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1/ With 6 large nuclear reactors going online this summer I am watching the “they are too expensive” argument die on the vine.
Instead I am bombarded with the “dirty bomb” argument.
Let me break down why this argument doesn’t work as well as my critics want.
Instead I am bombarded with the “dirty bomb” argument.
Let me break down why this argument doesn’t work as well as my critics want.
2/ If I was a terrorist and wanted to create a “dirty bomb” I would want to source the materials in a manner that is easy to obtain, easy to transform into a weapon and also doesn’t kill my weapons manufacturers.
3/ Where could I easily obtain deadly levels of radioactive materials that meet these requirements?
Hospitals and shipyards.
They use radioactive sources in containers that would be easily moved and placed into weapons.
Hospitals and shipyards.
They use radioactive sources in containers that would be easily moved and placed into weapons.
4/ A nuclear power plant would be the worst place to obtain these materials.
Yes they could obtain massive quantities of deadly materials but at what cost financial and through death of their own people.
Yes they could obtain massive quantities of deadly materials but at what cost financial and through death of their own people.
5/ Spent Nuclear fuel is a solid. Held in fuel bundles. Once the fuel is consumed it must be kept cool in a spent fuel pool.
Do the terrorists have the requisite training on fuel handling equipment to remove a fuel assembly from the spent fuel pool.
Do the terrorists have the requisite training on fuel handling equipment to remove a fuel assembly from the spent fuel pool.
6/ Now I get the argument about the spent fuel containers and how the terrorist could steal one.
I doubt they have access to the heavy equipment needed to pick one up and load it onto a specialized vehicle that won’t collapse under the weight of the container & fuel assemblies.
I doubt they have access to the heavy equipment needed to pick one up and load it onto a specialized vehicle that won’t collapse under the weight of the container & fuel assemblies.
7/ Then my critics go back to the fuel in the spent fuel pool.
They imagine a pickup truck loaded with one of the fuel assemblies.
Remember that pool not only cools the spent fuel it is radiation shielding.
They imagine a pickup truck loaded with one of the fuel assemblies.
Remember that pool not only cools the spent fuel it is radiation shielding.
8/ By the time the imaginary terrorists got the spent fuel within a couple feet of the top of the spent fuel pool they would all die from radiation poisoning.
This would be a major engineering nightmare for power plant but with lead shielding they could get it lowered safely.
This would be a major engineering nightmare for power plant but with lead shielding they could get it lowered safely.
9/ Theny critics go back to the spent fuel containers.
They somehow imagine the imaginary terrorists could obtain all the necessary equipment to steal a container.
And they bring it back it to their “lair.”
They somehow imagine the imaginary terrorists could obtain all the necessary equipment to steal a container.
And they bring it back it to their “lair.”
10/ I hope their Lair comes equipped with a full spent fuel processing plant in order to unload the spent fuel assemblies safely without killing them all from radiation poisoning.
I doubt they can obtain several hundred tons of lead and leaden glass before being notices.
I doubt they can obtain several hundred tons of lead and leaden glass before being notices.
11/ Have you noticed the biggest thing I haven’t even mentioned...
Nuclear power plants are essentially armed to the teeth.
They contain enough firepower to take out a medium sized nation.
Nuclear power plants are essentially armed to the teeth.
They contain enough firepower to take out a medium sized nation.
12/ Do you imagine that the terrorists would be able to do all that specialized work with special equipment while in a fun fight with reinforcements on the way?
13/ So I go back to my original point.
If terrorists want to build dirty bombs they would be more successful with materials from hospitals and shipyards.
If terrorists want to build dirty bombs they would be more successful with materials from hospitals and shipyards.
14/ Mexico found out the dangers of this in 1962, when a young boy found a radiography source and took it home.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_Mexico_City_radiation_accident
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_Mexico_City_radiation_accident
