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Homeland Security:

What to do in the event of a Radiation Threat / Dirty Bomb:

A radiation threat, commonly referred to as a "dirty bomb" or "radiological dispersion device (RDD)", is the use of common explosives to spread radioactive materials over a targeted area. It is not a nuclear blast. The force of the explosion and radioactive contamination will be more localized. While the blast will be immediately obvious, the presence of radiation will not be clearly defined until trained personnel with specialized equipment are on the scene. As with any radiation, you want to try to limit exposure. It is important to avoid breathing radiological dust that may be released in the air.

If There is a Radiation Threat or "Dirty Bomb"

  1. If you are outside and there is an explosion or authorities warn of a radiation release nearby, cover your nose and mouth and quickly go inside a building that has not been damaged. If you are already inside check to see if your building has been damaged. If your building is stable, stay where you are.

    Close windows and doors; turn off air conditioners, heaters or other ventilation systems.
  2. If you are inside and there is an explosion near where you are or you are warned of a radiation release inside, cover nose and mouth and go outside immediately. Look for a building or other shelter that has not been damaged and quickly get inside.

    Once you are inside, close windows and doors; turn off air conditioners, heaters or other ventilation systems.
  3. If you think you have been exposed to radiation, take off your clothes and wash as soon as possible.
  4. Stay where you are, watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet for official news as it becomes available.
  5. Remember: To limit the amount of radiation you are exposed to, think about shielding, distance and time.

     
    • Shielding: If you have a thick shield between yourself and the radioactive materials more of the radiation will be absorbed, and you will be exposed to less.
    • Distance: The farther away you are away from the blast and the fallout the lower your exposure.
    • Time: Minimizing time spent exposed will also reduce your risk.

As with any emergency, local authorities may not be able to immediately provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet often for official news and information as it becomes available.

 

 

New York City Dept of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/bt/bt_fact_dirtybombs.shtml

Dirty Bombs

What is a "dirty bomb"?

A dirty bomb, or radiological dispersion device, is a bomb that combines common explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive materials, possibly in the form of powder or pellets. When the dirty bomb explodes, radioactive material is blasted into the area around the explosion. Specks of this material might float in the air or fall on surfaces such as streets, cars, roofs, or people. This could cause people and buildings to be exposed to radioactive material, though the amount of radiation would likely be low.

The greatest danger from a dirty bomb is the blast itself. While people in the immediate area of the explosion could be harmed from the explosion, the main purpose of a dirty bomb is to cause widespread fear and make buildings or land unusable for a long period of time.

Is a dirty bomb the same as an atomic/nuclear bomb?

No. Atomic or nuclear explosions, like those that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, involve a powerful reaction called fission that is thousands of times stronger than the explosion of a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb does not include the fission reaction necessary to create a large blast; a dirty bomb can only spread radioactive material over a much smaller area. (See "Nuclear and Radiological Incidents" fact sheet for more information.)

What are the health effects of a dirty bomb?

It is unlikely that the amount of radioactive dirt and dust scattered by a dirty bomb would be enough to cause severe illness. Only those people in the immediate vicinity would be exposed, and even then only to low levels of radiation. If a person is exposed, the radioactive particles can either be inhaled or swallowed or get on skin and clothing. The health effects would vary widely, depending on the amount and type of radiation present.

It is important to understand that people are exposed to low levels of radiation every day from the natural "background" radiation found in the environment (such as cosmic rays from space) and from man-made sources (medical tests, x-rays, and cancer treatments, for example). Low levels of radiation do not result in any detectable harm. Moderate levels of radiation can result in health effects such as nausea and vomiting for a day or two. Higher levels could lead to radiation sickness (loss of appetite, skin reddening hair loss, diarrhea, and, in extreme cases, death). However, a dirty bomb most likely would not have enough radioactive material in a form that would cause serious radiation sickness among large numbers of people. People who are exposed to radiation scattered by a dirty bomb, however, could have a greater risk of developing cancer later in life, depending on their dose (see "Do dirty bombs cause cancer?" below).

