April 6, 2005—Within five years, high-value buildings may be able to deploy biological-detection systems that can identify a broad spectrum of agents in one minute or less, with very few false alarms, according to the Committee on Materials and Manufacturing Processes for Advanced Sensors at the National Research Council, which recently issued a 209-page document that explores the various technologies and applications that can make this possible.
According to the report, it is already possible to detect and identify biological agents in time to pretreat victims before the onset of symptoms. In the future, increased emphasis will be placed on the ability to detect an agent cloud in time to alter air movement within a building; the ability to treat the air before it reaches the occupants; or the ability of personnel to protect themselves from exposure with physical barriers to the hazards.
To read the executive summary of the report, visit the Web site of the publisher, National Academies Press (NAP). The full report, which costs $47, is also available through the NAP Web site.
