To preface the following information, keep in mind that there have been no credible threats involving dirty bombs, but we feel you need to know about them, the possible effects, and how to limit your exposure to and the effects from them.
- What is a Dirty Bomb?
- What Would the Effects Be?
- How Difficult is it to Build a Dirty Bomb?
- Can the U.S. Government Detect a Dirty Bomb?
- What are the Symptoms of Exposure to Radiation?
- What Can I Do in the Event of an Attack?
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What is a Dirty Bomb?
A dirty bomb is a radiological device that combines radioactive material, such as spent nuclear reactor fuel rods, with readily available conventional high explosives. The device is designed to kill or injure not through its explosive force but by creating a zone of intense radiation that could extend several city blocks.
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What Would the Effects Be?
That depends on the type of explosives and radioactive materials used, as well as prevailing wind patterns. People in the immediate vicinity of the blast would be killed immediately. In the weeks afterwards, radiation poisoning would likely kill others who were nearby. People farther away from the blast area might suffer radiation sickness but not die. A scenario developed earlier this year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments envisioned a 4,000-pound bomb detonated on the Mall in downtown Washington. The report said that "numerous casualties" would result along with contamination of about 20 percent of downtown. (Center for Strategic and International Studies: Greater Washington Crisis Planning Workshop)
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How Difficult is it to Build a Dirty Bomb?
Not very. Conventional explosives such as dynamite are easy to prepare and detonate. The difficulty of exploding a radiological device is in obtaining the radioactive material. A diagram of a dirty bomb was found in a Taliban or al Qaeda installation in Afghanistan in late 2001, according to sources cited by The Post. But a well placed U.S. source told The Post that such diagrams and documents are available from public sources, including the Internet. The source said some designs were so inadequate and primitive that they most likely would not work. (Post coverage: U.S. Fears Bin Laden Made Nuclear Strides, December 3, 2001)
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Can the U.S. Government Detect a Dirty Bomb?
Barton Gellman of the Post reported in March that
The Bush administration has deployed hundreds of sophisticated sensors since November to U.S. borders, overseas facilities and choke points around Washington. It has also placed the Delta Force, the nation's elite commando unit, on a new standby alert to seize control of nuclear materials that the sensors may detect.
Post coverage: Fears Prompt U.S. to Beef Up Nuclear Terror Detection (March 2, 2002) -
What are the Symptoms of Exposure to Radiation?
According to the National Institutes of Health, the severity of symptoms and illness depends on the type of radiation, the amount of radiation, the duration of the exposure, and the body areas exposed. Symptoms of radiation sickness usually do not occur immediately following exposure. Symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin burns (redness, blistering)
- Weakness, fatigue, exhaustion, fainting dehydration
- Inflammation of areas (redness, tenderness, swelling, bleeding)
- Hair loss
- Ulceration of the mouth, esophagus, and the remainder of the gastrointestinal system
- Vomiting blood
- Bloody stool
- Bleeding from the nose, mouth, gums
- Rectum bruising
- Sloughing of skin
- Open sores on the skin
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What Can I Do in the Event of an Attack?
For limited releases of radioactive material, people in the area can reduce their exposure by taking shelter in homes or other buildings for hours or a few days until the radiation levels fall. Ventilation systems using outside air should be shut off and eating contaminated foods should be avoided. Radioactive dust can be washed off of the skin and contaminated clothing should be abandoned to reduce external exposures.
The National Council on Radiation ProtectionThe National Institutes of Health make these recommendations:
- Do not remain in area where exposure occurred
- Do not apply ointments to burned areas
- Do not remain in exposed clothing
- Do not minimize the potential danger—radiation exposure is dangerous
- Do not hesitate to seek emergency medical treatment
(From the National Council on Radiation Protection Web Site, Management of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material)
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