. Hazardous waste pollution is devastating but not uncommon.

The Hill

Documents and publications

8 February 2023

National risk assessments of cross-border risks

This CSS Risk and Resilience Report provides a comparative analysis of national risk assessments. Specifically, it compares the assessments made by nine European countries and Swiss Re respectively of five types of cross-border risks.

Documents and publications

1 January 2023

Mortality risk associated with nuclear disasters depends on the time during and following evacuation of hospitals near nuclear power plants: An observational and qualitative study

This study aimed to examine the factors correlated with emergency evacuations on patients’ prognosis in hospitals severely affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident in March 2011.

Research briefs

15 December 2022

Detrimental secondary health effects after disasters and pandemics

Researchers from Osaka University showed an increase in major non-communicable diseases after the Fukushima disaster and COVID-19 outbreak

Osaka University

Cover of The relation between socioeconomic status and risk attitudes: A nuclear accident scenario in Sweden

Documents and publications

29 September 2022

The relation between socioeconomic status and risk attitudes: A nuclear accident scenario in Sweden

This study examines the association between SES and citizens’ risk attitudes to a radiological emergency scenario and demonstrates instead that high SES implies a greater likeliness to move away from the accident-affected area.

Update

27 September 2022

IAEA launches new early warning notification system to protect nuclear installations from natural hazards

The External Event Damage Forecast receives information from the Alert System and produces a preliminary estimation of potential damage to nuclear installations and population centres.

International Atomic Energy Agency