Chapter 8
Societal Impact of a Radiological Attack
Any radiological attack is likely to have a profound impact on society; the mere
mention of radiation will frighten the population (and likely politicians as well),
contaminated areas will likely be off-limits until they can be decontaminated and
access restored, and there will be a tremendous economic impact at all levels of
society from individuals through the local and national governments.
Governments will also need to consider both short- and long-term health effects
on their populations; how many were injured by the blast, how many will suffer
radiation sickness, how many might develop cancer over the decades to come, and
who will pay for all of the testing and medical care over as long as a half-century
after the event.
8.1 Short-Term Impact
For the purposes of this discussion, “short-term” will refer to events that transpire
during the period of time from the recognition that an attack has taken place through
the days or the first few weeks that pass until the full extent of contamination is known
and those areas delineated with rescue operations completed. This will be the period
with the most confusion and upheaval, the period during which the responders will
be most active, the public will be the most frightened, and government is likely to be
the most confused and disorganized. As the full extent of the event becomes known
and as the public, responders, and government begin to adjust to the attack and to
plan their respective actions and work to recover from the attack—as individuals,
businesses, and governments—will begin.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. A. Karam, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism,
Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69162-2_8
73
Societal Impact of a Radiological Attack
Any radiological attack is likely to have a profound impact on society; the mere
mention of radiation will frighten the population (and likely politicians as well),
contaminated areas will likely be off-limits until they can be decontaminated and
access restored, and there will be a tremendous economic impact at all levels of
society from individuals through the local and national governments.
Governments will also need to consider both short- and long-term health effects
on their populations; how many were injured by the blast, how many will suffer
radiation sickness, how many might develop cancer over the decades to come, and
who will pay for all of the testing and medical care over as long as a half-century
after the event.
8.1 Short-Term Impact
For the purposes of this discussion, “short-term” will refer to events that transpire
during the period of time from the recognition that an attack has taken place through
the days or the first few weeks that pass until the full extent of contamination is known
and those areas delineated with rescue operations completed. This will be the period
with the most confusion and upheaval, the period during which the responders will
be most active, the public will be the most frightened, and government is likely to be
the most confused and disorganized. As the full extent of the event becomes known
and as the public, responders, and government begin to adjust to the attack and to
plan their respective actions and work to recover from the attack—as individuals,
businesses, and governments—will begin.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. A. Karam, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism,
Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69162-2_8
73