Radiological Terrorism

1
Radiological Terrorism

• TJ Phelps

2
Overview

• Introduction to Radiological Terrorism
• What is radiological terrorism
• Use of Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Materials
  in Everyday Life
• Effects of Radiological Terrorism
• Physical and Environmental Effects
• Economic Effects
• Psychological Effects
• History of Radiological Terrorism
• Juno Beach, Florida, United States (1983)
• Cherynobyl, Ukraine (1986)
• Goiania, Brazil (1987)
• Moscow, Russia (1995)
• Saratov, Russia (1996)
• Herat, Afghanistan (2003)
• Terrorist and Radiological Terrorism
• Why Do Terrorists Choose Radiological Terrorism?
• Obstacles to Conducting Radiological Terrorism
• Prevention of Radiological Terrorism
• Efforts to Prevent Radiological Terrorism

3
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Radioactivity-the property, possessed by some
  substances, to emit energetic particles as their
  atomic nuclei disintegrates.
• Active and Passive Radiological Terrorism
• Passive-uses radioactive materials plus common
  explosives to make a radiation-emitting device
  (RED). Most deaths are caused by initial
  explosion.
• Active-involve the scattering of radioactive
  material over a large or confined area using an
  RDD, as described below

4
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs)-"weapons of
  mass disruption" (rather than "weapons of mass
  destruction").
• is not a nuclear bomb and does not result in a
  nuclear explosion.
• A dirty bomb uses the force of conventional
  explosives, such as TNT, to scatter radioactive
  material.
• An atmospheric RDD is a system in which
  radioactive material is converted into a form
  that is easily transported by air currents.
• to distribute radioactive particles through the
  ventilation system of an office building to
  poison the workers inside.

5
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Radiological Terrorism through Attacks on Nuclear
  Facilities
• Nuclear facilities include nuclear power plants,
  cooling ponds for spent nuclear fuel rods,
  nuclear reactors used for research or other
  non-electricity purposes, nuclear reprocessing
  facilities, and nuclear waste sites.
• Another potential scenario for attack is during
  the transport of spent nuclear fuel.

6
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Use of Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Materials
  in Everyday Life
• Nuclear Energy
• As of the end of 2006, 442 commercial nuclear
  power reactors around the world supply about 16
  percent of the world's electricity.
• France-79 percent of the country's electrical
  needs
• United States-20 percent of the country's
  electrical needs. Largest number of nuclear
  reactors with 103
• There are two primary security threats to
  operational nuclear power plants.
• One is the threat of outside terrorists attacking
  the plant with a large commercial airplane or
  truck bombs.
• The other threat is sabotage by an insider.

7
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Radioactive Materials-Preventing terrorist access
  to radioactive materials is difficult because
  these materials are widely used throughout the
  world.
• Medical Uses
• Radioisotopes used in MRIs
• Radiotherapy-is used to destroy cancerous cells,
  clean blood for transfusion
• Brachytherapy-involves radiation used internally
  for the treatment of cancer.
• Industrial, Scientific, and Public Uses
• Irradiators-used to sterilize food and medical
  equipment or enhancing the color of gemstones
• Gamma radiography-check for flaws in pipeline
  welds.
• Radiocarbon dating
• Long-lived power sources for equipment that is
  too remote or inaccessible for replacement.

8
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• Radioactive Materials-Preventing terrorist access
  to radioactive materials is difficult because
  these materials are widely used throughout the
  world.
• Medical Uses
• Radioisotopes used in MRIs
• Radiotherapy-is used to destroy cancerous cells,
  clean blood for transfusion
• Brachytherapy-involves radiation used internally
  for the treatment of cancer.
• Industrial, Scientific, and Public Uses
• Irradiators-used to sterilize food and medical
  equipment or enhancing the color of gemstones
• Gamma radiography-check for flaws in pipeline
  welds.
• Radiocarbon dating
• Long-lived power sources for equipment that is
  too remote or inaccessible for replacement.

9
Introduction to Radiological Terrorism

• For example, within the former Soviet Union,
  highly radioactive radioisotope thermoelectric
  generators (RTGs) were commonly used for remote
  power applications, such as naval navigational
  systems and other military facilities. Hundreds
  of these units remain along Russias northern
  coastline. These RTGs are generally difficult to
  reach, but inadequately protected. Because
  terrorists may be able to get hold of the RTGs,
  these pose a security risk. Illustrating the
  security risks, in November 2003, there were
  press reports that some RTG-powered Russian
  lighthouses had been vandalized

