Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Quick Reference Guides

Through the National Response Team, CBRN CMAD chairs workgroups made up of experts across the federal government to develop agent-specific chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear quick reference guides. These QRGs are intended for use by EPA or Coast Guard responders in the first 24-48 hours of the consequence management phase of a CBRN incident.

The QRGs generally include sections on:

• Agent Characteristics,
• Physical Properties,
• Release Scenarios,
• Health Effects,
• Effect Levels,
• Exposure Guidelines,
• Personnel Safety,
• Personnel Decontamination,
• Field Detection,
• Environmental Sampling,
• Analysis,
• Environmental Decontamination/Cleanup, and
• Waste Management. 

The QRGs can be found on the NRT website or by clicking the links below.

Quick Reference Guides

​​Biological QRGs, including:

• Bacterials:
  • Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis),
  • Plague (Yersinia pestis),
  • Brucellosis (Brucella),
  • Q-fever (Coxiella brunetii),
  • Glanders & Meliodosis (Burkolderia mallei & Burkholderia pseudomallei),
  • Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
• Virals:
  • Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses,
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Hantavirus),
  • Smallpox (Orthopoxvirus),
  • Tick-Borne Encephalitis (Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus)
• Biotoxins:
  • Ricin and Abrin (Ricinus communis and Abrus precatorius),
  • Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)

Chemical QRGs, including:

• Nerve Agents:
  • Sarin (GB)
  • Tabun (GA)
  • Soman (GD)
  • Cyclosarin (GF)
  • VX
• Blister/Vesicant Agents
  • Sulfur Mustard (HD)
  • Mustard-Lewisite Mixture (HL)
  • Lewisite (L)
• Choking/Pulmonary, Lung Damaging Agents
  • Ammonia (NH3)
  • Chlorine Gas (CL)
  • Phosgene (CG)
• Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs)
  • Arsine (SA)
  • Cyanide Salts
  • Hydrogen Cyanide (AC)
  • Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
  • Methyl isocyanate (MIC)
  • Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS)
• Pesticide/Toxic Industrial Chemical/Chemical Threat Agents
  • Organothiophosphate (OTP) Pesticides (Parathion, Methyl Parathion, Disulfoton, Phorate, Chlorpyrifos, Malathion)
  • Phosphine (PH3)
• Incapacitating Agents
  • Fentanyl

Radiological and Nuclear QRGs, including:

• Improvised Nuclear Devices
• Radiological Dispersion Devices