Radiological Dispersal Devices Dirty Bombs

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Radiological Dispersal DevicesDirty Bombs

• Ryan C. Thomas
• 4th Year Student
• NYUCD

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General Overview

• Characteristics of Radiation
• Radiation and Terrorists
• How to Prepare

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Characteristics of Radiation

• Radiation is Ubiquitous in the Environment
• Different Types of Radiation Exist
• Ionizing radiation radiation capable of
  imparting its energy to the body and causing
  chemical changes.
• Ionizing radiation is emitted by radioactive
  material, as well as by some devices such as
  x-ray machines.

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Characteristics of Radiation

• Radioactive Material-atoms with unstable nuclei
• Spontaneous Decay-atoms decay or change to more
  stable forms and emit radiation

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Characteristics of Radiation
Alpha Particles Stopped by a sheet of paper
Radiation Source
Beta Particles Stopped by a layer of clothing or
less than an inch of a substance (e.g. plastic)
Gamma Rays Stopped by inches to feet of
concrete or less than an inch of lead
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Characteristics of Radiation

• Exposure to Small Amounts of Radiation is a Daily
  Part of Life

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Characteristics of Radiation

• Natural sources include the sun..

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Characteristics of Radiation

• ...Rocks and Soil

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Characteristics of Radiation

• Man-made sources such as microwave ovens and
  televisions

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Characteristics of Radiation

• Uses of Radiation include
• Radioactive isotopes in cancer therapy
• Smoke Detectors
• Food irradiators

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Characteristics of Radiation
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Characteristics of Radiation

• Adverse Health Effects Depend on
• Amount
• Type of Radiation
• Route
• Length of Time
• Contamination vs. Exposure
• Skunk Analogy

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Characteristics of Radiation

• A variety of instruments are used to measure
  radiation
• GM Survey Meter aka Geiger Counter
• Ion Chamber
• Personal Dosimeters

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Characteristics of Radiation
Personal Dosimeter Card
Geiger Counter
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General Overview

• Characteristics of Radiation
• Radiation and Terrorists
• How to Prepare

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Radiation and Terrorists
CBRNE Threat Spectrum
Dirty Bombs
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Radiation and Terrorists

• Radiological Dispersal Device aka Dirty Bomb
• Conventional explosives with radioactive
  materials (in form of powder or pellets)
• It physically blasts radioactive material into
  immediate area around explosion

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Radiation and Terrorists

• The main idea of a Dirty Bomb is to frighten
  people and make buildings or land unusable for
  long periods of time...

Chernobyl, 1986
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Radiation and Terrorists

• Low-Level Sources of Radiation for a Dirty Bomb
  could come from
• Hospitals
• Construction sites
• Food Irradiation Plants
• Many other potential sources

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Radiation and Terrorists

• The FRERP covers any peacetime radiological
  emergency that has actual, potential, or
  perceived radiological consequences within the
  United States, its Territories, possessions, or
  territorial waters and that could require a
  response by the Federal Government.
• The level of the Federal response to a specific
  emergency will be based on the type and/or amount
  of radioactive material involved, the location of
  the emergency, the impact on or the potential for
  impact on the public and environment, and the
  size of the affected area.

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Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan
(FRERP)
Radiation and Terrorists

• 11. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• 12. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 13.
  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 14.
  General Services Administration (GSA)15.
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  (NASA) 16. National Communications System (NCS)
  17. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

• 1. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2.
  Department of Commerce (DOC)
• 3. Department of Defense (DOD) 4. Department of
  Energy (DOE) 5. Department of Health and Human
  Services (HHS)
• 6. Department of Housing and Urban
  Development (HUD)
• 7. Department of the Interior (DOI)
• 8. Department of Justice (DOJ) 9. Department of
  State (DOS)
• 10. Department of Transportation (DOT)

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Local First Responders
County Executive
Disaster Occurs
Alert
Governor
Requests Aid From
FEMA Regional Director
Informs
THE FEDERAL RESPONSE PLAN
Field Operations
Declares Disaster
Advises
FEMA Director
Requests Assistance
Contacts
12 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)
President
Provides
Declares Disaster
Sets Up
Emergency Response Team
Federal Coordinating Officer
Disaster Field
Office
Appoints
Joins
State Coordinating Officer
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Radiation and Terrorists