10
Effects of Radiological Terrorism

• Physical and Environmental Effects
• Dirty bomb factors
• Type and amount of radioactive material
• Type and amounts of conventional explosives used
• Type and amounts of radioactive material
• Area in which the attack took place
• Nuclear power plant factors
• Radiation is successfully released and the amount
  released.
• Weather conditions, such as wind speed and
  humidity, and the level of emergency response

11
Effects of Radiological Terrorism

• An attack on a nuclear power plant is unlikely to
  result in high numbers of immediate
  radiation-related casualties.
• In high enough doses, this exposure can slightly
  increase the risk of long-term illnesses, such as
  lung cancer and leukemia.
• People in surrounding areas (extending anywhere
  from blocks to miles) will also likely be
  affected by the radiation as the radioactive
  particles travel downwind.
• Radioactive particles could combine with soil in
  the area or settle on the ground. This is very
  harmful if the area is close to groundwater
  sources, in which case the area's water supply
  could become contaminated.

12
Effects of Radiological Terrorism

• Immediate deaths resulting from a dirty bomb
  attack are more likely to be caused by the
  conventional bomb blast and the ensuing panic
  than from the radioactive material itself.
• May appear at first to be simply a conventional
  bomb attack, people covered in radioactive dust
  may unwittingly spread this material to hospitals
  and homes as they try to evacuate the area.
• To maximize the effect, terrorists would conduct
  a dirty bomb attack in a densely populated city,
  such as New York City, Washington, D.C., or
  London.
• If this occurs, it would contaminate the
  buildings surrounding the blast area, chemically
  bind to concrete, metal, and other surfaces,
  settle in surface cracks in buildings and
  sidewalks.
• Decontamination-in some cases, the buildings
  would have to be completely demolished before the
  area is considered safe enough for people to
  return.

13
Effects of Radiological Terrorism

• Economic Effects
• Decontamination efforts could include treating
  and decontaminating people after the attack,
  evacuating and relocating people from the
  affected area, sandblasting the exterior or
  completely demolishing affected buildings, safely
  getting rid of the radioactive debris,
  decontaminating the emergency vehicles used in
  the decontamination process, and many other
  activities.
• During the decontamination process, buildings in
  the affected area would not be functional.
  Residents would have to be relocated. Businesses
  would have to do the same or simply halt their
  activities until completion of the
  decontamination.
• Fear to move back to area
• Fear of touring the area. No tourist income.
• Fear of using nuclear power plants again.

14
Effects of Radiological Terrorism

• Psychological Effects
• Psychological anxiety
• Fear can cause mass public panic
• Frightened at the sight of decontamination crews
  in suits and all the machinery being used.
• Hospitals may be overrun with an overwhelming
  number of people complaining of and possibly
  showing symptoms of radiation sickness, even if
  they were nowhere near the attack site or the
  radioactive plume.
• Fear of continuing contamination might lead
  residents to move to other areas
• Fearful of more terrorist attacks and refrain
  from visiting any highly trafficked or densely
  populated areas

15
History of Radiological Terrorism

• "Federal officials have captured a U.S. citizen
  with suspected ties to Al Qa'ida who allegedly
  planned to build and explode a radioactive 'dirty
  bomb' in the United States, the Justice
  Department said Monday.""U.S. authorities
  capture 'dirty bomb' suspect"CNN, June 10, 2002

16
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Juno Beach, Florida, United States (1983)
• An unidentified person shut the valve for the
  back-up feed water cooling system for the two
  nuclear reactors at the Turkey Point nuclear
  power station in Florida. "Out for maintenance"
  signs were placed on the valves. The back-up
  system was supposed to be checked twice per
  shift, but the situation went unnoticed for five
  days. No harm was caused, but could have resulted
  in damage to the radioactive core if the main
  cooling system had been interrupted.
• It is unknown if the shut valve and the signs
  were the result of an innocent mistake or the
  work of a saboteur. The incident highlights the
  potential threat of sabotage by insiders.

17
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986)
• During an unusual operational test in April
  1986, a combination of human error and flawed
  reactor design resulted in a massive release of
  radiation into the atmosphere. Thirty-one workers
  died after receiving lethal doses of radiation as
  they performed emergency-response measures.
  Decontamination efforts at the plant are still
  continuing today, and radioactive contamination
  spread beyond Ukraine to Russia and Belarus. More
  than 100,000 people were permanently evacuated
  from their homes. Many others lost jobs and
  suffered from heavy depression. About 1800 cases
  of thyroid cancer have appeared in the population
  surrounding Chernobyl, although of these, few
  deaths have occurred. Economic costs resulting
  from the Chernobyl accident total more than 100
  billion.
• Following the Chernobyl accident, a number of
  safety improvements were made in reactors all
  over the world. These measures have decreased the
  chance that an accident of this size will happen
  again. However, this incident illustrates the
  potential risks and consequences associated with
  nuclear reactors lacking adequate safety and
  security measures. Chernobyl is also important
  because it was a major contributing factor to the
  general public's fear of radiation that continues
  throughout the world today. It is this fear that
  terrorists may try to exploit through the use of
  radiological weapons or attacks on nuclear
  facilities.

