New York, NY -- June 2005. In the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the possibility that terrorists will attack the United States again is a topic of much discussion and conjecture. The detonation of a so-called "dirty bomb" is one means of attack feared by many. But the extent of the damage from such a device, according to a new report (The Facts About “Dirty Bombs”) by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), would be much less than many may think.

The Facts About “Dirty Bombs” explains that these terrorist weapons, more accurately termed radiological dispersal devices, do not involve nuclear explosions. Instead, they would consist of conventional explosive devices that also contain radioactive materials. Thus any actual destruction they cause would be similar to that caused by a conventional explosive of like size and material without the radioactive substances.

Most of the deaths and injuries from a dirty bomb explosion would likely result from panic and disruption caused by understandable but unwarranted fears about exposure to radioactivity. The report points out, however, that the level of radiation to which people would be exposed would likely be too low to pose a high risk of injury or subsequent illness.

Radioactive contamination of buildings not destroyed by the bomb would require extensive, costly, and time-consuming remediation, a requirement that could have a long-lasting impact on economic activities. Such burdens might be lightened by making regulations on permissible levels of radioactivity reflect actual health risks, rather than just the ability to measure extremely low levels of contamination.

The Facts About “Dirty Bombs” lists actions people should take if they are in the vicinity of a dirty bomb explosion -- both to protect themselves and to avoid hampering rescue efforts by emergency personnel. Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, ACSH president, states, "While any kind of terrorist attack would, of course, be frightening, there is no reason to panic about dirty bombs. We want to let people know that there is good information about such devices and the appropriate steps they can take to protect themselves; to be forewarned is to be forearmed."