WASHINGTON -- A "dirty bomb" could spread radioactive dust over several city blocks, but the radiation probably would not cause many casualties, experts said yesterday.
The weapon would be most effective in spreading fear and panic, they said.
Not to be confused with a nuclear explosion, a dirty bomb is a device that uses conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.
The explosion could send a plume of radioactive dust for several city blocks, depending on wind conditions, experts said. Exposed people would need to be isolated to prevent them from spreading the contamination, requiring an even wider cleanup.
The radiation exposure would likely be of such a small dose that it would cause no immediate health concerns -- and probably no long-term adverse health effects, said government and private nuclear experts.
"The impact is more psychological rather than loss of life," said Phil Anderson, a security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, although hundreds could still be killed by the conventional explosion itself.
"It's the fear factor we've got to focus our energies on," said Anderson.
On that score, he added, "we failed miserably" last year in trying to explain the threat posed to the average American from anthrax-laced mail."
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