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Radiological Dispersion Devices and Nuclear Weapons An Overview

Radiological Dispersion Devices and Nuclear Weapons An Overview Victor E. Anderson, C.H.P. Radiologic Health Branch California Department of Public Health Use of Radioactive Materials for Terrorist Attack Few, if any deaths due to radiation. Possible deaths due to the explosion. ?

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Radiological Dispersion Devices and Nuclear Weapons An Overview

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  1. Radiological Dispersion Devices and Nuclear WeaponsAn Overview Victor E. Anderson, C.H.P. Radiologic Health Branch California Department of Public Health

  2. Use of Radioactive Materials for Terrorist Attack • Few, if any deaths due to radiation. • Possible deaths due to the explosion. ?

  3. Use of Radioactive Materials for Terrorist Attack • Most likely impact will psychological. • The most important impact will be economic.

  4. Radiation Dose Delivery • External Dose • Source • Fragments • Fallout • Internal Dose • Primarily inhalation pathway.

  5. Radiography Source Plastic Explosive Radiological Dispersion Devices can vary in complexity and design.

  6. OR Lid w/explosive bolts Cooling system for decay heat is required High Level Source MegaCuries or more Mechanism for introducing explosive charge and detonating weapon Shielding

  7. Types of RDD • Improvised • Purpose Built • Manufactured

  8. Most Likely RDD • Economy of force and physics • Improvised • Explosive • Possibly incendiary

  9. Potential Radionuclides. • Primary • Co-60 • Cs-137 • Ir-192 • Sr-90 (Y-90 in equilibrium) • Am-241 • Based on availability and manufactured quantities.

  10. Other Radionuclides • Pu (Generally Pu-239 or Pu-238) • U-235 • Thorium • Heavy Metal issues - ~ 109 mCi/metric ton • Radium • Issues with obtaining sufficient quantities.

  11. As the Cloud Moves Down Wind Radioactive material is deposited as fallout.

  12. Radiation Issues • Ionizing Radiation • Emission of energy • X & Gamma Radiation • Beta and Alpha • Measured in rem and millirem • Rates: rem/hr; mrem/hr • 100 rem = 1 Sievert

  13. Radiation Issues • Dose = Dose Rate X Time • 120 mrem/hr X (½ hr) = 60 mrem • Immediate damage does not occur until after 100 rem of dose. • Annual radiation worker limit: 5 rem/yr • Public dose limit: 100 mrem/yr • Long term effects have not been detected at these low levels.

  14. Radioactive Contamination • Contamination is the presence of radioactive material in a place where it is not wanted. • Radiation Contamination • Contamination does emit radiation. • Major concern is inside people.

  15. First Responder Issues • TURN ON YOUR SURVEY METERS! • Use ICS and SEMS • Life saving takes precedence over radiation control issues. • Do keep track of first responders radiation dose. • Remember: dose rate X time = dose.

  16. First Responder Issues • Call for help. • Use SEMS to ask for: • Radiologic Health Branch Strike Teams • Ca National Guard Civil Support Team • DOE Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) Team.

  17. Care for Contaminated & Injured • Contamination levels on patients • Will not cause radiation injuries to care givers. • Will not cause care givers to become “casualties.” • Are a hygiene issue. • TAKE CARE OF MEDICAL ISSUES FIRST!!!

  18. Care for Contaminated & Injured • When the patient is stabilized • Survey – where is the contamination? • Remove clothing as needed. • Use gauze, sponges, small amounts of soap and water, or “baby wipes” to clean the contaminated areas. • Use sheets and blankets to contain any contamination that can not be cleaned in the field.

  19. Care for Contaminated & Injured • At the ER • Do use a special area to survey and receive the patient. • At the same time do the usual medical screening. • Take care of the patient’s medical problems. • Decontaminate last. • Don’t lose track of patient’s condition.

  20. Controlling ContaminationAt the ER OUT IN PATIENT

  21. Downwind Issues • Assessment • When to evacuate? • Mass decontamination and screening • Recovery

  22. Assessment • Use computer models and measurements. • Project where contamination is and levels. • Determine projected dose rates • Rapid • Recommendation to Incident Command and Emergency Operations Center

  23. When to evacuate? • Use EPA Protective Action Guides (PAG). • Based on dose from deposition. • Greater than one rem in 24 hours. • Greater than two rem in one year. • Use State Dose Assessment Center. If not available use: • Radiologic Health Branch Teams • Radiation Assistance Team (RAP)

  24. Mass Decontamination and Screening • Radioactive contamination is easily removed – soap and water, waterless cleaners, etc. • Radiation dose to contaminated individuals is small. • Major issue is decompression of individual and collective fears and concerns.

