Chemical / Biological / Radiological / Nuclear / Explosives (CBRNE)

News and Updates

NIST Develops Yeast Material for Training First Responders on Biothreats

January 4, 2023

Researchers based the material on baker’s yeast because it is harmless and a living biological material.

The Journey to Commercialize Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology

May 17, 2022

In the early 2000’s, Abhishek Motayed found his way to the NIST campus as a contractor, working in what became the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). Within

K9 Chemistry: A Safer Way to Train Detection Dogs

December 2, 2020

Trained dogs are incredible chemical sensors, far better at detecting explosives, narcotics and other substances than even the most advanced technological

Projects and Programs

DARPA Friend or Foe (FoF) -- Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

Ongoing

The development of new platforms for characterization of complex microbial samples are hampered by lack of reproducibility and comparability across different

Surrogate Materials to Support Training in Biological Sampling and Detection in the Field

Ongoing

Developing and maintaining a nationwide capability in field biological assessment requires routine training with biological materials. Attenuated biothreat

Vapor Sampling in the Field

Ongoing

We develop and deploy portable vapor sampling instruments to collect detailed chemical information in the field, in sampling situations where the laboratory is

Ambient and Atmospheric Pressure Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing

Ambient and atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry platforms provide sample collection, transport, and ionization for vapor, aerosol, and liquid samples

Publications

Assessing Children's Potential Exposures to Harmful Metals in Tire Crumb Rubber by Accelerated Photodegradation Weathering

August 24, 2023

Author(s)

Lee L. Yu, Li Piin Sung, YuYe Tong, Robyn Winz, Dejun Chen

Whether the use of tire crumb rubber (TCR) playground through the product's service life would expose children to potentially harmful chemicals contained within

Mercury Accumulation and Biomarkers of Exposure in Two Popular Recreational Fishes in Hawaiian Waters

July 25, 2023

Author(s)

Stephanie D. Holbert, Colleen E. Bryan Sallee, Keith Korsmeyer, Brenda A. Jensen

Mercury (Hg) exposure has not been examined in many recreational nearshore fish species that are commonly consumed around the Hawaiian Islands. Specific gene

Online dashboards for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater data need standard best practices: An environmental health communication agenda

April 17, 2023

Author(s)

Colleen Naughton, Rochelle Holm, Nancy Lin, Brooklyn James, Ted Smith

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of wastewater surveillance to supplement clinical data. Numerous online information dashboards have been

Field-Deployable Devices

January 1, 2023

Author(s)

Thomas P. Forbes, Raychelle Burks

Reductions in instrument size, weight, and power continue to facilitate the development and application of field-deployable devices for investigative purposes

Tools and Instruments

Cabinet x-ray system

The Smiths Detection 6046si cabinet x-ray system was designed for security screening of bags, parcels and other objects of similar size. The system runs at 160

X-ray Backscatter Systems

X-ray backscatter systems are used for the screening of personnel for hidden weapons and other contraband. Unlike conventional radiographic x-ray systems