Are children at higher risk of harm if exposed to radiation?

Children exposed to radiation may be at greater risk than adults. Radiation exposure to an unborn child is of special concern because the fetus is extremely sensitive to radiation. The unborn child is at greatest risk during the first quarter of the pregnancy.

Where are terrorists most likely to get the radioactive materials needed to make a dirty bomb?

The most dangerous radioactive materials are found in nuclear power plants and sites where nuclear weapons are made. However, security at these places makes obtaining materials from them difficult.

Because of the danger and difficulty involved in getting radioactive materials from a nuclear facility, there is a greater chance that the radioactive materials used in a dirty bomb would come from other sources with much lower levels of radioactivity. Low-level radioactive materials can be found in such places as hospitals (where they are used for diagnostic procedures and cancer treatments), construction sites (where they are used in industrial radiography), and university research laboratories.

What should you do if there is a dirty bomb explosion near you?

Radiation cannot be seen, smelled, felt, or tasted by humans. If you are at the scene of an explosion, you will not know whether radioactive material is involved. If you are not badly injured by the initial blast, you should:

  • • Leave the immediate area on foot. Stay calm. Do not take public or private transportation such as buses, subways, or cars, because if radioactive materials were involved, you may contaminate the public transportation system or the car. If you must walk through dust or smoke, you should cover your mouth and nose with a wet handkerchief, cloth, or piece of clothing, as this may help prevent breathing in dust or ash.
  • • Go inside the nearest building. Staying inside will reduce your exposure to any radioactive material that may be in the dust at the immediate area or in the air. Try to avoid walking around inside the building to prevent the spread of any radioactive dust that you may have been exposed to.
  • • Once in a safe place, remove your clothes as soon as possible, place them in a plastic bag, and seal the bag. Taking off your clothing will remove most of the dirt and dust and most of the radioactive contamination, if it is present. Saving the contaminated clothing would allow testing for radiation at a later time.
  • • Take a shower or wash yourself as best you can. Washing will reduce the amount of radioactive dirt and dust on the body. Even washing just the parts of your body not covered by clothes (head, neck, and hands) can be helpful. Do not scrub hard or cause the skin to bleed. Use only lukewarm water to wash; do not use hot water.
  • • Tune into local emergency broadcasts on television or radio for information and further instructions. Once emergency personnel can assess the scene and the damage, officials will be able to tell people whether radiation was actually involved and to what extent. People may be told to leave the area they are staying in or told to stay inside. Staying inside is also known as sheltering in place.

Even if you do not know whether radioactive materials were involved in an explosion, following these simple steps can help reduce injury from other harmful substances, such as chemicals, that might have been present in the blast.

What should I do if a dirty bomb explodes in the City but I am not in the immediate area of the explosion?

If you are outside when you find out that an explosion has occurred, seek shelter in the nearest building, house, or store where you can tune in to TV or radio broadcasts to get more information.

If you are home or at the office, stay inside. Tune in to local TV or radio broadcasts for information and instructions on how best to protect yourself and your loved ones. Parents with school-aged children should discuss emergency procedures with school administrators ahead of time; however, if your children are at school, they will most likely be kept inside until it is demonstrated that it is safe or necessary to leave the school. Until the type and extent of any contamination is determined and instructions from officials are issued, take the following precautions:

  • • Remain inside, close all windows, and minimize the opening of doors and windows.
  • • Turn off fans, air conditioners, and forced air heating units that only bring in fresh air from the outside. Units that can be set on recirculating mode can be operated to avoid excessive heat.
  • • Do not allow children to play outdoors.
  • • If you must go outside for lifesaving activities, cover your nose and mouth (preferably with a wet cloth), and avoid stirring up or breathing in dust as much as possible. Minimize the time spend outdoors as much as possible.
If City officials confirm that radioactive materials were involved in an explosion, what should I do?