18
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Goiania, Brazil 1987
• In September 1987, a canister of cesium-137 was
  taken by scavengers from an abandoned medical
  clinic. The canister was subsequently broken into
  parts and pried open. The blue radioactive powder
  was distributed throughout the community of
  Goiania, Brazil. Wind and rainwater runoff also
  helped to spread the radioactive contamination.
  The incident resulted in four deaths, one
  amputation, 28 people with radiation burns, and
  monitoring of more than 112,000 people (most of
  whom experienced no contamination). The physical
  decontamination effort covered about one square
  kilometer (roughly 40 city blocks), demolished
  seven homes and some other buildings, and
  produced about 3,500 cubic meters of radioactive
  waste. Economically, the clean-up costs
  themselves amounted to 20 million, and up to
  hundreds of millions of dollars were estimated to
  have been lost with collapses in tourism and
  business. Many people left the area due to fears
  of remaining contamination, and although not
  contaminated, prices of manufactured products
  fell by 40 percent and stayed at that level for
  30 to 40 days.
• This incident provides some sense of the possible
  physical and economic effects of a radiological
  attack.

19
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Moscow, Russia (1995)
• In November 1995, Chechen rebel field commander
  Shamil Basaev claimed to a Russian television
  crew of the rebels' ability to build and explode
  a radiological bomb. He informed the crew that a
  container with radioactive material had been
  partially buried in Moscow's Ismailovsky Park.
  The crew found the container and its contentsa
  small quantity of cesium-137. The Russian
  Interior Ministry indicated that the material
  might have come from a nuclear facility in the
  Chechen capital.
• This incident did not result in the actual use
  of a radiological dispersal device. It does,
  however, illustrate the potential of terrorist
  groups to obtain radioactive material and use it
  to cause public fear

20
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Moscow, Russia (1995)
• In November 1995, Chechen rebel field commander
  Shamil Basaev claimed to a Russian television
  crew of the rebels' ability to build and explode
  a radiological bomb. He informed the crew that a
  container with radioactive material had been
  partially buried in Moscow's Ismailovsky Park.
  The crew found the container and its contentsa
  small quantity of cesium-137. The Russian
  Interior Ministry indicated that the material
  might have come from a nuclear facility in the
  Chechen capital.
• This incident did not result in the actual use
  of a radiological dispersal device. It does
  illustrate the potential of terrorist groups to
  obtain radioactive material and use it to cause
  public fear

21
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Saratov, Russia (1996)
• Gosatomnadzor, the Russian nuclear regulatory
  agency, was warned of movement towards the
  Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant by an armed group
  from Chechnya. The nuclear power plant houses
  four nuclear reactors. Russian special forces
  were called in to guard the plant, and other
  security measures were taken. In addition, the
  Rosenergoatom Crisis Center issued an alert for
  all Russian nuclear power plants to be on guard
  against a possible terrorist attack.
• The attack ultimately did not occur, and the
  Chechen group was found to have stopped well
  before reaching the Balakovo plant. It remains
  unclear whether the group really intended to
  attack the nuclear power plant. However, Chechen
  rebels have made repeated threats against Russian
  nuclear power plants. These threats are only one
  illustration of the real potential for nuclear
  power plants to be targeted by terrorists

22
History of Radiological Terrorism

• Herat, Afghanistan (2003)
• In January 2003, British intelligence agents and
  weapons researchers uncovered evidence in Herat,
  Afghanistan, that led them to believe that Al
  Qaeda had succeeded in building a small dirty
  bomb. The evidence included detailed diagrams and
  documents stored on computers. Neither the actual
  device nor details on the radioactive material
  used to make the bomb have been found. However,
  captured Al Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah also
  claimed that the device existed.
• IAEA and UN experts previously recovered several
  unguarded radiation sources, including a powerful
  cobalt source, from a former hospital and
  university labs in Kabul. Afghanistan's Taliban
  regime could have provided Al Qaeda with
  radioactive sources from these types of medical
  devices. In addition, the idea of Al Qaeda
  pursuing a radiological bomb is not new. In June
  2002, Jose Padilla was arrested in the United
  States. Suspected of having ties to Al Qaeda,
  officials believe Padilla was conducting research
  and scouting potential dirty bomb targets.

