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Journal of APPLIED BIOMEDICINE
ISSN 1214-0287 (on-line)
ISSN 1214-021X (printed)

Volume 1 (2003), No 2, p 55-59



Nuclear terrorism

Pavel Kuna, Otakar Neruda, Leos Navratil, Jan Matzner, Renata Ziskova

Address: Pavel Kuna, Institute of Radiology, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Matice skolske 17, 370 01 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
pavel.kuna@tiscali.cz

Received 28th January 2003.
Published online 19th March 2003.

Full text article (pdf)

SUMMARY
Neutron weapons are designed for the destruction of living organisms; they are not designed for the destruction of building and technical facilities. The miniature nuclear fission weapons (about 1 kt) have similar characteristics and they are most suitable for terrorist attacks. Irradiation of mammals by fission neutrons results in a more severe deterministic (acute) as well as stochastic (late) radiation damage in comparison with gamma rays. Traditional physical shielding materials (steel, lead) cannot provide protection, and biological protection mechanisms (tissue hypoxia, radioprotective chemical drugs) are also not effecive. Water and plastic materials (polyethylene) are suitable for shielding.

KEY WORDS
nuclear terrorism; weapons; neutron; biological effects; radioprotection


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