Don Shift Sends: What is a dirty bomb and can one in Eastern Europe hurt me in the United States?

Note: this an adaptation from my non-fiction book Nuclear Survival in the Suburbs, available on Amazon.

A “dirty bomb” is a weapon that scatters radioactive material via explosive force, usually through using conventional explosives. They are also known as a radiological dispersion device (RDD) and other means of propulsion can be used. Whereas ordinary bombs cause death and destruction through blast and shrapnel, a dirty bomb’s purpose is to spread radioactive material.

A dirty bomb is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). WMDs include chemical (poison gas), biological (diseases), radiological (dirty bomb), or nuclear (nuclear warheads). Dirty bombs have never been detonated in combat or terrorism, as of mid-October 2022.

There is no way for a dirty bomb to cause a nuclear explosion/reaction. For that to occur, enough highly radioactive material has to be brought together rapidly in a very specific sequence. The radioactive material in a dirty bomb is an addition to the explosive, which is used to spread the material around either by physically hurling it out or vaporizing it into a dust. The radioactive elements (isotopes) could be in a powdery, dust-like form, in pellets, chunks, or even sections of a medical or industrial device that is blown up.

Deliberate sabotage of a nuclear powerplant using wind and weather to spread radioactive contamination would fall into the same category. While discussing nuclear powerplants, though Chernobyl and Fukushima both had explosions and leaked radioactivity, these explosions were not nuclear explosions. Chernobyl was basically a massive steam explosion and Fukushima was the ignition of leaking hydrogen gas. Neither accident was deliberate. It is possible that instead of a radiological weapon, a terrorist or enemy force may deliberately bomb or otherwise sabotage a nuclear reactor.

Both nuclear sabotage and a dirty bomb will have limited geographical effects. Unlike a nuclear weapon, which creates an uncontained nuclear reaction (and a really big boom), dirty bombs do not create traditional fallout. Nuclear fallout from a nuclear weapon is material that is sucked through the nuclear reaction shortly after detonation. The material is irradiated, is carried upwards by the explosion, and falls out from the lower atmosphere hours and days later, to months later from the upper atmosphere. Weapon fallout is extremely dangerous due to its intense radioactivity and the distance it can contaminate.

A dirty bomb doesn’t have the same force as a nuclear weapon; a dirty bomb simply cannot propel material high enough or far enough to affect whole regions. Again, a few hundred or thousands of pounds of explosives, perhaps a car bomb, detonates and physically throws the radioactive material around. Surface, rather than higher atmospheric winds, are responsible for further dispersion. Contaminated areas would be a few blocks or square miles, depending on the device, the material, and the weather conditions.

A dirty bomb therefore becomes more of a terror weapon and contaminator than a direct killing device. Conventional explosives detonated at ground level simply cannot kill nearly as many people. The largest death toll from a car bombing (non-radiological) was 587 in an October 14, 2017 incident in Mogadishu. Nukes will kill tens to hundreds of thousands. Thus, a dirty bomb kills primarily through the ordinary blast and perhaps radiation injuries in the future.

How dirty bombs work

Conventional high explosives are used to explode the device and disperse the material in most expected cases. High-velocity shrapnel (metallic debris, ball bearings, etc.) can be added for additional immediate effect. The radioactive material would probably be medical or other industrial isotopes stolen or scavenged. Radioactive material is easier to obtain in the third world where safeguards are fewer. Low-grade material can be sourced openly in the United States but this does not have the same radioactivity as more controlled isotopes.

Any radioactive material can be used in a dirty bomb but it may not be effective at creating a truly injurious radiological disaster. Dirty bombs operate mostly through area denial; they spread radioactive contamination that then requires decontamination or closure of the affected area. Highly radioactive materials can cause cancer or acute radiation sickness (ARS); mildly radioactive materials could cause long-term cancer or other health effects, especially if ingested.

