8.2 Long-Term Impact
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8.2.3 Psycho-Social
Radiological and nuclear events can traumatize the public even when radiation exposures are too low to cause harm. In fact, when the World Health Organization investigated the health of those living in the Chernobyl area in the first two decades after the
accident [27] they found that the mental health impact of this event was greater than
the medical effects. In particular, incidence of substance abuse, depression, anxiety,
and the like were affecting not only those who were directly affected by the accident,
but their children as well (possibly as a result of living with depressed, alcoholic, or
suicidal parents).
As noted earlier, the psychological and social effects appeared in the aftermath
of the 1987 radiological contamination accident in Goiania Brazil and following
the nuclear reactor accidents in Fukushima Japan as well. This includes the social
stigmatization noted above and the longer-term problems arising from the forced
(albeit—hopefully—temporary) evacuation of large numbers of people, the loss of
income for those whose workplaces are shut down due to being within the Hot Zone,
fears of radiation and worries about long-term health effects, and more [18].
8.2.4 Economic
The long-term economic impact of a radiological attack can be tremendous.
Zimmerman and Loeb [19] estimated that an RDD attack against a major city could
cost tens to hundreds of billions of dollars; this would include the loss of tax revenue,
the closure of businesses and loss of jobs, loss of access to critical infrastructure and
residential properties, the decontamination of buildings and public spaces (streets,
sidewalks, parks, etc.), remediation of environmental contamination, the disposal of
radioactive waste from decontamination and remedial activities, and more.
The cost of any of these factors can vary substantially. For example, a building
that is contaminated only on the exterior façade can be decontaminated using any
of a number of established techniques, or the decision can be made to remove loose
contamination but to let fixed contamination remain on upper floors if it does not add
appreciably to radiation exposure to those working in the building or passing by at
ground level.
On the other hand, many buildings have ventilation intakes at ground level and
these can introduce radioactivity into the building’s interior. There, the entire ventilation system and the entire interior can become contaminated; decontamination in
this case could require removing the entire ventilation system, all of the furniture
and carpeting, interior walls, and any other porous surfaces inside the building. This
can increase the time that a building cannot be used from months to years—if decontamination is even possible. It can also increase the cost of decontamination by two
to three orders of magnitude, given the greater length of time and the larger amount
79
8.2.3 Psycho-Social
Radiological and nuclear events can traumatize the public even when radiation exposures are too low to cause harm. In fact, when the World Health Organization investigated the health of those living in the Chernobyl area in the first two decades after the
accident [27] they found that the mental health impact of this event was greater than
the medical effects. In particular, incidence of substance abuse, depression, anxiety,
and the like were affecting not only those who were directly affected by the accident,
but their children as well (possibly as a result of living with depressed, alcoholic, or
suicidal parents).
As noted earlier, the psychological and social effects appeared in the aftermath
of the 1987 radiological contamination accident in Goiania Brazil and following
the nuclear reactor accidents in Fukushima Japan as well. This includes the social
stigmatization noted above and the longer-term problems arising from the forced
(albeit—hopefully—temporary) evacuation of large numbers of people, the loss of
income for those whose workplaces are shut down due to being within the Hot Zone,
fears of radiation and worries about long-term health effects, and more [18].
8.2.4 Economic
The long-term economic impact of a radiological attack can be tremendous.
Zimmerman and Loeb [19] estimated that an RDD attack against a major city could
cost tens to hundreds of billions of dollars; this would include the loss of tax revenue,
the closure of businesses and loss of jobs, loss of access to critical infrastructure and
residential properties, the decontamination of buildings and public spaces (streets,
sidewalks, parks, etc.), remediation of environmental contamination, the disposal of
radioactive waste from decontamination and remedial activities, and more.
The cost of any of these factors can vary substantially. For example, a building
that is contaminated only on the exterior façade can be decontaminated using any
of a number of established techniques, or the decision can be made to remove loose
contamination but to let fixed contamination remain on upper floors if it does not add
appreciably to radiation exposure to those working in the building or passing by at
ground level.
On the other hand, many buildings have ventilation intakes at ground level and
these can introduce radioactivity into the building’s interior. There, the entire ventilation system and the entire interior can become contaminated; decontamination in
this case could require removing the entire ventilation system, all of the furniture
and carpeting, interior walls, and any other porous surfaces inside the building. This
can increase the time that a building cannot be used from months to years—if decontamination is even possible. It can also increase the cost of decontamination by two
to three orders of magnitude, given the greater length of time and the larger amount