USFA Critical Infrastructure Protection Center
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"Dirty bombs" are a real threat in America, security experts say. They claim this because of the demonstrated determination of terrorists and the availability of radioactive materials.
Records of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reveal there were 107 reports of lost or stolen radioactive sources in the United States alone during the six months ending March 31, 2002. In recent years, the annual rate of lost or stolen substances has been about 375 according to the NRC. The missing materials range from low-radioactivity debris stolen from hospitals to highly poisonous waste swiped from nuclear power plants or secretly extracted from dump sites.
No one can accurately predict how many people might be killed or injured in a radiological "dirty bomb" attack. The answer depends on a wide variety of factors ranging from the amount and type of radioactivity to the delivery means of dispersal.
Given this uncertainty, researchers maintain that the most immediate threat may not be medical but psychological due in part to an overly dramatic fear of radiation that has crept into the national consciousness. Their point is that hysteria could achieve what radioisotopes might not. These scientists believe that a "dirty bomb" attack will cause a rapid and chaotic mass evacuation of people resulting in car accidents with deaths, fatal arguments, destruction of property, total disruption of all services, and much more.
The leadership of emergency first responders must realize that the terrorist’s aim to induce fear and cause panic may adversely affect their personnel as well.
It is probable that the psychological damage of a radiological detonation will trigger different professional and personal reactions than observed on 9/11. Concerns about being contaminated and the safety of family members could potentially generate uncooperative behaviors. Therefore, chief officers have to consider the possibility of a shortage of emergency workers willing to assist at the bomb site.
To overcome the ill effects on first responders of a "dirty bomb" explosion, the Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI) recommends quality training on the proper equipment. ERRI urges fire, police, and EMS departments, including hazardous materials response teams, to obtain, train with, and use the best available radiological survey equipment during any response to a known or suspected explosion.
The equipment could then be reliably employed to determine what protective clothing, equipment, and special units must be required at the scene. The availability of appropriate training and equipment can yield significant benefits. Frequent rehearsals with quality equipment usually build survival confidence and the expectation of mission accomplishment.
