What would be the danger to the public if terrorists were successful in acquiring radioactive material and detonating a dirty bomb?
The radioactive material could contaminate a large area, a few city blocks or more, depending on the type and amount of radioactive material used, amount and type of explosive, weather conditions, and other factors. It is unlikely that significant immediate health effects or prompt fatalities would result, other than from the explosion itself, because people would run away from the explosion and the radioactive material would disperse, reducing the potential for high radiation exposure. Over the long term, people who were contaminated or exposed to elevated radiation levels may have an increased risk of cancer.
