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Science
Friday > Archives > 2002 > June > June 14, 2002:
Hour One:Preparedness
for Radiological Incidents
On Monday, U.S. government officials announced the arrest of a man
suspected of planning a terrorist attack involving a 'dirty bomb'
-- a device in which conventional explosives disperse radioactive
material, contaminating a wide area. Initially, deaths due to such
an explosion would be almost entirely due to the force of the explosives
themselves. Later, delayed health effects might be seen among people
exposed to the radioactive material. Experts added that the psychological
effects of such an attack would be quite significant.
Fears of radiological incidents aren't just limited to fears of terrorism,
however. Earlier this month, residents in Westchester County, New
York, were provided with supplies of potassium iodide pills. The KI
pills would provide the residents with temporary protection against
thyroid exposure to radioactive iodide, were an accident to occur
at a local nuclear power plant.
In this hour, we'll talk about how prepared the country is to deal
with some kind of radiological exposure. Are plans such as the Westchester
pill distribution a step in the right direction? Is more needed? Are
different kinds of responses needed for different kinds of exposures?
Call in with your comments and questions at 1-800-989-8255, and share
your opinions online in our Listeners'
Lounge (registration
required).
Guests:
Michael Levi
Director, Strategic Security
Project
Federation of American Scientists
Washington, DC
Kenneth L. Mossman
Professor of Health Physics
Director, Office of Radiation
Safety
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Steven Aukstakalnis
Managing Director
Two Tigers Radiological
Wilmington, North Carolina
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
Westchester
County NY: Emergency Plan Comments
FDA:
Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies
MEDLINEplus
Drug Information: Potassium Iodide (Systemic)
NRC:
Potassium Iodide in Emergency Planning
US
DOJ: #06-10-02: Al Qaeda "Dirty Bomb" Plot Disrupted
Radiological
dispersal devices: an assessment - Jane's International Security News
CIA:
Chemical, Biological, Radiological Incident Handbook
NRC:
Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response
FAS
Public Interest Report: Dirty Bombs
BBC
News | SCI/TECH | Radioactive material 'easy to find'
FAS
Testimony on Terrorist Nuclear Threat
Federation
of American Scientists - America's War on Terrorism - Terrorism and
WMD
Health
Physics Society
Health
Physics Society: "Ask the Expert" Questions and Answers
This hour is produced by: Karin
Vergoth
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