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Radiological Response: Myth vs' Reality

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Title: Radiological Response: Myth vs' Reality


1
Radiological ResponseMyth vs. Reality
  • James Barnes
  • Certified Health Physicist
  • Chairperson, Homeland Security Committee, Health
    Physics Society
  • Bobbie Walton
  • Governors Office of Emergency Services
  • State of California

2
Health Physics SocietyHomeland Security Committee
http//hps.org/hsc/
3
Radiation and the First Responder
4
Visualizing Radiation
For best viewing, turn brightness and contrast on
the monitor to maximum values
http//faraday.physics.uiowa.edu/modern/7D30.60b.h
tm
5
Average Exposures From Background Radiation
Average Exposure 0.360 rem/year
6
Radiation Risk High Dose
7
Radiation Risk Low Dose
In our society, about 20 of the population will
die of cancer. In 10,000 people, this means that
2,000 will die from cancer. If 10,000 people were
to be given 1 REM of radiation, statistics
suggest that 2,004 will die of cancer. This
suggests that the risk of excess cancer deaths is
increased by a factor of about 0.0004 per rem.
8
Myth 1
  • Radiation is so deadly that an attack using
    radioactive materials will kill thousands of
    people.

9
The Goiania Experience (Sept, 1987)
Rozental, J. J. Radiological Accident in Goiana -
An Overview.
10
The Goiania Experience
  • A mothballed tele-therapy irradiator was present
    in an abandoned hospital building.
  • Two men decided to mine the metal in the
    irradiator.
  • The unit (containing 1400 curies of Cs-137) was
    dismantled. The source capsule was ruptured and
    the cesium was released.
  • The glowing crystals (due the the extremely
    high radioactivity of the material) was taken
    home and shared with family and friends.
  • There was widespread contamination of the
    neighborhood.

11
Initial Response
  • 112,000 people (10 of Goianias population)
    were surveyed at an Olympic Stadium.
  • 250 were identified as contaminated
  • 50 contaminated people were isolated in a camping
    area inside the Olympic Stadium for more detailed
    screening
  • 20 people were hospitalized or transferred to
    special housing with medicaland nursing
    assistance
  • 8 patients transferredto the Navy Hospital
    inRio de Janeiro
  • Residential contamination surveywas initiated

12
Early Consequences
  • Widespread contamination of downtown Goiania
  • 85 residences found to have significant
    contamination (41 of these were evacuated and a
    few were completely or partially demolished)
  • People cross-contaminated houses 100 miles away
  • Hot Spots at 3 scrap metal yards and one house

13
Radiation Injuries and Uptakes
  • 4 fatalities (2 men, 1 woman and 1 child)
  • 28 patients had radiation induced skin
    injuries(they held/played with the source for
    extended periods)
  • 50 people had internaldeposition (ingestion)

14
The Goiania Experience (cont.)
  • Significant psychological consequences amongst
    the population such as fear and depression.
  • Discrimination against the victims and key
    products of local economy
  • Psychomatic illnesses related to the accident
    stress.
  • In first 60,000 monitored individuals
  • 5,000 presented symptoms consistent with Acute
    Radiation Syndrome (i.e, rash, nausea, vomiting,
    diarrhea, weakness, etc.).
  • Of these 5,000 persons, NONE were contaminated.

Salter (citing Peterson in Nuclear News 1988).
Helping to Prevent Terror Following A
Radiological Incident. HPS Annual Meeting 2001.
15
Conclusions
  • Long and expensive clean-up effort.
  • Profound psychological effects such as fear and
    depression on large populations
  • Isolation and boycott of goods by neighbors

16
The Reality
  • The primary effect of this dispersed
    radioactivity was psychological and sociological,
    not radiological.
  • The true radiation effects were limited to those
    in the immediate vicinity of the source remnants
  • They were exposed the longest
  • They were closest to the source material
  • They had little protection from the source

17
The Radiation Terrorist
18
The term "terrorism" means an activity that --
19
The Nuclear Weapon
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What was your reaction to that last slide?
22
Myth 2
  • Nobody can survive the aftermath of a nuclear
    weapon. There is so much radiation that it will
    scorch the earth.

23
Blast and Fire create high levels of destruction
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The process (nuclear fission), creates
radioactive materials and distributes them over a
wide area (fallout).
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28
The Reality
  • Terrorists do not have thermonuclear weapons.
    They may have small yield nuclear (fission)
    weapons.
  • The levels of an atomic weapons dispersion are
    NOT as severe as a hydrogen bombs, and CAN be
    survived.
  • While such an attack would be devastating, it
    does not create an inescapable environment in the
    surrounding areas (i.e., survive the blast, and
    you have a good chance of escaping).
  • With proper planning and preparation, people can
    escape from fallout affected areas without
    incurring serious exposures.

