Recent attacks in Brussels by terrorists and their connection with a plot to attack a Belgian nuclear power plant raise the question of whether nuclear material could ever be stolen to create a dirty bomb. There’s a lot of misconception about what a dirty bomb is and how one may be used in a greater strategic context. Here are five things you should know about dirty bombs:
- A dirty bomb is not a nuclear bomb. A dirty bomb, or radiation dispersion device (RDD), is simply an explosive device laced with radioactive material. The destructive power of a nuclear bomb is exponential compared to a dirty bomb. Furthermore, a much greater level of technological sophistication is needed to create the nuclear reaction necessary for a nuclear weapon relative to simply exploding dynamite.
- Dirty bombs have a greater psychological impact. The greatest immediate damage from a dirty bomb comes from the explosion itself. How radioactive material is spread from the explosion can be factor to a number of things, such as the scale of the explosion, the type of radioactive material used, and even wind patterns. The greatest physical danger from radiation might come from inhaling or ingesting of this material. However, most dirty bombs would not release enough radiation to kill people. Psychological impacts on communities can be long-lasting from the fear of further radiation exposure.
