Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs)
Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs):
Dirty Bomb, Other Dispersal Methods
- Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) is any device that causes the purposeful dissemination of radioactive material without a nuclear detonation.
- Dispersion methods can be
- "Dirty Bomb" = Explosive method of dispersion (See Figure 1)
- Explosion produces radioactive and nonradioactive shrapnel and radioactive dust
- Explosion causes
- Radiation contamination, commonly (Animations)
- Radiation exposure only in certain circumstances (Animations)
- Physical injury
- Burns
- Panic, fear
Figure 1. Dirty Bomb: Radiological Dispersal Device Using Explosive
Figure 2. Difference between Dirty Bomb and Fission Bomb
Dirty bomb:
- Explosives combined with radioactive materials
- Detonation vaporizes or aerosolizes radioactive material and propels it into the air
- Not a nuclear detonation
|
Fission bomb: one example
- Caused by an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction with uranium-235 or plutonium-239
- This example has pyramids of plutonium with surrounding explosives
- Initial explosion produces imploding shock wave that drives plutonium pieces inward into central sphere containing pellet of berylliu/polonium, creating "critical mass"
- Resulting fission reaction causes bomb to explosde with tremendous force: nuclear detonation
|
- Other Dispersal Methods
- Passive or active dispersion of unsealed radioactive sources, e.g., deposit in soil or water, drop from airborne device (See Figure 3)
- Radioactive sources can be solid, aerosol, gas, or liquid
- Contamination of people may occur via air, water, soil, or food
Figure 3. Dispersal of Radioactive Material by Aircraft
- Explosive RDDs cannot cause mass casualties on the scale of a nuclear explosion. All or most fatalities or injuries will probably due to explosion itself.
- While large numbers of people in a densely populated area around the detonation of an RDD might become contaminated and require decontamination, few if any will be contaminated to a level that requires medical treatment.
- Local health authorities will have to assess the persons who were very close to the point of release for the need for medical intervention.
- The health and environmental consequences from RDDs, will depend on
- The design of the device
- Type and quantity of radioactive material
- The pattern of dispersion following the release
- RDDs may affect
- Small, localized areas (e.g., a street, single building, or city block)
- Large areas, up to several square miles, depending on the nature of the dispersion and the amount and type of radioactive material
- Other hazards may also be present
- Fire, smoke, shock, shrapnel (from an explosion)
- Industrial chemicals
- Secondary device
- Radioactive decontamination of persons and areas affected may be required.
References:
- Runge JW, Buddemeier BR. Explosions and radioactive material: a primer for responders. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2009 Oct-Dec;13(4):407-19. [PubMed Citation]
- Responding to an RDD / RED Emergency: the HHS Playbook, guidance for executive decision makers within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the event of an actual radiological terrorist attack in a U.S. city. (HHS/ASPR, April 2010)
- Harper FT, Musolino SV, Wente WB. Realistic radiological dispersal device hazard boundaries and ramifications for early consequence management decisions. Health Phys. 2007 Jul;93(1):1-16. [PubMed Citation]
- Smith JM, Ansari A, Harper FT. Hospital management of mass radiological casualties: reassessing exposures from contaminated victims of an exploded radiological dispersal device. Health Phys. 2005 Nov;89(5):513-20. [PubMed Citation]
- Musolino SV, Harper FT. Emergency Response Guidance for the First 48 Hours after the Outdoor Detonation of an Explosive Radiological Device. Health Physics 2006 Apr;90(4):377-85. [PubMed Citation]
- Management of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material (NCRP Report No. 138), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, 2001.
- Management of Persons Contaminated with Radionuclides: Handbook (NCRP Report No. 161, Vol. I), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, 2008, Settings in Which Contamination Incidents May Occur (pp. 393-396).
- Handbook for responding to a radiological dispersal device first responders's guide — the first 12 hours (PDF - 4.26 MB). (Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., September 2006)
- Radiological Dispersal Device (PDF - 380 KB) (Human Health Fact Sheet, Argonne National Laboratory, August 2005)
- FAQs About Dirty Bombs (HHS/CDC, 05/10/2006)
- Backgrounder on Dirty Bombs (NRC)
- Tochner ZA, Glatstein E, "Chapter 216: Radiation Bioterrorism," in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th Edition, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, Hauser SL, eds., pp. 1358-1364, McGraw Hill, 2008.
- Patient Decontamination: Recommendations for Hospitals (PDF - 124 K) (The Hospital and Healthcare System Disaster Interest Group and the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, July 2005, EMSA #233, Radiological Contamination, pages 11-16)
- Marcus CS, Siegel JA, Sparks RB. Medical Management of Radiocontaminated Patients (PDF - 1.36 MB) (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, June 2006)
- Marcus, CS. Administration of decorporation drugs to treat internal radionuclide contamination: medical emergency response to radiologic incidents. RSO Magazine, 2004;9(5):9-15. (PDF - 34 KB)
- Radiological Attack — Radiological Dispersal Devices (PDF - 127 KB) (The California Emergency Medical Services Authority)
top of page
Potential Isotopes Used in RDDs
Basic Radiological Properties of RDD Isotopes
Basic Radiological Properties of Nine Key Radionuclides for RDDs |
|---|
Isotope |
Half-Life
(years) |
Specific Activity
(Ci/g) |
Decay Mode |
Radiation Energy (MeV) |
Alpha
(α) |
Beta
(β) |
Gamma
(γ) |
Americium-241 |
430 |
3.5 |
α |
5.5 |
0.052 |
0.033 |
Californium-252 |
2.6 |
540 |
α (SF, EC) |
5.9 |
0.0056 |
0.0012 |
Cesium-137 |
30 |
88 |
β, IT |
- |
0.19, 0.065 |
0.60 |
Cobalt-60 |
5.3 |
1,100 |
β |
- |
0.097 |
2.5 |
Iridium-192 |
0.2 (74 d) |
9,200 |
β, EC |
- |
0.22 |
0.82 |
Plutonium-238 |
88 |
17 |
α |
5.5 |
0.011 |
0.0018 |
Polonium-210 |
0.4 (140 d) |
4,500 |
α |
5.3 |
- |
- |
Radium-226 |
1,600 |
1.0 |
α |
4.8 |
0.0036 |
0.0067 |
Strontium-90 |
29 |
140 |
β |
- |
0.20, 0.94 |
- |
SF = spontaneous fission;
IT = isomeric transition;
EC = electron capture.
A hyphen means not applicable.
The radiation energies for cesium-137 include the
contributions of barium-137 metastable (Ba-137m),
and those for strontium-90 include the contributions
of yttrium-90.
|
Adapted from Radiological Dispersal Device (PDF - 380 KB) Human Health Fact Sheet, Argonne National Laboratory, August 2005
top of page
Potential RDD Effects
top of page
|
