If a “dirty bomb” explodes: the consequences for civilians are named

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it has information about Kyiv preparing a provocation using a “dirty” nuclear bomb. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about this with his Western colleagues. The head of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov also called the Chief of the British Defense Staff.

– Alexander Vladimirovich, what damage can a dirty nuclear bomb inflict on a territory, on people?

– A dirty bomb is a purely terrorist weapon, not related to the existing types of nuclear weapons. It is any explosive connected to a container filled with a mixture of radioactive substances. Usually these are fractions of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.

The dirty bomb is scary because it can use isotopes such as cobalt-60, cesium-137, strontium-90, polonium-210 and plutonium-238, which – even in small quantities – can contaminate the surface, soil, plants, soil water. The half-life of the isotopes I have named varies from half a year to tens of years. In particular, cobalt-60 has a half-life of more than five years.

This means that the territory that will be contaminated will become practically uninhabitable for a long time, and people and livestock will have to be completely evacuated from it, and it will be impossible to conduct industrial and agricultural activities.

– They say that such a bomb can be easily transported by car? This is true?

– Undoubtedly. A dirty bomb weighing several tens of kilograms can be brought anywhere. The task is simply to disperse the isotopes, which can be in the form of a powder, gel, etc. Moreover, isotopes can also be dispersed from aircraft. The danger is colossal. Therefore, to prevent the use of a bomb, it is necessary to control the radioactivity of vehicles – radionuclides are easily detected by dosimeters.

What happens immediately after the bomb explodes? What happens to a person who is in the affected area?

– Possibly radioactive contamination of a large area, unfortunately. Otherwise, it makes no sense for terrorists to use such a bomb. Isotopes that are in the air – dust aerosols, on the surface or in water, begin to “radiate” – give out several types of ionizing radiation. And at the same time, a person in the affected area receives certain doses of radiation. A person can develop acute radiation sickness. If the contact is prolonged, then chronic radiation sickness or radiation sickness of several stages may develop.

The classic model for dirty bomb effects is Chernobyl. Then, several dozen liquidators experienced cases of super-severe acute radiation sickness, which quickly led to death, but there were also many thousands who received a dose below the threshold – they had the widest range of diseases that manifested themselves years later – these are primarily lesions of the bone marrow, intestinal epithelium, the immune system as a whole.

– What does a person feel when infected?

– The well-being of a person depends on the dose received by him. For example, from a dose to 6 grays (a unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation in the International System of Units, SI. – “MK”) – the hematopoietic system is affected, abrupt changes in the blood test occur. Up to 10 gray – the hematopoietic system and intestines suffer, mortality in 95% of cases.

10-20 gray – the intestines are also affected, lethality is 100%. 20-80 gray – the blow falls on the vascular system, intoxication, vomiting, hellish headache, blindness appear very quickly. At a dose of 100-120 grays, the central nervous system is affected, there is a rapid loss of consciousness or hallucinations with a hell of a headache. At a dose of more than 120 grays, the so-called “death under the beam” occurs – a lethal outcome on the spot.

At the same time, it should be noted that a dirty bomb practically does not give immediate superheavy and severe variants of radiation sickness. Most will have a bone marrow – 2-6 grays, and a very small – transitional form – 6 – 10 grays. The main thing in the effect of a dirty bomb is the mass nature of radiation injuries to people.

– As an example of the defeat can be the consequences of the explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

– Hiroshima and Nagasaki are different, they are pure nuclear weapons. There were air explosions and other damaging factors – light radiation, penetrating radiation, shock wave – which led to huge, almost immediate casualties. The radioactive contamination of the area in these cities was minimal – some were restored relatively quickly.

But in Chernobyl, the contamination with a mixture of reactor combustion products was colossal, because a huge mass of isotopes, in addition to penetrating into the soil, got into the air, with the wind, then dissipated on the surface with rain. The Chernobyl zone is still unsuitable for human development, stable radiation continues to be recorded there.

– What should a person do in the first minutes?

– First, a person must understand that he is in the affected area. It should be – by the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations – a clear warning with immediate measures. A person should close himself at home, shut off the ventilation, ideally, not even use the water supply, because it is not known what will happen to the water supply, and wait for the evacuation.

If you do get caught, you need to go through decontamination – remove and fold contaminated clothing separately. In addition, it is necessary to wash off radioactive dust and precipitation from the body, hair. This can be done with solutions of surfactants (detergents), including ordinary soap solutions. There are also a number of drugs that must be taken.

Of course, this is potassium iodide, and preparations from algae such as kelp and fucus, which have anti-radiation properties. Partly reduce the penetration of the same strontium into the bone marrow red fruit and vegetable juices – red grapes, blueberries, pomegranate and tomato.

– Can I take iodine for prevention?

– In no case. Potassium iodide also has its side effects. In general, there is no need to panic. About twenty years ago, I witnessed such a situation in the Urals, when rumors about a release at nuclear power plants spread like a hurricane, and all iodine-containing drugs were bought up in all pharmacies in three regions …

– Are watering machines and CBRN suits effective?

– Suits are extremely effective because they prevent contact with aerosol, which can be airborne and dust. MAFS specialized military vehicles are especially good, but not plain water is most effective, but a special solution of detergents.

– What diseases can subsequently be diagnosed in a person who has received a dose of radiation?

– First of all, these are diseases associated with immunodeficiency (chronic infections) and the development of malignant tumors (primarily hemoblastosis). It is also impossible to discount the activation of any chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys of the cardiovascular system. Due to radiation, almost the entire body becomes the object of damage.

– After what time can the zone where the “dirty” nuclear bomb was detonated be habitable again?

– It all depends on what kind of bomb was used. Because if barrels with radioactive waste were used for a bomb, then these are years. But if complex and much more expensive substances such as cobalt-60, strontium or the same plutonium were used, then we can talk about contamination for a much longer period – decades. We can get the situation that we are still seeing in Chernobyl.

– What power can be an explosive device that will spray radioactive isotopes?

– From a hand grenade to a large air bomb with hundreds of kilograms of explosives. It’s just that no one will deal with dirty little bombs. It is very attractive for terrorists to use a combination of hundreds of kilograms of explosive and, accordingly, about the same amount of radioactive isotopes delivered to a key point. And this is very serious.

– How will the area of ​​infection depend on the power of the explosion and the number of isotopes used? What area of ​​the territory can be infected?

– If the explosion occurred on the surface of the earth, there is an instantaneous infection within a radius of several hundred meters. But in the future, erosion by air currents begins to occur, and this area will progressively increase. If the bomb was set off, say, on the upper floors of a 20-story building, or in the air (some large drone), then this dramatically increases the area of ​​infection.

Read the material “The West has heard Putin’s warning: the likelihood of a “dirty bomb” in Ukraine has sharply decreased”