[ RadSafe ] How tough is it to build a dirty bomb?

[Shane Connor]

Other than the blast casualties from the explosion itself,
which would have happened even without a radiological
component added, the panic, if it was suspected to have
been 'dirty', will likely create more casualties than any rad
exposure, from strokes & heart attacks in the stampede
away from it & roads out turning into demolition derbies.

Regarding rad sources from afar coming in across our
porous borders, there's plenty loose here already says...

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/speeches/2000/s00-32.html 


"Based on information available to the NRC, an
average of approximately 375 sources or devices
of all kinds are reported lost or stolen each year
in the U.S. -- that is, roughly one per day."

Admittedly, most would not be of sufficient activity, and
what was would also first need...
...well, I'll just leave it at that.

Bottom Line; If public was educated, the threat of panic
and attractiveness of RDD's to terrs would both erode.

Shane Connor
www.ki4u.com