Keep televisions or radios tuned in to the news. Information on what steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones will be broadcast.

Should potassium iodide (KI) be taken?

Potassium iodide is a chemical compound that can help protect your thyroid gland from harm if there is a radiological emergency occurring from a nuclear power plant or nuclear device, but in all likelihood it will not provide protection against a dirty bomb. KI does not protect any part of the body other than the thyroid from radiation; nor does it protect against any radioactive substances other than radioactive iodine. Dirty bombs are unlikely to release radioactive iodine. Furthermore, KI must be taken prior to exposure (for example, if people hear that a radioactive cloud is coming their way) or immediately after exposure to be effective. Since there is no way to know at the time of an incident whether radioactive iodine was used in the explosive device, taking KI would probably not be beneficial. Also, KI can be dangerous to some people, such as those allergic to iodine and those with certain thyroid conditions. Taking KI is not recommended unless there is a risk of exposure to radioactive iodine. For more information on KI, please read our fact sheet.

What would the impact of a dirty bomb be on New York City?

A dirty bomb could have a serious psychological impact by causing fear and attempting to cause panic. It could also result in radioactive contamination of up to several City blocks, which would require decontamination before they could be lived in or worked in again. The size of the area requiring cleanup would depend on several factors, including the size of the bomb, the amount and type of radioactive materials used, and the weather patterns. Cleanup efforts may be costly and could take weeks or months to complete. Workers in protective suits would have to remove radioactive dirt from surfaces with various equipment, such as water sprays, vacuums, and sandblasters, as well as remove contaminated plants and soil.

Do dirty bombs cause cancer?

Some cancers can be caused by exposure to radiation. Being at the site where a dirty bomb exploded does not mean that people were exposed to the radioactive material. Until a health care provider or qualified hazardous materials technician is able to screen people and/or their potentially-contaminated belongings with sensitive radiation detection devices, it will not be clear whether they were exposed. Being near a radioactive source for a short time, getting a small amount of radioactive material on clothing or skin, or even inhaling a small amount does not necessarily mean that a person will have any adverse health effects. Doctors will be able to assess risks after the exposure levels have been determined.

What if fears about dirty bombs or other types of terrorism are having a serious impact on my family and work life?

The threat of any type of terrorism may cause feelings of fear, helplessness, and vulnerability. Radiation can be particularly scary because it cannot be seen, smelled, felt, or tasted by humans. If fear of terrorism is interfering with your ability to do the things you normally do, it may be helpful to talk with a professional counselor. Your healthcare provider can make a referral, or you can get help by calling 1-800- LIFENET (1-800-543-3638); 1-877-AYUDESE (1-877-298-3373) for Spanish LIFENET; 1-877-990-8585 for Chinese LIFENET; or 311 and ask for LIFENET.

 

 

NEW BOOK - Dirty Bomb - addresses for laymen the Dirty Bomb threat:

Dirty Bomb: Weapons of Mass Disruption
by Gilbert King, Gil King

While newspapers carry stories about dirty bombs from time to time few readers know enough about these bombs to be scared. And scared they should be. The threat of a nuclear strike is more real than ever, and the government, while trying to do its best, is playing from way behind. Some experts even wonder if we should be spending less money on trying to prevent it, and more on trying to deal with one after it happens.

This is an eye-opening investigation into the world of nuclear arms, radioactive machinery, and Al Qaeda terrorists. This book is filled with shocking revelations regarding huge security gaps, radioactive materials, missing nuclear arsenals, as well as the simplicity of technology needed to detonate what many experts have called "Weapons of Mass Disruption." Shocking stories include:

