The possibility of a terrorist attack using radioactive materials is no longer unthinkable. Since September 11, 2001, news stories have described several possibilities. They include an attack on a nuclear power plant, setting off a small nuclear weapon, or using a ìdirty bombî, which is non-explosive radioactive material spread around by attaching it to high explosives and detonating the explosives.

In any terrorist attack, a primary goal is to create panic. At this time, terrorists probably do not possess the equipment and materials needed to create weapons capable of producing high enough levels of radiation to kill large numbers of people. A terrorist radiological attack is not the same as an attack with a hydrogen bomb. A terrorist attack is likely to be of much smaller scale and can be survived if people refuse to panic and take some simple steps to minimize their exposure to radiation.

This brochure is designed to help people know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack using radioactive materials. It has been prepared in consultation with emergency response professionals who will have the primary responsibility for dealing with such an attack. The brochure provides some basic information on radiation, how it affects your body, and how you can minimize your radiation dose during an attack. It also briefly describes what emergency response personnel will do if an attack using radioactive materials should occur and how you can help make the publicís reaction as orderly and effective as possible, reducing the chances of injury to you, your family, and others.

I. Introduction

As radioactive materials decay, they release radiation. This is a natural physical process that occurs throughout the universe. We live with background radiation every day. The earthís crust contains naturally occurring radioactive materials such as uranium, radium, and radon. In addition, there are naturally occurring radioactive forms of potassium and carbon, both of which are in our own bodies as well as almost every living thing on earth. Cosmic radiation from outer space penetrates our atmosphere. In the United States, the average person receives about 360 millirem (0.360 rem) of background radiation every year. In some parts of the world, the background radiation is up to 50 times that high because concentrations of radioactive materials in the rock and soil are higher there.

When radiation strikes our bodies, it can damage the DNA, which can sometimes lead to cancer. Fortunately, the cells in our bodies are usually able to repair this damage. In places with background radiation much higher than in the United States, the cancer rates are no greater than they are in the U.S. The cells can clearly repair damage done by larger doses of radiation than Americans usually receive.

It is possible, but unlikely, that terrorists will use devices that deliver high doses of radiation to a small area. They are more likely to attempt to spread the radioactive material over large areas, hoping that it will induce panic and make a mess that will be time-consuming and expensive to clean up. The result will be doses that are too low to be lethal.

II. What is radiation and how does it interact with materials?

There are many types of radiation including visible radiation (light), radio waves, and ultraviolet radiation. The type of radiation that comes from radioactive materials is known as ionizing radiation. It is called ionizing radiation because of the way it affects atoms in the materials it strikes. The radiation typically knocks an electron out of its orbit, and the remaining atom, which is missing an electron, is called an ion. The amount of damage done by ionizing radiation depends on how much energy the radiation has, i.e. how many ions it can form.

As radiation passes through air, or water, or buildings, or any other material, it interacts with atoms in those materials. Each time the radiation interacts with an atom, it uses up some of its energy to form an ion. Eventually, the radiationís energy is gone, and it can no longer do any damage.

III. How does radiation affect your body?

The level of radiation that can cause radiation sickness is about 100 rem or more in a short burst, and a dose of about 400-500 rem will prove fatal to 50% of the population, without medical treatment. A dose of 1000 rem is always fatal. However, even 100 rem is far more radiation exposure than is likely to result from the use of a terroristís radiological weapon.

Exposure to the lower levels of radiation from a terrorist attack may cause an increased risk of cancer later in life. The probability of developing cancer depends on how much radiation you received. Even so, many scientific studies have shown that people exposed to job-related or natural radiation at levels comparable to those expected in a radiological attack have not had increased rates of cancer.

IV. Keys to minimizing the dose you receive

1. Control your emotions. The attack is designed to induce terror. By controlling your emotions, you thwart the primary aim of the attacker. Your goal is to minimize danger to yourself and those around you. It is highly unlikely that radioactive material spread over a wide area will produce a large enough dose to cause radiation sickness or death. Remain calm and avoid actions such as pushing, shoving, darting across highways, running down stairs, or driving aggressively that are more likely than radiation to injure or kill you or others.

2. Shield yourself from radiation. Glass, concrete, metal, and other materials will help to shield you from radiation. If you are outdoors, move inside.

3. Wash and change your clothes. If you have been directly exposed to radioactive materials, you should wash the exposed parts of your skin (taking a shower is preferred) and change your clothes as soon as possible. Package any contaminated clothes or other articles in a sealed plastic trash bag. Put the bag in a room people will not be using.

4. Minimize inhalation and ingestion of radioactive materials. If you are outdoors, breathe through a folded handkerchief or other piece of cloth to help filter radioactive particles. If you are indoors, close the windows and put the ventilation system on recycled air. Do not eat food with radioactive material on it.

5. Increase the distance between you and the source of radiation. If you are in the immediate area of a radiological attack (100s of feet), move away from the source of radiation. Radiation dose drops off quickly with distance. If you double your distance from a radiation source, the dose will drop by a factor of 4 and tripling your distance will reduce the dose by a factor of 9.

However, at the beginning of a radiological attack, most people will not know exactly where the source of the radioactive material is located. A person may be as likely to move toward the source as to move away from it. Stay inside where the shielding reduces your exposure and leave the roadways clear for the emergency response professionals. Evacuate in an orderly manner when instructed to do so.

V. What trained emergency response personnel will do in case of an attack using radioactive materials

1. Identify the nature of the problem.
2. Determine the severity of the problem.
3. Map the boundaries of the affected areas and set up barriers to show where the contamination is.
4. Move people out of the area, starting with those in the most-contaminated zones.
5. Survey and decontaminate people as necessary.
6. Start to clean up the contamination, with the assistance of state and federal agencies.

VI. What you can do to help make the public response to such an attack as orderly and effective as possible, reducing the chances of injury to you, your family, and others

1.The most important thing to remember is to avoid panic. An act of radiological terrorism is a serious matter that can lead to great disruption and inconvenience, but it is not likely to be life-threatening. The single best thing you can do is to keep your head and to act in a calm and orderly manner.

2. Review and follow the guidelines in this document. Listen to and comply with the instructions given to you by emergency response personnel, who have been trained in dealing with emergencies such as this one.

3. Recognize that an attack is a public disaster situation. Great demands will be placed on public resources, and theses resources will be utilized where they are most needed. Recognize that normal life may be disrupted for some time, and be prepared to cope with this disruption. Many areas advise the stockpiling of water, food, blankets, flashlights, etc. for severe storms, earthquakes, fires, etc. These supplies will also be valuable in a radiological attack.

4. Be familiar with your cityís, countyís, or stateís emergency response plan. Those plans are often available at public libraries or from the local Emergency Management or Civil Defense agencies.

For more information:

A short list of documents, web sites, and other sources of information for the public will be included here.