Health implications of radiological terrorism: Perspectives from Israel

Abstract

September 11th events taught us, members of the medical community, that we need to prepared for the worst. Nuclear terror is no longer science fiction. Radiological weapons of mass terror come in three flavors: The first one is nuclear. Since 1992, there have been six known cases of highly enriched uranium or plutonium being intercepted by authorities as it passed in or out of the former Soviet Union. Constructing a nuclear fission weapon requires high-level expertise, substantial facilities, and lots of money. All three of which would be difficult, although not impossible, for a terrorist group to pull off without state support. However, terrorists could carry out potential mass destruction without sophisticated weaponry by targeting nuclear facilities using conventional bombs or hijacked aircrafts. Terror attacks could also carry out mass panic and radioactive contamination of people and environment by dispersal of radioactive materials with or without the use of conventional explosive devices. Most medical and para-medical personnel are not familiar with CBRN terror and radiation casualties. To lessen the impact of those potential attacks and provide care for the greatest number of potential survivors, the community as a whole – and the medical community in particular – must acquire the knowledge of the various signs and symptoms of exposure to irradiation and radioactive contamination as well as have a planned response once such an attack has occurred. Based on knowledge of radiation hazards, medical emergency planers should analyze the risks of each scenario, offer feasible solutions and translate them into internationally accepted plans that would be simple to carry out once such an attack took place. The planned response should be questioned and tested by drills. Those drills should check the triage, evacuation routes, decontamination posts, evacuation centers and receiving hospitals. It is crucial that the drill will consist of simulated casualties that will follow the evacuation route from point zero to the ED. Knowledge and exercise will reduce terror (fear) from radiation and help the community as a whole better cope with such an event. This article will review the general information of radiation types, their biological damage, clinical appearance and general concepts of nuclear event planning, focusing on medical response and focus on the Israeli perspective.

BIO 300: a promising radiation countermeasure under advanced development for acute radiation syndrome and the delayed effects of acute radiation exposure

“…Radiation accidents, large and small alike, serve as warning signs of the potential health and environmental hazards associated with catastrophic nuclear/radiological events [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The risk of life-threatening exposures to high doses of radiation following terrorist-driven nuclear/radiological weapon attacks have become a rising concern in recent years [7,8]. These threats are amplified by the lack of available medical countermeasures for protecting the public against radiation exposure-related illness and death [9,10].…”

Mitigation of Lethal Radiation Syndrome in Mice by Intramuscular Injection of 3D Cultured Adherent Human Placental Stromal Cells

“…Moreover, threats from exposure to high doses of radiation due to scenarios of criminal mega-terrorist events became more realistic in the recent years [5], [6]. In such events many individuals may be affected with no adequate estimation of the exact doses to which they were exposed.…”

Transplantation of Donor–Recipient Chimeric Cells Restores Peripheral Blood Cell Populations and Increases Survival after Total Body Irradiation-Induced Injury in a Rat Experimental Model

“…In the last decade, we witnessed an increased risk of terrorist attacks using different types of weapons and a steady increase in the use of nuclear energy in many industries, which implicates the potential risk of nuclear disaster and the development of the ARS in the affected population (Hagby et al 2009). Depending on the absorbed irradiation dose, various ARS signs may occur.…”