April 10 – 15, 2011.

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Conference Report

    

The CBMTS-Industry VII, "The World Congress on CBRN Threat and Terrorism", in organisation of the Croatian Chamber of Economy; Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration; The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) The Netherlands; National Protection and Rescue Directorate, Croatia; University College of Applied Sciences in Safety, Zagreb; State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety, Croatia; ASA – Applied Science and Analysis, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA, and executive organisation of Journal Protection – Tectus and PerfectMeetings Zagreb, Croatia, under the auspices of the Government of Croatia was held from 10 to 15 April 2011 in Cavtat, Croatia. This extremely important seventh meeting in the CBMTS-Industry series, which provided a specific focus on the topic of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism and anti-terrorism matters, was the 18th meeting in the CBMTS series.

This already traditional scientific conference was organised and held in known world economic crisis, and it is intelligible that we had less number of participants as always.

More than 100 highly respected professionals and experts from 31 countries worldwide who active participated in CBMTS Industry VII were from industry, government and academic; public health and medical research professionals including primary care physicians, practitioners and veterinarians; local, regional and national laboratory representatives; first responders and HAZMAT specialists including emergency, crisis management and mitigation, and civil defence personnel; industry leaders to include scientists and engineers; and specialists in computer risk modelling and planning, training and local community interface and communications. During the Congress 72 papers were presented (63 oral and 9 poster presentations) which were included into 5 sectors and 15 sessions.

This Congress was explored the scientific, medical and policy aspects as well as the effects of terrorism on the community and the individual. We built on the base of knowledge established during the first three "World Congress on CBR Terrorism" beginning with the very prophetic "First World Congress on CBR Terrorism" in Dubrovnik from 21 to 27 April 2001. In that meeting we were provided information from those professionals charged with the task of responding immediately to crisis conditions. Their experiences proved to all of us the rationale for detailed planning and training and how this would lead to successful execution. Many of these same leaders participated once again in CBMTS-Industry VII "The World Congress on CBRN Threat and Terrorism".

The Workshop on the Chemical Weapons Convention Protection against Chemical Weapons and Prevention of Terrorist use ff WMD Related Materials, which was held 09 - 10 April, was intended for National Authorities members who are involved in implementing these regimes, and was focused on best practices in that area. The workshop also offered a forum for discussion of the practical issues relating to contributions that relevant academia could make towards the full implementation of both the CWC and of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, and towards the achievement of the objectives in regard to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction all of which are elements in the global counter terrorism strategy.

The forum additionally provided an opportunity for the OPCW to inform the participants of its activities in capacity building and in providing assistance at national and regional levels in case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons or the release of toxic chemicals.

The Congress Organising Committee and Organisers appreciate the possibility that the workshop was organised and conducted jointly by the Croatian hosts and the OPCW Technical Secretariat.

Scientists and medical professionals from 31 countries were established and/or expanded their network of professional contacts in WMD protection around the world. The CBMTS has always been noted for this ability, and as at OPCW meetings, this benefit is immeasurable in value. This meeting has brought together those professionals from around the world who are directly involved in the scientific, medical and technical aspects of medical treatment that are required for chemical, biological and radiological casualties.

The Conference outcome can best be measured by what was provided to the participants and this included a listing of 72 presentations which are scheduled for presentation at the CBMTS-Industry VII will be included into the Proceedings. Measurement of the outcome is noted by the willingness of the participants to wish to return as often as possible to the CBMTS meetings and their willingness to participate further in their own national forums as well as other international forums that deal directly with the subject matter of the CBMTS series.

This CBMTS Industry VII provided the forum for the exchange of very pertinent data on subjects of direct interest to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The facts are that these countries do not have the resources in science and medicine to develop and implement required programs in CBRW protection on their own. At the CBMTS Industry VII, reference the listing of presentations, the required data to assist these countries with their own programs is made available to them. Additionally, because this forum provides each participant a built-in network of fellow professionals - the participants from developing countries will have a fellow professional from any number of countries that will provide assistance on a needed basis.

The ability to bring professionals in science and medicine together to discuss mutual problems across the arena of CW protection seems to directly relate to the goals and objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The OPCW has been the only internationally recognized world body that has assisted professionals in these difficult areas to come together and surface the problems and learn from each other on the possible solutions.

