CBRN Category: Technology CBRN is an acronym for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear. It is in common use worldwide, to refer to incidents or weapons in which any of these four hazards have presented themselves. CBRN Defense (CBRND) is the acronym that is used in reference to CBRN passive protection, contamination avoidance and CBRN mitigation. CBRNE is the acronym for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives. A CBRN incident differs from a HAZMAT incident in both effect scope (i.e. CBRNE can be a mass casualty situation) and in intent. CBRN incidents are responded to under the assumption that they are deliberate, malicious acts with the intention to kill, sicken and/or disrupt society. Evidence preservation and perpetrator apprehension are of greater concern with CBRN incidents than with HAZMAT incidents.