Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Investigations

The crime scene around the preparation or release of hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) material provides unique challenges for investigators. Following a terrorist, criminal, or inadvertent release of CBRN agents, emergency service (first responder) agencies may have to deal with mass casualties and public panic, where significant numbers of people in the area will seek medical attention believing they have been exposed. The risks that these agents pose to first responders and crime scene investigators are significant factors in managing the response. The CBRN crime scene may be difficult to identify and map, particularly following a covert release of agents. The crime scene may be both hazardous and fragile, with the potential for critical material to be lost due to time delays or lost to the elements, including rain, wind, and heat. Efforts to decontaminate the scene may also destroy critical forensic evidence. Evidence gathered from the scene will be considered contaminated without purpose-built containment laboratories, and cannot be examined for traditional forensic evidence (fingerprints, fiber, and handwriting) until it has been decontaminated. The integrity of this evidence may be compromised by the agents themselves or by the methods used for decontamination. This article discusses these aspects of the CBRN forensic investigation, as well as the new science on the analysis of the agents for attribution purposes. Keywords: chemical; biological; radiological; nuclear; CBRN; terrorism; hazard; contamination; forensic