What We Learn About Radiation Threats from Movies: Fact or Fiction
Recently the writers of fictional film and television programs and movies have chosen threats from radiation as the central theme of their story lines. The television drama, Dirty War, screened on HBO and PBS in 2005, is a recent example of this type of terrorism story.
Telling the story of a dirty bomb in film or on television creates challenges for the writers and for audiences. Because of the immediacy of the film medium, scientific and medical facts have to be dramatized, which might leave the audience with some questions about the type of threat posed by a dirty bomb.
If the movie, Dirty War, made you wonder about dirty bombs and how to protect yourself and your loved ones in case of a radiation threat, this site will direct you to some answers.
Included in CDC?s Emergency Preparedness and Response Web site is information about the following:
- What is a dirty bomb and how is it different from a nuclear blast?
- What are the health effects of exposure to radiation?
- What is acute radiation syndrome (radiation sickness)?
- How does radiation exposure affect pregnant women and their unborn babies?
- What is the difference between radioactive contamination and radiation exposure?
- How is exposure to radiation measured?
- What would CDC do to protect people's health in a radiation emergency?
- How would people be monitored for contamination and health effects after an event?
- What would other federal agencies do to protect people in case of a radiation emergency?
- More information on Radiation Emergencies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
- Page last updated February 18, 2005
- Page last reviewed May 10, 2006
- Content source: Radiation Studies Branch (RSB), Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects (EHHE), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention (CCEHIP)
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