*In 1995 a 17 year-old Boy Scout built a working nuclear core in a shed in his parent's backyard
*In 1996 Chechen separatists planted a working Dirty Bomb in a Moscow park
*International intelligence recently uncovered the fact that the terrorists have a bomb-making school or network, which is easily transmitted via the internet
*38 missing Alazan warheads were modified to carry radioactive material by the Russian government, effectively creating the world's first surface-to-surface 'dirty bombs'
*In 1987 an exposed core of Ceasium 137 was left in a trash can in Brazil for three days -- hundreds were treated for ailments related to radiation sickness
*There are rumored to be 20 missing Russian nuclear suitcase bombs
*Recent studies show that the affects of a medium sized Dirty Bomb would wreak far worse financial and long-term physical damage than originally assessed

Includes: What Can You Do to Protect You and Your Family Protect Yourself During a Radiation Emergency - What to Do In Case of an Explosive Attack - Information on Potassium Iodide - What You Can Do to Prepare for a Terrorist Event

 

 

Q&A on Dirty Bombs

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/cfr/stories/dirty.bomb/index.html

What is a "dirty bomb?"

A "dirty bomb," also known as a radiological weapon, is a conventional explosive such as dynamite that has been packaged with radioactive material, which scatters when the bomb goes off. A dirty bomb kills or injures through the initial blast of the conventional explosive and by airborne radiation and contamination -- hence the term "dirty." Such bombs could be miniature devices or as big as a truck bomb.

How much expertise does it take to make a dirty bomb?

Not much more than it takes to make a conventional bomb. No special assembly is required; the regular explosive would simply disperse the radioactive material packed into the bomb. The hard part is acquiring the radioactive material, not building the bomb. The Washington Post reported in March 2002 that the Bush administration's consensus view was that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network probably had such often-stolen radioactive contaminants as strontium 90 and cesium 137, which could be used to make a dirty bomb.

Indeed, the relative ease of constructing such weapons makes them a particularly worrisome threat, counterterrorist experts say. Even so, expertise matters. Not all dirty bombs are equally dangerous: the cruder the weapon, the less damage caused. We don't know if terrorists could handle and detonate high-grade radioactive material without fatally injuring themselves first.

Is a dirty bomb a nuclear weapon?

No. Nuclear weapons involve a complex nuclear-fission reaction and are thousands of times more devastating.

Is a dirty bomb a weapon of mass destruction?

Yes, but perhaps more in its capacity to cause terror and disruption than its ability to inflict heavy casualties, experts say. Depending on the sophistication of the bomb, wind conditions, and the speed with which the area of the attack was evacuated, the number of deaths and injuries from a dirty bomb explosion might not be substantially greater than from a conventional bomb explosion. But panic over radioactivity and evacuation measures could snarl a city. Moreover, the area struck would be off-limits for at least several months during cleanup efforts, which could paralyze a local economy and reinforce public fears about being near a radioactive area.

Has a dirty bomb ever been used?

No. According to a U.N. report, Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were not deadly enough.

Which radioactive materials could be used to make a dirty bomb?

Many types of radioactive materials with military, industrial, or medical applications could be used in a dirty bomb. Weapons-grade plutonium or uranium, as well as freshly spent nuclear fuel, would be the most deadly but are also the hardest to obtain and handle. Medical supplies such as radium or certain cesium isotopes, used in cancer treatments and X-ray machines, could be used, although they generally would be less dangerous. As little as a measuring cup's worth of radioactive material would be needed, but experts say that such small amounts would be unlikely to cause severe harm, especially if scattered over a wide area.

Do terrorists have such radioactive substances?

It's hard to say, but some experts think they might, and many experts worry that determined terrorists could acquire them. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a Vienna-based division of the United Nations, has documented almost 400 cases of trafficking in nuclear or radiological materials since 1993. Many such supplies are subject to few controls or are poorly guarded, particularly in the former Soviet Union. Reports also have cited weak protection of spent fuel at U.S. nuclear facilities; other experts worry about the security of the nuclear facilities in Pakistan, India, and other developing countries.

