Dirty BombsDirty Bombs

Bill HallBill HallEP&R EpidemiologistEP&R EpidemiologistEastern Shore (VA) Health DistrictEastern Shore (VA) Health District

What is a “Dirty What is a “Dirty Bomb” ?Bomb” ? A dirty bomb or A dirty bomb or

radiological dispersion radiological dispersion device (RDD),device (RDD),is a bomb that combines is a bomb that combines conventional explosives, conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with such as dynamite, with radioactive materials in radioactive materials in the form of powder or the form of powder or pellets.pellets.

Purpose and FunctionPurpose and Function

The main purpose is to The main purpose is to frighten people and make frighten people and make buildings or land unusable buildings or land unusable for a long period of time.for a long period of time.

The function of a dirty The function of a dirty bomb is to blast bomb is to blast radioactive material into radioactive material into the area around the the area around the explosion.explosion.

Dirty Bomb vs Atomic Dirty Bomb vs Atomic BombBomb The atomic explosions The atomic explosions

that occurred in that occurred in Hiroshima and Hiroshima and Nagasaki were Nagasaki were conventional nuclear conventional nuclear weapons involving a weapons involving a fission reaction.fission reaction.

A dirty bomb is A dirty bomb is designed to spread designed to spread radioactive material radioactive material and contaminate a and contaminate a small area.small area.

Control of MaterialControl of Material

There are over 21,000 organizations in There are over 21,000 organizations in the united states licensed to use the united states licensed to use radioactive material.radioactive material.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Nuclear Regulatory Commission together with 32 states regulate together with 32 states regulate radioactive materials.radioactive materials.

Other than nuclear facilities most are Other than nuclear facilities most are of small amounts.of small amounts.

Sources of Radioactive Sources of Radioactive MaterialsMaterials Most potentially Most potentially

harmful type of harmful type of radioactive materials radioactive materials can be found in:can be found in:

– Nuclear Power PlantsNuclear Power Plants– Nuclear Weapon SitesNuclear Weapon Sites

Most nuclear facilities Most nuclear facilities are under extreme are under extreme security making it a security making it a less vulnerable option.less vulnerable option.

Locations of U.S. Locations of U.S. Nuclear Power PlantsNuclear Power Plants

Other Source Other Source LocationsLocations More reasonably accessible More reasonably accessible

sources of radioactive material sources of radioactive material are:are:

– HospitalsHospitals– Construction SitesConstruction Sites– Food Irradiation PlantsFood Irradiation Plants– College and High School College and High School

LaboratoriesLaboratories– Research FacilitiesResearch Facilities– Smoke Detector ManufacturersSmoke Detector Manufacturers

Extreme risk due to minimal toExtreme risk due to minimal tocomplete lack of security presentcomplete lack of security present

Impact of a Dirty BombImpact of a Dirty Bomb

The extent would depend on The extent would depend on a number of factors:a number of factors:

– Size of the explosiveSize of the explosive

– Weather conditionsWeather conditions

– Density of populationDensity of population

– Type of radioactive materialType of radioactive material

RADIOACTIVE

MATERIAL

Distance of EffectDistance of Effect

HOT ZONE WARM ZONE COLD ZONE

Incident You

DOWNWINDDOWNHILL

WIND UPWINDUPHILL

To minimize exposure maximize your distance

Case HistoryCase History

Incidents occurring in heavily populated areas could effect several hundreds, if not thousands of potential radiation victims.

Potential LocationsPotential Locations

Potential Dirty Bomb targets are usually Potential Dirty Bomb targets are usually highly populated public areas such as:highly populated public areas such as:

– MallsMalls– Subways and TrainsSubways and Trains– Trash Cans or DumpstersTrash Cans or Dumpsters– Amusement ParksAmusement Parks– RestaurantsRestaurants– AirportsAirports

Anywhere that people passing by might get a Anywhere that people passing by might get a significant dose of radiation is a potential target significant dose of radiation is a potential target

hazard.hazard.

First RespondersFirst Responders

Firefighters / Paramedics Firefighters / Paramedics (Responding to fires, (Responding to fires, explosions, hazmat spills, and medical calls)explosions, hazmat spills, and medical calls)

Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement (Investigating (Investigating suspicious suspicious activity, serving warrants, etc...) activity, serving warrants, etc...)

US Coast GuardUS Coast Guard (Inspecting vessels, responding (Inspecting vessels, responding to waterborne emergencies)to waterborne emergencies)

Hospital Emergency Department StaffHospital Emergency Department Staff(Large event and walk in emergencies)(Large event and walk in emergencies)

Recognition of aRecognition of aRadiological EventRadiological Event The radiological nature of a nuclear The radiological nature of a nuclear

facility and placarded transportation facility and placarded transportation accidents may be self evident, howeveraccidents may be self evident, however

Less obvious is the radiological Less obvious is the radiological components of;components of;– Fire involving radiological materials,Fire involving radiological materials,– Radiological “dirty bomb,”Radiological “dirty bomb,”– Dispersed material (fire, sprayed, etc…), andDispersed material (fire, sprayed, etc…), and– Exposed high intensity sources.Exposed high intensity sources.

Tools are needed to help first Tools are needed to help first Responders recognize the Responders recognize the radiological nature of an event.radiological nature of an event.

Early DetectionEarly Detection

Is your key to Is your key to limiting potential limiting potential exposure.exposure.

Time is a huge Time is a huge factor in howfactor in howmuch exposuremuch exposureone could one could receive.receive.