CBMTS Industry VII Conference provided a forum for science and medical professionals from 31 countries to:

• Meet, surface and discuss and start solving the myriad number of problems within the crucial area CW protection within the framework of the Chemical Weapons Conventions.
• Discuss WMD protection in its many facets.
• Discuss the latest developments in providing chemical agent protection.
• Discuss medical treatment in the pre, trans-, and post attack modes where chemical agent was a factor in the casualties.
• Discuss acute exposure guidelines for chemicals both agent and TICs/TIMs.
• Surface and discuss the roles of toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and toxic industrial materials (TIMs) and their effect on the safety and security of the populace.
• Discuss detection, identification and decontamination/detoxification of chemical agent.
• Discuss emergency planning, implementation and management of mass casualties from chemical attack and/or industrial accident or incident.
• Discuss consequences, crisis management and risk assessment of nuclear catastrophe and tsunami in Japan.

CBMTS industry VII Sector Summaries

Summary of Sector 1: Chemical

Sector 1 Chemical, chaired by Dr. Davod Moore from Battelle Memorial Institute, USA, was comprised of three sessions conducted over a three day period and included 9 podium presentations. Eight of the presentations were concerned with the development of medical countermeasures and one described an information tool for the regulation of industrial chemicals.

These sessions were well attended and the topics generated some valuable discussion. All of the presentations were highly professional and we wish to thank each of the scientists for sharing their results with the congress attendees.

Summary of Sector 2: Nuclear/Radiological

CBMTS Industry series of meetings have never had so strong and numbered with very good presentations and we wish to thank each of the scientists from Texas Tech University, headed by Prof. Ronald Cheeser, for sharing their results with the congress attendees.

Sector 2 Nuclear/Radiological, chaired by Prof. Ronald Cheeser from Texas Tech University, USA, was comprised of three sessions included 14 podium presentations.

Two sessions included 10 presentations regarding with Dismantlement of Iraq’s Nuclear Facilities and one session with title International Efforts in Nuclear Nonproliferation was included 4 very interesting presentations. Special interest was sparked talk about nuclear catastrophe in nuclear power plant Fukushima in Japan.

Summary of Sector 3: Biological

Sector 3 Biological, chaired by Dr. Davod Robinson from Battelle Memorial Institute, USA, was comprised of three sessions and included 13 podium presentations.

All presentations were concerned with the development of medical countermeasures, biorisk and biosecurity, antibiotic resistanceas global threat, biotechnology risk and scientists' responsibility and synthetic biology as potentioal biological risk and threat today.

These sessions were well attended and the topics generated some valuable discussion. All of the presentations were highly professional and we wish to thank each of the scientists for sharing their results with the congress attendees.

Summary of Sector 4: Modern and Advanced Scientific and Technological Approaches to the CBRN Threats

Sector 4 Modern and Advanced Scientific and Technological Approaches to the CBRN Threats, chaired by Dr. Stef Stienstra, from Active Technology Transfer Europe, the Netherlands, was comprised of three sessions and included 12 podium presentations.

All presentations were concerned with the optimizing operational medical countermeasure deployment strategies for public health, emergency response, and medical systems, evaluation of cost-effectiveness of chemical detection equipment and a new approach on CBRN decontamination systems.

One very interesting session Protective Materials, Clothing and Equipment Against CBRN Threats was included 5 interesting presentations in which lecturers presented new approaches in evaluation of performances in protective materials and clothes.

Summary of Sector 5: Emerging Issues & Technologies

Sector 5 Emerging Issues & Technologies, chaired by Prof. Peter Leitner, from Higgins Counterterrorism Research Center, USA, was comprised of two sessions included 11 podium presentations and one session with 9 poster presentations.

Special interest was sparked talk about posible technologies for remediation of biological agents and anthropogenic compounds in contaminated environment, included into 7 very interesting presentation in session Special Treatment of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria and Antibiotics in the Environment.

CBMTS Industry VII Organizers prepared one very interesting Exhibition of the dedicated commercial production in the field of NBC Defense, and round table Place and Role of the dedicated commercial production in the field of NBC Defense in organization of Croatian Chamber of Economy, Congress Co-Organizer and Main Sponsor.

We consider this event will promote the cooperation among the members of the CBMTS international community and thereby fruitfully surmount this trying time characterized by globally crises, and particularly the recent disaster caused by nuclear incident in Japan having as consequences many shocked and suffered people by radiation/contamination disease, which will have long term effects.

In these conditions, we believe that the last CBMTS Industry Congress has already offered the spring of better perspectives with reference to many global burning issues.