 

Cohen: How to survive a 'dirty bomb'

http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/06/10/cohen.dirty.bomb.otsc/#

(CNN) --U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Monday that a U.S. citizen had been arrested and charged with plotting to detonate a "dirty bomb," probably in Washington, D.C. Dirty bombs do not use a nuclear reaction, but instead use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive materials. CNN Health Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen spoke with CNN anchor Leon Harris about what steps to take after a dirty bomb detonates.

COHEN: What I found, actually, is that the most important things that you can do, in case there were to be such an explosion, are before you get to a hospital. It's interesting. Hospitals are supposed to be able to deal with it, but the important stuff comes first. Let go over some of what it is, because it's actually pretty simple.

If there has been a dirty bomb, a bomb that emits some sort of radiation, the first thing you're supposed to do is take off your clothes. That may sound strange, but the reason is that if there is any radiation that has gotten on your clothing, or dirt that has gotten on your clothing, you want that off. And once you've taken that off, that is a huge step because you've gotten rid of that surface the radiation might have gotten onto.

The second thing that you're supposed to do is wash up, preferably a shower. If not, then wash hands and face and other areas that might not have been protected by the clothing. In fact, if people come running to a hospital ... the first thing they would do would be to tell you, 'You can't come in here,' and they will theoretically have set up stations outside the hospital to do the kind of decontamination that I was talking about.

The other thing that's very important is that if you feel that you're at risk, if there's been any kind of dirty bomb with radiation, this [holding face mask] is called an N-95 mask. The number is important, because not all masks do the same thing. This mask I found just down the hall from my office because CNN, like other large companies, I would hope, has these available in case there were -- they're probably not thinking of dirty bombs, but a chemical kind of attack, or any kind of accident, that would keep you from inhaling any radiation.

So clothes off, wash up, use an N-95 mask.

HARRIS: How many hospitals are equipped to handle something like this, an outbreak of radiation if there were to be a dirty bomb or whatever. One report that I've seen said that there was only one hospital in the country set up right now to handle that kind of thing.

COHEN: That's not completely right. There's a difference between hospitals that have set up an area that's exclusively for that or that specialize in that. All hospitals, if they're accredited hospitals, are supposed to be equipped to deal with this kind of emergency or with a chemical or biological attack. Some, obviously, are going to be better than others. You would expect that large urban hospitals would have had training for their doctors and nurses, where a smaller rural one wouldn't have had the ability to have those training programs. But all hospitals are supposed to be able to deal with them.

Granted, not all of them are. Not all have had the kind of training they're supposed to. Whether or not they can deal with it, we really don't know, because we haven't had that kind of attack. God forbid, if there were an attack today, how many hospitals would handle it well? We don't know. It's never happened. But they're supposed to have the kind of training that would allow them to deal with it.

HARRIS: One more question. You say taking off your clothes is the first thing you do. Wouldn't the radiation go through your clothing anyway?

COHEN: That could happen. However, it is helpful, still to take off the clothes. It also depends on the proximity. If a bomb went off, God forbid, right between you and me, shrapnel would go into us and radiation would get in through the shrapnel. But if you're talking about people much farther away, taking off the clothes is a huge step.

 

 

Dirty Bombs
 Download PDF version formatted for print Adobe Acrobat Reader (144 KB/3 pages)

(PDF FILE) Medical Link on USAction - Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Preparedness

(PDF FILE) NukAlert Manual


Because of recent terrorist events, people have expressed concern about the possibility of a terrorist attack involving radioactive materials, possibly through the use of a “dirty bomb,” and the harmful effects of radiation from such an event. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared this fact sheet to help people understand what a dirty bomb is and how it may affect their health.

What a “dirty bomb” is
A dirty bomb, or radiological dispersion device, is a bomb that combines conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive materials in the form of powder or pellets. The idea behind a dirty bomb is to blast radioactive material into the area around the explosion. This could possibly cause buildings and people to be exposed to radioactive material. The main purpose of a dirty bomb is to frighten people and make buildings or land unusable for a long period of time.