For the terrorism angle, thankfully the ability to source high-grade isotopes is difficult and unlikely. Use of low-grade isotopes would result in cordoned-off areas and mostly explosion-related injuries with the greatest effect being panic and fear. As a true terror device, any radiological contamination, even if ultimately not very harmful, would frighten a lot of people. Imagine the harm to tourism and property values if a dirty bomb contaminated several blocks around Times Square or down the Las Vegas Strip.

A nation or state actor using a dirty bomb would certainly have access to much more dangerous isotopes. These materials would not cause widespread fallout like a nuclear weapon, but a person exposed to them for a long enough period of time, assuming the material was radioactive or “hot” enough, may develop acute radiation syndrome. Prolonged exposure or ingestion of contaminated produce, milk, or meat may cause cancer in the future. The practical effect would be a smaller version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

In either case, the psychological angle is the greatest advantage the weapon has. It counts on the average person not being informed or intelligent enough to tell the difference between a dirty bomb and a true nuclear weapon. Threats or fears of using a radiological weapon can be intended to produce political effects through legislation, political or military capitulation, or simply public anxiety and social disruption.

Health effects

Likely health effects would be limited to the person immediately injured by the blast itself, including thermal (burns) injuries, concussive force injuries, lacerations, penetrating trauma, crushing injuries, etc. Additional dangerous chemicals may cause toxic effects if these are used.

Radiological danger is limited. Any radioisotope will decay rapidly once it is removed from a nuclear reactor and naturally radioactive materials (i.e. uranium ore) is too weak to be dangerous except for extremely prolonged exposure. Even high-grade isotopes will require one to be in very close proximity or physical contact with the contamination to sustain a radiation injury or dramatically increase the chances of developing cancer.

The most likely way someone would develop an attributable radiation injury would be from inhaling dust or smoke with radioactive particles in it or ingesting contamination. In the latter case, normal hygiene can prevent this as well as avoiding any produce/milk/meat from a contaminated area. For inhalation, this would primarily affect those in the main blast area, downwind of it immediately after the blast as the debris and material is dispersing, or from fires burning in a contaminated area.

Nuclear radiation occurs in three main forms; alpha, beta, and gamma. The first two, alpha and beta, can be quite dangerous but only if they enter your body somehow. Alpha radiation can be stopped by long sleeves. Beta particles can burn the skin if in physical contact but are much more dangerous if you breathe it in or get it in your mouth.

Gamma radiation, the most dangerous form of radiation, requires a nuclear reaction like a nuclear explosion or a reactor. Any gamma-emitting material used in the weapon is likely to have significantly decayed between when it was “created” to when it was added to the weapon. This delay and decay makes gamma emitting material far less dangerous than true nuclear fallout.

Protection measures include getting away from the blast area and decontaminating oneself. Handwashing, showers, and changing clothing are important for anyone who was exposed to debris, smoke, or dust. Covering the mouth or wearing a N95 respirator or greater will help prevent inhalation of potentially radioactive particles but this is only in the immediate area; not miles and miles away.

Those who live or work in an affected area should stay inside with all doors and windows closed. Persons entering should decontaminate and change clothes. Ventilation systems should be shutdown where possible unless advised otherwise by health authorities. Evacuation or shelter-in-place orders should be followed. Contaminated vehicles that aren’t detained by authorities need to be carefully washed.

How do I know if I’m sick?

Most radiation deaths will be from cancers and related illnesses that do not develop for many years. Radiation can only be detected by Geiger counters and dosimeters picking up on the invisible rays coming from the minute radioactive particles themselves. This detection can tell if it is on your skin, clothing, your vehicle, or if the area or building around you has been contaminated.

While acute radiation syndrome is unlikely from a dirty bomb, it may occur in those exposed to very high doses of radiation who were close to the explosion. The initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, headache, and fatigue. Not coincidentally, these are all symptoms of anxiety that a major disaster like this will produce in many people. So anyone who feels these symptoms may just be upset; they will need to seek medical treatment for additional screening and tests.

More serious symptoms indicative of radiation exposure includes burns, reddening of skin (like a sunburn), or swelling. These usually develop within hours of exposure to radiation or particles on the skin. Note that medical facilities will probably be overwhelmed by traumatic injuries, hypochondriacs, and those being screed for radiation exposure.

