1. 1 “Dirty Bombs” Biology 1114

2. 2 What is a Dirty Bomb?  An Explosive designed to spread Radioactive material  Also known as Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)  Combines a conventional explosive with radioactive material  Example: Dynamite

3. 3 Dirty Bomb  Usually Built if unable to create a Nuclear Bomb  Cruder and Cheaper than a Nuclear Bomb  Doesn’t have same explosive damage.

4. 4 Dirty Bomb Materials  Many types of Radioactive material could be used.  Plutonium  Uranium  Nuclear Fuel  Strontium 90  Cesium 137

5. 5 Other Materials  Also Medical Supplies  Radium  Only takes a Measuring Cup’s Worth  Wouldn’t cause severe damage in a wide area

6. 6 Impact of a Dirty Bomb

7. 7 Impact of a Dirty Bomb (cont’d)  Nothing like a nuclear weapon  “Weapon of Mass Disruption”…not “Destruction”  Act of explosion has a more instant effect than the radioactive material  Most do not have enough radioactive material to kill or cause severe illness

8. 8 Impact (cont’d)  Certain radioactive materials could contaminate several city blocks  Requires a costly cleanup  Installs fear and panic (!!!!!)

9. 9 Factors of impact  Size of the explosive  Amount of radioactive material  Type of radioactive material  Material used  Condition of the weather

10. 10 Sources of Rad. material Radioactive materials are used in:  Hospitals  Research facilities  Industrial & construction sites

11. 11 Controlling the source  Control measures have been tightened since 9/11

12. 12 Risks of Exposure  Risks of receiving cancer is small  Exposure to the radioactive source is for a short period of time

13. 13 What to do afterwards….  GET AWAY FROM THE AREA!!!  Get inside  Remove clothing…for testing purposes  Take a shower (dust n’ dirt containing rad. material) (all of these steps will reduce rad. Exposure)

14. 14 History of Use

15. 15 History (cont’d)  1995: rebels from Chechnya planted…but did not detonate a dirty bomb; took place in Moscow  Man in London pleaded guilty with the intent to kill innocent people by the means of a Dirty Bomb (target: underground car parks) (target: underground car parks)

16. 16 Works Cited  United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission  Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.