Communicating in the First Hours
Radiation Emergencies
Possible terrorism events could involve introducing radioactive material into the food or water, using explosives (such as dynamite) to scatter radioactive materials(called a “dirty bomb”), or destroying a nuclear facility. These are considered “radiation emergencies.” A “nuclear event” involves explosion of a nuclear device, which produces a large fireball that creates a mushroom cloud and fallout. A radiological event typically involves the release of much less radioactivity than a nuclear event. An example of a radiological event is a dirty bomb.
This section includes information on two types of radiation emergencies:
For more information on radiation emergencies, including radiological and nuclear events, go to the CDC Radiation Emergencies website.
- Page last updated May 14, 2007
- Content source: CDC Emergency Communication System (ECS), Division of Health Communication and Marketing (DHCM), National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM)