RED Rev 08 AUG 2011 1

Radiation Exposure Devices Guidance for Responders

Prepared by the Homeland Security Committee

RED Final 2012 2

Learning Objectives (1)• Describe a radiation exposure device

(RED) and its potential hazards.

• Identify visual indicators to recognize the presence of an RED.

• Identify initial actions applied by emergency responders due to the presence of an RED.

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Learning Objectives (2)• Identify and list the types of radiation

survey meters utilized to initially detect the presence of and measure the dose rates from an RED.

• List actions taken by health care providers to recognize that an individual has been exposed to a large dose of radiation.

• Discuss medical actions to be taken when it has been determined that an individual has been exposed to a large dose of radiation.

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Lesson Plan

• Presentation on radiation exposure device— background and response actions

• Presentation on meters used to detect the presence of radioactive materials

• Review of job aid for responders

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Radiation Exposure Device

• Radiation Exposure Device (RED)– A device intended to expose people to

significant doses of ionizing radiation without their knowledge

– Constructed from partially or fully unshielded radioactive material(s)

– Placed in public settings (subways, malls, etc.) and usually hidden from sight

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Radiation Exposure Device (cont.)

• International effort to improve security of sources of radioactive material– Regulations on use and storage– Programs to identify and collect orphan

sources– Customs and Border Controls

• Some radioactive materials of concern– 241Am, 252Cf, 60Co, 137Cs, 192Ir, 226Ra, and

90Sr

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Radiation Exposure Device (cont.)

• Reference documents for radioactive materials of concern:– IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 5– IAEA Dangerous Quantities of

Radioactive Material (D-Values)– IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 6,

Combating Illicit Trafficking in Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material

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Radiation Exposure Device (cont.)

• Radioactive materials of interest are used in:– Medical diagnosis (usually short half-life).– Cancer treatment (long half-life).– Industrial radiography (medium half-life).– Construction (medium half-life).– Sterilization of medical products (long half-life).– Gauges (long half-life).

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Brief History of RED Use

• 1993—Russia. A radioactive substance, probably cesium-137 (and/or cobalt-60), was planted near the director of a packing company. 1 death.

• 1995—Russia. A cesium-137 source had intentionally been placed in a door pocket of a truck. The driver was exposed for 5 months. 1 death.

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Brief History of RED Use

• 2002—China. Iridium-192 used in an attack on a business rival. The iridium-192 was placed above the ceiling panels in the hospital office of the rival. 1 death and another 74 staff members of the hospital had injuries.

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Some Radiation Basics

• Radioactive materials emit energy in the form of radiation.

• Types of radiation released when a radioactive material decays may include alpha, beta and/or gamma, and neutrons.

• Radioactive materials may emit more than one type of radiation.

• From an external exposure hazard, the most penetrating types are gamma and neutron, followed by beta and then alpha radiation.

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Some Radiation Basics (cont.)

• From an internal exposure hazard, the most hazardous type is alpha, followed by beta and then gamma radiation.

• If a radioactive source is encapsulated, it most likely cannot be easily dispersed.– Past history indicates that most REDs used were

encapsulated sources.– Victims were exposed to ionizing radiation;

however, they were not contaminated with the radioactive material.

– In cases where the encapsulation has been breached, there has been contamination.

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Radiation Effects on Humans• At lower levels of

penetrating gamma radiation exposure, the human body has a tendency to repair the damage.– Exposure to

background radiation would be an example of chronic low levels. NCRP Report No. 160

(2009)

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Radiation Effects on Humans

• From external penetrating gamma• At higher exposure levels, the human body may not be able to repair the damage.

– Acute Exposures (whole body) Effects• Blood cell changes occur around 50 rem (0.5 Sv)• Nausea and vomiting begin around 70 rem (0.7 Sv)• LD 50/60: 450 rem (4.5 Sv) without medical intervention• Highest dose in Chernobyl survivor was 870 rem (8.7 Sv)

• There are a number of variables that make people more or less affected.

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Potential Sources of Radioactive Material

• Black market• Stolen• Abandoned• Unsecured• Illegally obtained

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Minimizing the Threat• Improve international control of materials.• Train/equip border and port security.• Locate and secure orphaned sources.• Seek non-radiological alternatives.• Continue research and development of

technologies to detect and monitor.• Educate public and media.• Educate physicians in recognizing acute

radiation syndrome and skin burns without thermal or chemical cause.

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Response to an RED Emergency

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Response to an RED Emergency• Most exposure discoveries have been in response to

medical surveillance or by accidentally detecting the radiological signature.

• Medical professionals (local doctors) are often the first to discover a radiological emergency when they recognize symptoms indicating the possibility of radiation exposure in their patients.

• RED response would not be a lights-and-siren incident.• Seek advice from radiation safety experts.

– Develop resources during preplanning phase.

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Initial Response—Medical

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Initial Response—Medical

• Once a victim’s medical symptoms are determined to be due to exposure to radiation, notify:– Local public health authorities.– Local, state, and/or national (CDC) epidemiology

staff.– Radiation authority having jurisdiction.– Law enforcement.

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Initial Response—Medical• Once a victim’s medical symptoms are

determined to be due to exposure to radiation:– Survey patient for potential external and

internal contamination.– Survey health care facility for contamination.– Contact REAC/TS for consultation.– Develop medical care plan.

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Incident Response Activities• Medical staff will reconstruct exposure.

– Determine dose– Determine patient impact from dose

• Law Enforcement – Determine responsible party– Conduct forensics

• Radiation Authorities– Notified by local response agencies– Subject matter experts– Radiation surveys to locate

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Visual Clues for Responders• Visual Indicators of radioactive sources

– Labels may be removed/defaced to hinder identification.

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Visual Clues for Responders

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Emergency Responder Actions

• Response Actions– Work with other disciplines to establish command and

control of response efforts.

– Emergency Operations Center notifies other disciplines, including hospitals, public information, etc.

– If a source is found, using the Emergency Response Guide 2008, initial isolation zone is 75 feet. DO NOT TOUCH!

– Remember, this is a law-enforcement crime scene.

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Emergency Responder Actions

• Response Actions– Consider potential for other hazards, such as

explosives . . . modify zone as appropriate. – Modify zones under the direction of

radiological expertise and radiation authority.– Request additional resources (hazardous

materials response teams, specialists).– Support operations at the scene.

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Emergency Responder Actions

• Response Actions– Acute radiation syndrome signs and symptoms:

• May not appear shortly after exposure.

• May take hours to days to develop.

• Victims may need evaluation if clinical course is unusual or does not respond to medical treatment.

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End Section: Presentation on Radiation

Exposure Device—Background and Response Actions

Questions

Health Physics Society* Disclaimer: The information contained herein was current as of 9-April-2012 and is intended for educational purposes only. The authors and the Health Physics Society (HPS) do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented herein. The authors and the HPS are not liable for any legal claims or damages that arise from acts or omissions that occur based on its use.

*The Health Physics Society is a nonprofit scientific professional organization whose mission is to promote the practice of radiation safety. Since its formation in 1956, the Society has grown to nearly 5,000 scientists, physicians, engineers, lawyers, and other professionals representing academia, industry, government, national laboratories, the Department of Defense, and other organizations. Society activities include encouraging research in radiation science, developing standards, and disseminating radiation safety information. Society members are involved in understanding, evaluating, and controlling the potential risks from radiation relative to the benefits. Official position statements are prepared and adopted in accordance with standard policies and procedures of the Society. The Society may be contacted at 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., Suite 402, McLean, VA 22101; phone: 703-790-1745; fax: 703-790-2672; email: HPS@BurkInc.com.