23
Terrorist and Radiological Terrorism

• Terrorists are influenced by their organizations
  goals
• spurring an apocalypse to cleanse the world of
  evil
• creating an Islamic caliphate, which would
  establish Islamic law throughout Muslim-majority
  countries
• Most terrorist groups do not seek to cause mass
  death to accomplish their goals.
• Weapons that would cause disruption, confusion,
  and mass panic could help gain notoriety for the
  terrorists and their objectives.

24
Terrorist and Radiological Terrorism

• Radiological terrorism is a more attractive
  option than nuclear terrorism because of the
  relative ease with which a radiological weapon
  can be made and used.
• Radioactive materials are used everyday in many
  places throughout the United States and the
  world.
• Thousands of "orphan sources" located throughout
  the world. Orphan sources are radioactive sources
  that were lost, abandoned, stolen, or
  unregulated.
• The portability of certain types of radioactive
  sources.

25
Terrorist and Radiological Terrorism

• Nuclear terrorism requires obtaining or
  constructing a nuclear weapon that produces a
  nuclear explosion.
• Either of these options requires great technical
  expertise and access to high-security facilities.

26
Terrorist and Radiological Terrorism

• Groups with interest in radiological terrorism
• Terrorist groups that lack a high level of
  technical and scientific expertise
• Ideal for groups that seek publicity for their
  name and their cause, without causing widespread
  devastation.
• Chechen rebels
• Saddam Hussein
• Evidence uncovered in Afghanistan in January 2003
  has led British authorities to believe that Al
  Qaeda already possesses a dirty bomb
• Aum Shinrikyo
• some radical environmental groups have threatened
  and have attempted attacks on nuclear power
  plants to demonstrate their anti-nuclear beliefs

27
Prevention of Radiological Terrorism

• April 2004-The United Nations Security Council
  adopted Resolution 1540 requires states to
  criminalize the proliferation of weapons of mass
  destruction and related materials to enforce
  export controls and secure sensitive materials
  within their borders.
• Before commissioning of nuclear power plant
• Possible terrorist attack methods
• Weapons possible to be used
• In-depth background checks on employees
• Inside and outside video surveillance
• Security crews
• Auto shutdown safety protocols
• Regulation and tracking of usable materials

28
Emergency Preparedness for a Radiological
Terrorist Attack

• The U.S. government and several major cities have
  run simulated attacks.
• Led to prepared plans to prevent, deal with, and
  clean up in case of attack
• CDC has information to recognize symptoms and
  help the treatment in case of an attack
• Individuals near nuclear plants are to receive
  information, government requires this to be
  provided to them, of the dangers and what to do
  under various circumstances

29
Works Cited

• "CDC Radiation Emergencies Radiological
  Terrorism Just in Time Training for Hospital
  Clinicians." Radiation Emergencies. 10 May 2006.
  CDC Emergency Preparedness Response Site. 31
  Mar. 2009 lthttp//www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/gt.
• "NTI Radiological Terrorism Tutorial Intro to
  Radiological Terrorism." Radiological Terrorism
  Tutorial. 2004. Nuclear Threat Initiative Home
  Page. 31 Mar. 2009 lthttp//www.nti.org/h_learnmore
  /radtutorial/index.htmlgt.
• "Radiological Terrorism - Center for the Study of
  Bioterrorism - Saint Louis University, School of
  Public Health." Radiological Terrorism. Institute
  for Biosecurity - Saint Louis University. 31 Mar.
  2009 lthttp//www.bioterrorism.slu.edu/radiological
  .htmgt.
• "Radiological Terrorism Public Health Emergency
  Preparedness New York City AWARE NYC DOHMH."
  Public Health Emergency Preparedness. NYC
  Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 31 Mar.
  2009 lthttp//www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/bt/bt_radio
  .shtmlgt.
• "Radiological Terrorism." Radiological Terrorism.
  2007. California Emergency Management Agency. 31
  Mar. 2009 lthttp//www.oes.ca.gov/WebPage/oeswebsit
  e.nsf/Content/CE572620554ADAC88825740C0063C1D3?Ope
  nDocumentgt.
• "Radiological Threats." Radiological Threats.
  Apr. 2004. New York State Department of Health.
  31 Mar. 2009 lthttp//www.health.state.ny.us/enviro
  nmental/emergency/radiological.htmgt.
• "Risk Communication for Radiological Terrorism
  Preparedness." Risk Communication for
  Radiological Terrorism Preparedness. School of
  Public Health at Johns Hopkins - Home. 31 Mar.
  2009 lthttp//www.jhsph.edu/preparedness/training/o
  nline/radiologicalterror_riskcomm.htmlgt.