• Possible ways we could be attacked
• Introduce radioactive material into food or water
  supply-low cause for concern
• Bomb/destroy nuclear facility-unlikely
• Detonate an actual nuclear bomb-unlikely
• Dirty Bomb-easy to make, easy to obtain
  materials, maximal effects for terrorists

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Three main issues to be addressed
• Actual blast effects
• Radioactive materials released from explosion
• Psychological effects

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Actual Blast Effects
• Primary casualties would come from explosion
  itself
• Dilution is the Solution
• Blast Physics
• Blast/Shockwave
• Typical Injuries
• Secondary Blast Effects

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Blast/Shockwave Physics
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Radiation and Terrorists

• Typical Injuries
• Ears-Most sensitive to blast wave effects
• Skin, Lungs, Bowels/GI Tract
• Introduction of Air Emboli into circulatory
  system
• Secondary Blast Effects
• Fragments propelled through air, causing shrapnel
  wounds causes most of severe injuries
• Flash Burns-superficial due to short duration of
  explosion

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Three main issues to be addressed
• Actual Blast effects
• Radioactive materials released from explosion
• Psychological Effects

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Radioactive materials released from explosion
• Dirty Bombs considered a zero yield nuclear
  device
• UN Report on Iraq, 1987
• Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)-Dose must be
• Large
• External
• Penetrating-able to reach internal organs
• Entire body must be exposed-or significant
  portion
• Delivered in short amount of Time

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Radiation and Terrorists

• ARS
• Hematopoietic and Gastrointestinal Systems most
  radiosensitive organs in body
• Sequence of phased symptoms
• With increasing radiation dose
• Extent of symptoms heighten
• Duration of each phase shortens

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Prodromal Phase
• Relatively rapid onset of nausea, vomiting,
  malaise
• Early onset of symptoms without associated trauma
  suggests a large radiation exposure
• Difficult to distinguish psychogenic vomiting
  with radiogenic vomiting
• Syndromes
• HematopoieticltGastrointestinalltNeurovascular

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Latent Period
• After recovery from Prodromal Stage, exposed
  individual relatively asymptomatic
• Different syndromes can present at different
  times, depending on amount of exposure to
  radiation
• Hematopoietic Syndrome-presents at 2-6 weeks
• Gastrointestinal Syndrome-presents 3-7 days
• Neurovascular Syndrome-presents within hours
• Times of latency for different syndromes vary
  based on exposure and presence of other disease

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Manifest Illness
• This phase presents with the clinical symptoms
  associated with major organ system injured
• Hematopoietic Syndrome-patients experience
  depression of bone-marrow function
• Gastrointestinal Syndrome-in addition to bone
  marrow suppression, derangement of luminal
  epithelium, loss of intestinal mucosa
• Neurovascular Syndrome- Symptoms above, plus
  altered mental status, convulsions, coma, death

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Three main issues to be addressed
• Actual Blast effects
• Radioactive materials released from explosion
• Psychological Effects

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Psychological Effects
• Terrorists know that human-caused disasters
  such as Dirty Bombs have a much more intense and
  prolonged psychological reaction than one
  following a natural disaster
• Terrorism is not just about killing people, but
  trying to destroy our sense of well-being
• This is, by far, is the most significant threat
  that a Dirty Bomb represents!

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Radiation and Terrorists

• Why do people become so terrified?
• Blast misinterpreted as nuclear
• detonation
• People convinced they received
• lethal dose of radiation
• Mass hysteria to evacuate
• Gruesome situations at Ground Zero
• Communications break down
• People dont know what to do!

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Radiation and Terrorists

• For those trying to help at the scene...
• How to respond appropriately
• Paralysis by Analysis
• Lack of warning combined with lack of familiarity
  to type of event
• Emotional reactions cloud rational decision-making

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Radiation and Terrorists

• From a long term perspective...
• Economic Disruption
• Decontamination of Area
• Persistent fear of radiation in area
• Even a small, deliberate release would hit
  hard...

