How to know a radiation incident has occurred?
Not obvious in real time
- Evaluating an explosive event, HAZMAT team tests for and finds radiation.
- Monitoring of water, soil, food, air reveals unexpected radiation.
- Recognizing over time a cluster of victims with radiation-linked clinical signs and symptoms
- Locating a radiation source outside of expected places, e.g., subway, sports field
- Examples
- Radiological Dispersal Device
- Explosive incident subsequently found to have radiation
- Non-explosive incident: radiation dispersion into food, water, soil, air
- Hidden radiological source: Radiological Exposure Device
- Malicious or unintentional industrial, nuclear reactor, medical facility, or transportation event discovered after the fact