this book covers a broad range of medical and pharmaceutical approaches to deal with the maintenance and restoration of the health of civilians and military personnel exposed to ionizing radiation, biological or chemical agents. the current capabilities and future prospects for protection against nbc hazards are subjected to an interdisciplinary analysis. thus, the planning of medical support operations is addressed, as well as the aspects of practical medicine, and scientific approaches holding promise for the future. the main areas covered are: general approach and nbc risks; pharmacoprotection and treatment; skin protection and decontamination; pharmaceutical aspects of protectants, and environmental aspects of nbc disarmament.