**GAO-08-180**                      Published: Jun 27, 2008. Publicly Released: Jun 27, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

First responders are responsible for responding to terrorist-related and accidental releases of CBRN materials in urban areas. Two primary tools for identifying agents released and their dispersion and effect are equipment to detect and identify CBRN agents in the environment and plume models to track the dispersion of airborne releases of these agents. GAO reports on the limitations of the CBRN detection equipment, its performance standards and capabilities testing, plume models available for tracking urban dispersion of CBRN materials, and information for determining how exposure to CBRN materials affects urban populations. To assess the limitations of CBRN detection equipment and urban plume modeling for first responders' use, GAO met with and obtained data from agency officials and first responders in three states.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Agency missionsBiological researchBiological warfareChemical agentsChemical warfareData collectionData integrityEmergency preparednessstate relationsFirst respondersHazardous materials emergency responseHazardous substancesHealth hazardsHomeland securityLaboratoriesOperational testingPerformance managementPolicy evaluationProgram managementProtective equipmentPublic healthRadiation exposure hazardsResearch and developmentRisk assessmentRisk managementSecurity threatsStandardsStrategic planningTerrorismTerroristsTest equipmentDisaster preparedness exercisePolicies and proceduresProgram implementation