Authorities will survey in real time the affected area for contamination and report the findings. Shelter-in-place and evacuation zones will be defined. Those in at-risk areas will be told what to do. Virtually every large fire department has this capability and all state/national governments have teams for just such an event. Eventually, the affected zones will be mapped and the radiation danger, as well as potential exposure to victims, will be known. Anyone who is in the immediate area should remember exactly where they were and how they evacuated so exposure dosage can be calculated later.

Do not take potassium iodide (KI) unless instructed to by authorities. If it is necessary, authorities will recommend its use and distribute it as well. Iodine can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. KI is not a magic pill that prevents radiation sickness. It only works before, or shortly after, contamination to fill up the thyroid with “good” iodine so the radioactive kind is naturally excreted from the body. Taking it days or weeks after the event will do no good.

KI supplements only work to protect the thyroid from accumulating dangerous levels of radioactive iodine. Radiation in the thyroid gland can cause cancer, however, this is something that takes many years to decades to develop, leaving mainly children and young adults at risk. Older adults can typically forego any KI supplementation.

Radioactive iodine is unlikely to be encountered from a dirty bomb. Testing is required to determine if it was present and this may take hours or days after the event. This radionuclide is typically only produced by a true nuclear explosion and would only be present after a dirty bomb if radioactive iodine was used as the nuclear contaminant.

Risk

Americans face little risk from a dirty bomb in Europe or domestically. Radiological material in the US is highly controlled and most major cities monitor radiation levels to detect potential dirty bombs before detonation. Generally a dirty bomb would only be employed in the US or Western Europe in major population centers in a place with major economic, political, or tourist activity.

The main danger from a nation-state attack (say if an incident occurred in Ukraine or Russia) would be escalation of an existing, or causing an, international crisis. A war may escalate in the same manner if other weapons of mass destruction (chemical/biological), regardless of who the perpetrator actually is or what their intentions were. Major acts can have repercussions that no one sees. Potentially, in the case of Ukraine/Russia, an outside case is the use of true nuclear weapons at the tactical/strategic level or the involvement of outside (NATO) forces.

An attack in Eastern Europe would have little practical effect in the United States. Radioactive material of any significant health effect cannot travel halfway around the globe. While trace amounts from a disaster like Chernobyl may be detected far away, it is unlikely to cause any attributable injury. Use of potassium iodine (KI) wouldn’t be required unless otherwise advised by health authorities. For those in Europe, depending on the nature of the isotopes, the weather, and the particulars of the incident there may be some regional health concerns.

Tactical nuclear weapons in Europe would put fallout into the atmosphere as these would be true nuclear explosions. The greatest danger would be locally with the rest of the world needing to worry about elevated cancer risks and potential escalation to a full nuclear exchange. Limited use of nuclear weapons would eject fallout high into the atmosphere which would travel worldwide, returning to Earth weeks or months later (late fallout). The risk here is long-term cancers, depending on how many weapons, in what yield, and whether they were air or surface bursts.

Another risk is economic and social disruption. Large areas of a city would need to be closed for decontamination, demolition, and repair. This may take weeks or months. The work will be extensive and costly. Business closures and residents’ relocation will cause personal financial harm and damage to the city’s business and tourist reputation, harming recovery and property values. Panic may set in during the initial aftermath although this would probably be short-lived. National or regional political and social upset may occur.

What should I do?

In any case, follow authorities’ instructions if a dirty bomb detonates near you. If the incident is halfway across the world or outside your immediate region, there is no immediate danger from the device. Turn on your local TV or radio news and monitor emergency services’ websites. Whether outside or indoors when near the blast, remember your exact location as this may be necessary to calculate your radiation exposure.