29
Radiological Dispersal Device
30
Myth 3
  • Thousands will die if a dirty bomb is exploded
    in a major city.

31
The Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
Radioactive Material
High Explosive
32
Detectable Ground Contamination Can be Found
Miles Downwind
0.2 uCi/m2 Can be detected with thin window G-M
meter
2 uCi/m2 Can be detected with dose rate meter
33
Despite Widespread Contamination, There Are
Relatively Small Exposures
1 REM EPA Shelter Area Less than 0.1
miles downwind
0.01 0.1 REM out to 2 miles Dose similar to a
chest x ray or 30 of natural background
34
Los Angeles Example EPA PAG Would Recommend
Shelter/Evacuation of a Few Residential Blocks
Release 1.3 KCi CS-137 RDDwith 5 lbs HE 4-Day
Dose (Internal External)Evacuation/Relocation
PAG
HYPOTHETICAL
Release location Burbank Police Department 34
10' 60"N, 118 18' 31"W 100 Aerosolized release
fraction Normal summertime west-northwest winds,
10-12 mph. Map size 6 x 6 km
35
The Reality
  • The Dirty Bomb is a weapon of mass disruption,
    not mass destruction.
  • It is effective to the degree that it would
  • Deny area access
  • Induce psychological stress in a population
  • Create economic disruption

36
What Will You Need to Know?
37
Know the Basics About Radiation
  • Lack of trained personnel is the primary reason
    for loss of control of radiation / radioactive
    environments
  • Responders FEAR radiation about as much as the
    public
  • Training should be tailored to the mission /
    scope of the responder (Firefighter vs. EMT vs.
    Haz Matl Team)

38
Where do you get this information?
http//training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is301.asp
39
Where do you get this information?
Many local HPS Chapters will provide training
(general or specific) as a public service
(especially to small (poor) organizations).
http//hps.org/aboutthesociety/organization/chapte
rs.html
40
Where do you get this information?
http//hps.org/hsc/documents/
41
Know Your Response Mission Precisely
  • Examples
  • Fire fighters Set Perimeter Recover Victims
  • Police Secure Perimeter / Scene Investigation
  • FBI Scene Management
  • Red Cross (and others) Mass Shelter and Feeding
  • EMTs / Medical Victim Triage and Medical
    Services Management

Each Mission Requires a Different Radiation
Protection Approach
42
Where do you get this information?
http//www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/nfacsd
43
Where do you get this information?
http//terrorism.spjc.edu/ceu/blurb.asp?examid11
44
Where do you get this information?
http//hps.org/publicinformation/asktheexperts.cfm
45
Obtain and Maintain Instruments
  • Simple works
  • Match the Instrument to the Mission
  • Dose Rate instrument for scene entry
  • Contamination instruments for perimeters
  • No one instrument does it all
  • Cover a range of levels / doses
  • Dose Rates 0.010 50,000 millirem
  • Contamination 100 100,000 dpm
  • Keep them working and calibrated

46
Can I get instruments with no budget?
http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/equipment_hder.htm
47
Know Your Radiation Exposure Limits for a
Terrorist Scene
  • What is a safe dose level for a member of the
    public?
  • What dose level should a responder not exceed?
  • What dose level would make a rescue too dangerous
    to attempt?
  • When would the dose levels apply?

These levels should be formally described. If
youre trying to figure this out AT THE SCENE,
its TOO LATE!
48
Emergency Limits
  • No dose Anecdotally reported to be the limit in
    several U.S. cities
  • 100 mrem Limit listed for first responders in
    several emergency response guidance documents
    (some in draft stage)
  • 5,000 mrem OSHA limit, (first responders to be
    engaged in occupational exposure in an emergency
    scenario)
  • 10,000 mrem EPA guidance for property
    protection
  • 25,000 mrem EPA guidance for lifesaving
    activities
  • 50,000 mrem NCRP Report 138
  • 75,000 mrem Old military limit for lifesaving
    activities
  • No upper limit Draft ICRP Guidance for
    lifesaving activities

49
Know Where to Get Expert Help
  • Local Radiation Regulatory Organizations (City,
    County, State)
  • Federal Organizations with Radiation Expertise
    (NRC, DOE, EPA)
  • Local Professional Societies (Health Physics
    Society Chapters, Medical Physicists, Radiation
    Oncologists, etc.)

Do it NOW! Dont wait until the event happens!
50
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51
RAP Team Configuration
  • Each region has a minimum of 3 teams
  • RAP teams consist of trained employees from DOE
    and DOE contractors/facilities
  • Each team consists of 9 members one Team Leader,
    one Public Information Officer, one Team Captain,
    one Senior Scientist, and five Health Physics
    Survey/Support personnel
  • Additional personnel are available, such as
    industrial hygienists, transportation
    specialists, logistics support, etc.

52
Standard Response Equipment
  • Alpha Detection
  • Beta Detection
  • Gamma Detection
  • Neutron Detection
  • Gamma spectroscopy systems (NaI and HPGe)
  • Air samplers (high and low volume)

53
RAP RegionalContact Numbers
  • Region 1, Brookhaven Area Office (631) 344-2200
  • Region 2, Oak Ridge Operations Office (865)
    576-1005
  • Region 3, Savannah River Operations Office (803)
    725-3333
  • Region 4, NNSA Service Ctr. Albuquerque (505)
    845-4667
  • Region 5, Chicago Operations Office (630)
    252-4800
  • Region 6, Idaho Operations Office (208) 526-1515
  • Region 7, Livermore Site Office (925) 422-8951
  • Region 8, Richland Operations Office (509)
    373-3800
  • DOE HQ (202) 586-8100

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