Decontamination foam testing. View of a researcher spraying decontamination foam in a laboratory. In minutes, this foam neutralises biological and chemical weapons such as anthrax bacteria, viruses and VX nerve gas. It is intended to be the first line of defence against an attack or accident, even before the emergency personnel know what they are dealing with. The foam is harmless to humans, and can be sprayed before any evacuation has taken place. It is a combination of detergents and oxidising agents, which work together to render the agents harmless. It is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories in the USA.