Near the blast

• Do not pickup any debris or suspected radioactive material.
• Take cover from the shockwave and any shrapnel or falling debris.
• Evacuate any damaged building, including ones with broken windows. You may need to relocate to another floor/portion that is intact until authorities advise otherwise.
• If you are able to cover yourself with an outer coat, poncho, or something, this may keep contamination off your skin and inner clothing.
• Cover your face with clothing, a mask, or a N95 or greater respirator to protect against inhaling radioactive dust or smoke.
• Get into an intact building when possible or leave the affected area.
• Seek medical help for traumatic injuries.

In a car

• Take cover to avoid the effects of the blast and avoid any debris.
• Close the windows, turn off the AC/heater, and set the ventilation to recirculation. If you are forced to stop, park in the shade if hot, or ideally in a parking garage or below a bridge (shielding).
• If possible, take shelter in the nearest intact building. Otherwise, drive parallel to the debris/smoke pattern until out of it and evacuate upwind of the blast.
• Remain in the vehicle, listening to the radio, until authorities give you instructions on what to do and where to go.
• If you do head away or home, understand you may be bringing contamination with you. Authorities may detain or confiscate your vehicle if they cannot decontaminate it.
• A vehicle brought home should not be parked in a garage. It should be carefully washed with much soap including the outer body, the undercarriage, wheels/tires, and engine compartment. Note that any runoff may contain radioactive contamination that will linger in the immediate area or enter local waterways.
• All air filters in a vehicle should be changed as soon as possible and discarded as they may have trapped radioactive particles. The interior should be wiped down and all carpets and upholstery scrupulously vacuumed.
• All sponges, cleaning cloths, towels, vacuum debris, etc. should be discarded carefully. Do not wax your vehicle. In fact, don’t bother to dry it as this may contaminate towels.
• Radioactive particles may be trapped in the vehicle that you cannot remove. This radiation can be detected by instruments. Authorities may search for such vehicles and may confiscate them or require extensive, professional decontamination.
• Virtually all automobile insurance policies specifically exclude nuclear incidents and radioactive contamination meaning that your car insurance will not be able to help you.

Decontamination

• Most radiation will be on your skin and clothing.
• Remove your shoes before entering the building if possible. Do not wear them around inside the building as they may be tracking in contamination.
• Remove your clothing, sealing it in a plastic bag. Clothing should be set aside rather than washed and certainly not initially washed directly in one’s washing machine.
• Any discarded clothing or shoes should be placed outside, away from people, ideally sealed in plastic and inside a thick metal box. Authorities may be able to test the clothing to determine how much radiation you were exposed to.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Shower thoroughly, including your hair, but do not use conditioner (will lock in any particles).
• Use cold or lukewarm water; hot water will open your pores which may trap particles in your skin.

Buildings

• Evacuate any damaged building, including ones with broken windows. You may need to relocate to another floor/portion that is intact until authorities advise otherwise.
• If the building is undamaged, shut down any HVAC systems, close all windows, doors, and vents including your fireplace or stove damper.
• Do not use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal doors, windows, and vents off unless told to by authorities. If unable to evacuate, you may wish to seal only damaged portions of the building (broken windows, holes in walls) with sheeting.
• Seek shelter in a basement or the most interior part of the house to reduce the amount of radiation you are exposed to. Radiation levels should be relatively low compared to a true nuclear explosion but the same advice applies.

At home

• Follow all precautions for other buildings.
• Stay inside as much as possible. Any non-essential outdoor activities need to stop until given the all-clear by authorities.
• Bring your pets inside. Wash them the same way as a human. Be sure to carefully clean their paws.
• Pets should have their paws placed in booties or socks when taken outside to relieve themselves or get exercise in the event the ground is contaminated. Very radioactive particles can burn skin and contamination could be tracked inside.
• The inside of the home should be mopped and vacuumed if contamination has entered. Change air filters if heavily clogged with contamination or wait until after the initial crisis to replace them per local advice.
• The exterior structure and the ground can be decontaminated as necessary but local authorities’ advice should be followed. Any decontamination should be done “wet” with water to avoid kicking up dust.
• Do not eat and discard any contaminated produce from your garden. Seek official advice from authorities or your veterinarian regarding any livestock.