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General Overview

• Characteristics of Radiation
• Radiation and Terrorists
• How to Prepare

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How to Prepare

• Start by Formulating a Plan of Preliminary
  Actions
• Have a designated place to meet family/friends
• Have contact numbers of a designated family
  contact who lives out-of-state
• Coins/Calling cards-Many pay phones will work
  when cell phones will not

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How to Prepare

• Sheltering in Place
• Wide acceptance as public protective action tool
• A Safe Haven
• Can provide substantial protection
• Often preferable to evacuation

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How to Prepare

• Why dont we always evacuate?
• Many radioactive materials rapidly decay
• Staying put can protect you from radiation
• Listen to radio-authorities will advise on
  whether to shelter in place or evacuate

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How to Prepare

• If a Radiological Event occurs, keep three goals
  in mind
• Increase your shielding- often your best bet!
• Decrease amount of time spent near source of
  radiation
• Increase your distance

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How to Prepare

• Sheltering in Place at home
• Safest place centrally located room or basement
• Minimal amount of windows
• Stock supplies in advance-check/replace every 6
  months (water, meds, batteries, some foods, etc.)
• Make preparations for pets

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How to Prepare

• Sheltering In Place at home
• Before entering shelter-
• If exposed, remove outer clothing
• Shower/Wash with soap and water
• Doing this can remove 90 of contamination

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How to Prepare

• Sheltering in Place at home
• Seal doors, windows, vents with plastic
  sheeting/duct tape
• Remove sealing within a few hours to ventilate
  room
• Keep radio tuned to emergency response network
  for updates on situation

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How to Prepare

• What items should I put in my kit?
• Plastic sheeting/Duct tape/scissors
• Bucket/soap/water for washing
• Water-1 gallon per person per day for at least 3
  days

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How to Prepare

• Food-at least 3 day, non-perishable
• Granola/Nuts
• Dried Fruit
• Peanut Butter/Crackers
• Canned Juices
• Non-perishable pasteurized milk
• High energy foods/bars
• Vitamins
• Comfort/Stress Foods
• Food for infants, if necessary
• Battery-powered radio with extra batteries

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How to Prepare

• First Aid Kit Supplies

• Tube of Petroleum Jelly
• Soap/Hand Sanitizer
• Latex or Vinyl Gloves
• Safety Pin
• Aspirin/Aspirin-Free Pain Reliever
• Antidiarrheal Medication
• Laxatives
• Antacids for Stomach upset
• Ipecac Syrup
• Activated Charcoal
• Extra Rx Medications for those in household-check
  expirations
• Extra Contact Lenses/Cleaning Supplies/Eye Wash
  Solution

• Include Face masks with dense-weave cotton
  material
• Sterile Adhesive Bandages for bleeding
• Sterile Gauze pads in 2, 4 in sizes
• Adhesive Tape
• Sterile Rolled Bandages
• Scissors/Tweezers
• Needle
• Thermometer
• Moistened Towelettes
• Antiseptic Ointment
• Antibiotic Burn Ointments

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How to Prepare

• Additional Items
• Flashlight/Batteries
• Extra Clothing Shoes
• Plastic Bags
• Paper plates, towels, plastic utensil
• Toiletries-soap, moist towelettes, toilet paper,
  disinfectants, sanitizer
• Matches/Lighter

• Swiss Army Knife/Multi-function Tool
• CB/HAM/FRS Radio
• Extra Eyeglasses
• Bedding (sheets, blankets, towels, cots
• Games, Books, Other Entertainment
• Chlorine Bleach-9 parts water to 1 part bleach
• Pen/Pencil/Paper

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How to Prepare

• Shelter in place at school or work
• Items will be similar, but more portable!
• Consider additional items like
• Tent/Tarp/Rope/Sleeping Bag
• Backpack/Roller Bag
• GPS/Compass/Map
• FRS or CB Radio
• Whistle/Signal Flare

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How to Prepare

• Finally, Remember
• Find out what kind of terrorist event has taken
  place, and what the authorities recommend
• Ultimately, you will have to
• Obtain medical attention if injured or exposed to
  an agent (biological, radiological, or chemical)
• Decontaminate yourself
• Figure out whether to shelter in place or
  evacuate
• Plan on being on own for at least 72 hours...

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Thank you!
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