Q: Who Needs a Radiation Detector or Meter?
A: The reasons for
acquiring a radiation detector or meter, and formulating a family nuclear
response strategy, are as varied as are peoples concerns for the future and the
safety of their loved ones in this ever changing world. The following
all-inclusive list would require different responses (sheltering or evacuation)
depending on the nature of the nuclear emergency, but clearly survival in all
would be enhanced with having a radiation detector or meter close at hand.
The specific causes of potential life-threatening nuclear radiation
emergencies include...
- Nuclear power plant accidents here or abroad (Three Mile Island,
Chernobyl)
- Nuclear materials processing plant accidents (Tokaimura, Japan)
- Nuclear waste (radioactive waste from hospitals, spent fuel and
radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, radioactive contaminated
materials, etc.) storage or processing facilities mishaps
- Nuclear waste transport truck or train accidents
- Accidents involving non-waste, but normal daily nuclear materials
transport (trucks, planes, trains, couriers) One out every 50 HazMat shipments
contain radioactive materials. Approximately three million packages of
radioactive material are shipped in the United States each year.
- Improper storage of radioactive materials (non-waste) at any point during
their normal material life cycle. (Power plants, Medical, Industrial,
Academic, etc.)
- Lost or stolen radioactive sources (Over the last 50 years, incidents of
lost or stolen licensed radioactive devices occur at the rate of once
every other day. )
- Nuclear terrorism here via...
- An attack on, or sabotage of, a nuclear power plant.
- Or, a real terrorist atomic bomb detonated here (See Is al Qaeda Preparing a Nuclear Hit?)
- Or, more likely, conventional explosives used to disperse radioactive
materials (dirty bomb) to effectively contaminate an area and much within
in it.
- Or, food or water supplies could be contaminated with radioactive
materials.
- Or, a strong radioactive source could be placed in a location adjacent
to where large numbers of the public would file past. They could be
unknowingly and dangerously exposed to it, such as at a subway que, sports
arena or stadium, etc.
- Limited nuclear war overseas with the fallout carried here by the wind
- Nuclear War involving a direct attack upon the USA.
Everybody will have different opinions about which of the above nuclear
threats is most likely to occur or impact their own family sometime in the
future. Regardless, though, in all cases, knowing exactly what the radioactivity
is, where you are standing, will always make for better informed decisions in
then taking the correct protective action to minimize any future radiation
exposure for your family.