Dirty bomb versus atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The atomic explosions that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were conventional nuclear weapons involving a fission reaction. A dirty bomb is designed to spread radioactive material and contaminate a small area. It does not include the fission products necessary to create a large blast like those seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Sources of the radioactive material
There has been a lot of speculation about where terrorists could get radioactive material to place in a dirty bomb. The most harmful radioactive materials are found in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons sites. However, increased security at these facilities makes obtaining materials from them more difficult.

Because of the dangerous and difficult aspects of obtaining high-level radioactive materials from a nuclear facility, there is a greater chance that the radioactive materials used in a dirty bomb would come from low-level radioactive sources. Low-level radioactive sources are found in hospitals, on construction sites, and at food irradiation plants. The sources in these areas are used to diagnose and treat illnesses, sterilize equipment, inspect welding seams, and irradiate food to kill harmful microbes.

Dangers of a dirty bomb
If low-level radioactive sources were to be used, the primary danger from a dirty bomb would be the blast itself. Gauging how much radiation might be present is difficult when the source of the radiation is unknown. However, at the levels created by most probable sources, not enough radiation would be present in a dirty bomb to cause severe illness from exposure to radiation.

Past use of dirty bombs
According to a United Nations report, Iraq tested a dirty bomb device in 1987 but found that the radiation levels were too low to cause significant damage. Thus, Iraq abandoned any further use of the device.

What people should do following an explosion
Radiation cannot be seen, smelled, felt, or tasted by humans. Therefore, if people are present at the scene of an explosion, they will not know whether radioactive materials were involved at the time of the explosion. If people are not too severely injured by the initial blast, they should:

  • Leave the immediate area on foot. Do not panic. Do not take public or private transportation such as buses, subways, or cars because if radioactive materials were involved, they may contaminate cars or the public transportation system.
  • Go inside the nearest building. Staying inside will reduce people’s exposure to any radioactive material that may be on dust at the scene.
  • Remove their clothes as soon as possible, place them in a plastic bag, and seal it. Removing clothing will remove most of the contamination caused by external exposure to radioactive materials.  Saving the contaminated clothing would allow testing for exposure without invasive sampling.
  • Take a shower or wash themselves as best they can. Washing will reduce the amount of radioactive contamination on the body and will effectively reduce total exposure.
  • Be on the lookout for information. Once emergency personnel can assess the scene and the damage, they will be able to tell people whether radiation was involved.

Even if people do not know whether radioactive materials were present, following these simple steps can help reduce their injury from other chemicals that might have been present in the blast.

Taking potassium iodide (KI)
Potassium iodide, also called KI, only protects a person’s thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodine. KI will not protect a person from other radioactive materials or protect other parts of the body from exposure to radiation. It must be taken prior to exposure (for example, if people hear that a radioactive cloud is coming their way) or immediately after exposure to be effective. Since there is no way to know at the time of an incident whether radioactive iodine was used in the explosive device, taking KI would probably not be beneficial.Also, KI can be dangerous to some people. Taking KI is not recommended unless there is a risk of exposure to radioactive iodine.

If radioactive materials were involved
Keep televisions or radios tuned to local news networks. If a radioactive material was released, people will be told where to report for radiation monitoring and blood tests to determine whether they were exposed to the radiation as well as what steps to take to protect their health.

Risk of cancer from a dirty bomb
Some cancers can be caused by exposure to radiation. Being at the site where a dirty bomb exploded does not guarantee that people were exposed to the radioactive material. Until doctors are able to check people’s skin with sensitive radiation detection devices, it will not be clear whether they were exposed. Just because people are near a radioactive source for a short time or get a small amount of radioactive material on them does not mean that they will get cancer. Doctors will be able to assess risks after the exposure level has been determined.

More information:

For more information about medical response to detonation of a dirty bomb, see the following:

For more information about radiation and emergency response, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at http://www.bt.cdc.gov or contact the following organizations:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.