Desirable Properties Desirable Properties for Detection Toolsfor Detection Tools Alerts user of radiation above backgroundAlerts user of radiation above background

Detect alpha & beta radiationDetect alpha & beta radiation

Records doseRecords dose

Alarms in hazardous situationsAlarms in hazardous situations

Work continuously without user interventionWork continuously without user intervention

Simple and intuitive, requiring little trainingSimple and intuitive, requiring little training

Small size, something easily wornSmall size, something easily worn

Inexpensive to purchase and maintainInexpensive to purchase and maintain

Detection EquipmentDetection Equipment

Personal Personal DosimetersDosimetersRadiation meters Radiation meters that look like that look like pagers, watches, pagers, watches, key chains, rings key chains, rings and even pens.and even pens.

Electronic DosimetersElectronic Dosimeters

The ProsThe Pros– Alarms in hazardous situations.Alarms in hazardous situations.– Can identify a significant radiological event.Can identify a significant radiological event.– Records dose.Records dose.– Long battery life.Long battery life.– Small size.Small size.– Simple operation and often very rugged.Simple operation and often very rugged.

The ConsThe Cons– Not necessarily sensitive enough to detect low Not necessarily sensitive enough to detect low

levels of radiation.levels of radiation.– Won’t detect alpha or low energy beta radiation.Won’t detect alpha or low energy beta radiation.

What to do if it What to do if it Actually Explodes ?Actually Explodes ? Move away from the immediate area. At least Move away from the immediate area. At least

several blocks and go inside a building – this several blocks and go inside a building – this will limit exposure to radioactive airborne dust.will limit exposure to radioactive airborne dust.

Remove clothes and place them in a sealed Remove clothes and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Save the contaminated clothes for plastic bag. Save the contaminated clothes for testing.testing.

Take a shower to wash off dust and dirt. This Take a shower to wash off dust and dirt. This will reduce total radiation exposure absorbed will reduce total radiation exposure absorbed through the skin.through the skin.

Turn on local radio or TV channels for Turn on local radio or TV channels for advisories and instructions from emergency advisories and instructions from emergency personnel.personnel.

Scene ManagementScene Management

Law enforcement should maintain a Law enforcement should maintain a perimeter around the incident. perimeter around the incident.

Strict hot, warm and cold zones should Strict hot, warm and cold zones should be enforced to limit people exposed be enforced to limit people exposed leaving the scene and potentially leaving the scene and potentially exposing others.exposing others.

Medical triage should be established to Medical triage should be established to prioritize patients level of medical need.prioritize patients level of medical need.

Potential SuspectsPotential Suspects

Help identify potential suspects by being observant of Help identify potential suspects by being observant of not-so-normal activities.not-so-normal activities.

Warning signs may include:Warning signs may include:

– Dress Dress (Tourist style clothing, abnormal for current weather)(Tourist style clothing, abnormal for current weather)

– SpeechSpeech (Broken English, foreign accent)(Broken English, foreign accent)

– WritingWriting (hand drawn maps, written in other language)(hand drawn maps, written in other language)

– ActionsActions (Watching clocks, looking for authority figures)(Watching clocks, looking for authority figures)

– MarkingsMarkings (Tattoos, scars)(Tattoos, scars)

All suspicious activity should be reported to the policeAll suspicious activity should be reported to the policeimmediately for questioning.immediately for questioning.

Is there a Risk of Is there a Risk of Cancer ?Cancer ? Some cancers can be caused by exposure to Some cancers can be caused by exposure to

radiation.radiation.

Just because you are near a radioactive Just because you are near a radioactive source for a short time or if you are exposed source for a short time or if you are exposed to radioactive dust does not mean you will to radioactive dust does not mean you will get cancer.get cancer.

Doctors will be able to determine appropriate Doctors will be able to determine appropriate counteractive measures once the source and counteractive measures once the source and exposure level can be determined.exposure level can be determined.

Potassium Iodide (KI)Potassium Iodide (KI)

Potassium iodide, also called KI, only protects Potassium iodide, also called KI, only protects a person’s thyroid gland from exposure to a person’s thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodine.radioactive iodine.

KI will not protect you after KI will not protect you after exposure. It must be taken exposure. It must be taken prior.prior.

KI can be dangerous to take, taking KI is not KI can be dangerous to take, taking KI is not recommended unless there is a high risk of recommended unless there is a high risk of being exposed.being exposed.

ConclusionConclusion

Radiological attacks constitute a credible Radiological attacks constitute a credible threat, especially following September 11, threat, especially following September 11, 2001 tragedies.2001 tragedies.

Many radiological bomb making materials are Many radiological bomb making materials are easily accessible with little to no security easily accessible with little to no security measures present.measures present.

Dirty bombs likely would result in some deaths Dirty bombs likely would result in some deaths but not constitute hundreds or thousands of but not constitute hundreds or thousands of fatalities as could be seen in conventional high fatalities as could be seen in conventional high power explosives.power explosives.

ConclusionConclusion

Early detection equipment, Early detection equipment, observations from law observations from law enforcement and citizens, in enforcement and citizens, in conjunction with level conjunction with level headed decisions from headed decisions from emergency personnel, could emergency personnel, could limit or even prevent a limit or even prevent a potential “dirty bomb” potential “dirty bomb” exposure from occurring and exposure from occurring and ultimately the conviction of a ultimately the conviction of a dirty bomber.dirty bomber.

Questions?Questions?