  25. Mass Decontamination and Screening • A plan is necessary. • Gives the population direction and hope. • Prevents mass exodus to hospitals. • Must plan for large numbers ~ one million persons. • Reception centers.

  26. Mass Decontamination and Screening • Giving everyone a shower is not the answer! • ~ 10% of the population is medically challenged. • Not all will be contaminated. • Worried well problem. • Some will only be partially contaminated.

  27. Reception Centers • Enough survey meters. • Supplies. • Decontamination • Clothing • Concentrate on minimum use of water. • Documentation • Volunteer Nuclear Medicine Doctors and Radiation Oncologists

  28. Public Communication Clear Multiple Languages Provide Good Information

  29. Public Communication • Can help to prevent panic. • Key to keeping uninjured from going to hospitals. • Must be followed up by educational materials. • What is radiation? • What is the danger? • What can I do?

  30. Law Enforcement Issues • Evidence Collection and support. • Security for first responders with respect to issues such as secondary devices. • Security of the site to assure that unauthorized personnel do not enter. • Crowd control and assistance for evacuees. • Traffic Control

  31. Surveillance Issues • Determine contamination levels. • Plume projections help. • Need teams to survey ground. • Sample for loose and fixed contamination. • Loose contamination is radioactive material that is easily transferred from one surface to another. • Fixed contamination does not move easily. • Suitable air, water, and other environmental testing.

  32. Laboratory Issues • Identification of the radioactive materials • Will occur almost immediately. • Field methods are sufficient. • Laboratories will be needed to: • Analyze large numbers of samples for radioactive materials content. • Air Plants • Water Meats Dairy Products

  33. Laboratory Issues • Does not require environmental sampling sensitivities – e.g., picocuries or less. • High throughput • Shorter count times. • Good documentation. • Sample dose rate limits should be based on equipment limits.

  34. Laboratory Issues • Laboratory personnel should be able to easily stay within radiation dose worker limits. • Contamination control will be an issue. • Storage and documentation of samples. • Radioactive • Non-radioactive

  35. Some Thoughts • How big – kilotons • What will it do? • How far? • How many?

  36. Nuclear Weapon Basics • What is an explosion? • A very fast fire that has no place to go. • Chemical Explosion • Powered by chemical changes • Nuclear Explosion • Powered by nuclear changes • Fission • Fusion

  37. Fission Process • Fissionable Materials – U-233, U-235, Pu-239. • Atom is split by a neutron and you get: • Two or more smaller atoms • Two to three neutrons. • Other atoms may or not be split.

  38. Criticality • Sub Critical • Does not sustain fission • Critical • Neutron Population Steady • Cannot extract power • Supercritical • Neutron population growing slowly • Can extract useful power.

  39. Prompt Critical • Neutrons are increasing very fast. • Nuclear reaction is running away • Result: A very, very fast burning nuclear fire. • If confined, so that the explosive forces build up, then an explosion occurs.

  40. Types of Fission Bombs • Gun type

  41. Types of Fission Bombs • Implosion Type High Explosive Subcritical Core

  42. Construction Issues • Gun type is easiest to make. • Less efficient • Larger and heavier • Implosion type is much harder • More efficient • Lighter and smaller

  43. Type of Weapon Used • Stolen • “Suitcase” bombs ~ 0.1 to 10 kt • Tactical Warheads ~ 1 to 20 kt. • Improvised • Gun type • ~10 to 20 kt Range

  44. National Planning Scenario • Ten kiloton Weapon • Major urban area • Business Centers • Ports • Malls • California CDPH Scenario • Ground Burst

  45. Effects Part One • Intense nuclear reaction lasting for a tens to hundreds of microseconds. • Fireball formation • Light in the form of visible light, heat, and high energy photons (x and gamma rays). • Neutron Radiation • Electro-magnetic Pulse (EMP) • Shock or concussion wave. • Radioactive materials leading to fallout.

  46. The Fireball • Temperature starts at millions of degrees centigrade and falls to about 3,000 degrees centigrade at the maximum radius. • Size varies with strength. • R ≈ 145 (kt)0.4 for contact surface. • R ≈ 110 (kt)0.4 for air burst. • R ≈ 90 (kt)0.4 for surface burst.

  47. Fireball Radius for 10 kt Surface Contact Burst

  48. 10 kt Distance to Ignite Structures(50 cal/cm2)

  49. 10 kt Approximate Distance For Third Degree Burns (~ 8 cal/cm2)

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