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Frequently Asked Questions & Suggested Answers Frequently Asked Questions & Suggested Answers - Radiation Emergencies CAUTION The answers to some of the questions below are general in nature and may need to be revised based on the details of the actual emergency, local conditions and response plans or other factors. Physics What is radiation and radioactive material? Radiation is a form of energy that is present all around us. Different types of radiation exist, some of which contain more energy than others (e.g. low energy examples: radio waves and visible light and higher energy examples: X-rays and gamma rays emitted from radioactive material and used in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. Radioactive material is comprised of atoms whose nuclei are unstable. As they spontaneously transform to a more stable state, they emit energy in the form of particles (e.g., alpha and beta particles) and/or waves (e.g. X-rays and gamma rays), referred to collectively as ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation means that, (unlike non-ionizing radiation such as radio waves and microwaves) the energy in this type of radiation is high enough to strip electrons from atoms and alter their chemistry. The quantity or amount of radioactive material is referred to as activity and is expressed in units called becquerels, abbreviated to Bq. The dose of radiation that a person receives is measured in units called sieverts, abbreviated to Sv. People cannot see, smell, feel, hear or taste ionizing radiation. Detecting and measuring ionizing radiation requires special instruments, called radiation survey meters. What is radiation exposure? When a person is exposed to radiation, some or all of the radiation energy is deposited in the body. For example, when a person has a medical X-ray exam, he or she is exposed to radiation in the form of X-rays. Some of the X-rays deposit their energy in the body while some traverse and exit the body and interact with an X-ray detector to form the X-ray image of the internal anatomy. There is another, more technical, meaning of exposure, which describes the intensity of radiation. How can exposure occur? People are exposed to small amounts of ionizing radiation every day, both from naturally occurring sources (such as radioactive material in the soil or building materials and cosmic rays from outer space), and man-made sources (such as X-rays, certain diagnostic tests, and radiation therapy treatments), and from fallout from past nuclear weapons testing. Scientists estimate that the average person receives a dose of about 3 mSv per year. The amount of radiation to which people are exposed is usually small; a radiation emergency (such as a nuclear power plant accident or a terrorist event) could expose people to small or large doses of radiation, depending on the situation. What is radioactive contamination? Radioactive contamination occurs when radioactive material is deposited on, or in, an object or a person. Radioactive materials released into the environment can cause air, water, surfaces, soil, plants, buildings, people, or animals to become contaminated. A contaminated person has radioactive materials on, or inside, their body. What is external contamination? External contamination occurs when radioactive material, in the form of dust, powder, or liquid, becomes deposited on a person's skin, hair, or clothing. In other words, the radioactive material is on the outside of a person's body. People who are externally contaminated can become internally contaminated if radioactive material gets into their bodies through their mouth, nose or open wounds. What is internal contamination? Internal contamination occurs when people swallow or breathe in radioactive materials, or when radioactive materials enter the body through an open wound, or are absorbed through the skin. Some fraction of radioactive material may be deposited (i.e. concentrated) in different body organs and stay there for an extended period of time (e.g. radioactive iodine concentrates in the thyroid gland) while some fraction will be eliminated from the body in urine, feces, and sweat. How does contamination differ from exposure? A person exposed to radiation is not necessarily contaminated with radioactive material. A person who has been exposed to radiation has had radiation (in the form of waves and/or particles) interact with the body (e.g. like having a medical X-ray). For a person to be contaminated, radioactive material must be on or inside the body. A contaminated person is continuously exposed to radiation released by the radioactive material on, or inside, the body. An uncontaminated person can be exposed to radiation by being close to radioactive material or a contaminated person. How can exposure or contamination happen? Radioactive materials could be released into the environment and may cause exposure or contamination in the following ways: an accidental release from a medical or industrial device, fallout from previous nuclear weapons testing, an intentional release of radioactive material as an act of terrorism, an atomic bomb explosion, or a nuclear power plant accident. What types of terrorist events might involve radiation? Possible terrorist events could involve introducing radioactive material into the food or water supply, using explosives (like dynamite) to scatter radioactive materials (called a “dirty bomb”), bombing or to destroy a nuclear facility, or exploding a small nuclear weapon (atomic bomb). Although introducing radioactive material into the food or water supply most likely would cause great concern or fear, it probably would not cause much contamination, or significantly increase the danger of adverse health effects. A meltdown or explosion at a nuclear facility could cause a large amount of radioactive material to be released. People at the facility would probably be contaminated with radioactive material and possibly be injured if there was an explosion. Those people who received a large dose might develop acute radiation syndrome. People in the surrounding area could be exposed or contaminated. Clearly, a successful detonation of even a small nuclear weapon (atomic bomb) in a populated area would result in substantial causalities and extensive property damage. People would be killed or injured from the blast and many would be exposed and contaminated with radioactive material. Many people could have symptoms of acute radiation syndrome. After a nuclear detonation, radioactive fallout would extend over a large region far from the point of detonation, potentially increasing people’s risk of developing cancer over time. What is a dirty bomb? A dirty bomb is a mix of explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive material, likely in the form of a powder or pellets. When the explosive is set off, the blast spreads radioactive material into the surrounding area. A dirty bomb is not the same as an atomic bomb, like those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which involves the splitting of atoms and a huge release of energy and radioactive material. What are the main dangers of a dirty bomb? The main danger from a dirty bomb is from the explosion, which could cause serious injuries and property damage. The radioactive materials used in a dirty bomb would probably not create enough radiation exposure to cause immediate serious illness, except maybe those people who are very close to the blast site. However, the radioactive dust and smoke spread farther away could be dangerous to health if it is inhaled. Because people cannot see, smell, feel, hear or taste radiation, you should take immediate steps to protect yourself and others as shown in the next item. What immediate protective actions should I take? These simple steps—recommended by doctors and radiation experts—will help protect you and others. The steps you should take depend on where you are located when the incident occurs: outside, inside, or in a vehicle. If you are outside and close to the incident Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth to reduce the risk of breathing in radioactive dust or smoke. Quickly go into a building where the walls and windows have not been broken. This area will shield you from radiation that might be outside. Once you are inside, take off your outer layer of clothing and seal it in a plastic bag if available. Removing outer clothes may get rid of up to 90% of radioactive dust. Shower or wash with soap and water. Be sure to wash your hair. Washing will remove most of the remaining dust. If you are inside and close to the incident: If the walls and windows of the building are not broken, stay in the building and do not leave. Shut all windows, outside doors, and fireplace dampers. Turn off fans and heating and air- conditioning systems that bring in air from the outside. It is not necessary to put duct tape or plastic around doors or windows. If the walls and windows of the building are broken, go to an interior room. If you are in a car when the incident happens: Close the windows and turn off the air conditioner, heater, and vents. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth to avoid breathing radioactive dust or smoke. If you are close to your home, office, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside quickly. If you cannot get somewhere safely, pull over to the side of the road and stop in the safest place possible. If it is a hot or sunny day, try to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot. Turn off the engine and listen to the radio for instructions. Stay in the car until you are told it is safe to get back on the road. Radiation Protection Principles How do I know if I’ve been exposed to radiation or contaminated by radioactive materials? People cannot see, smell, feel, hear or taste radiation; so you may not know whether you have been exposed.
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