Potentially dangerous radionuclides to be used in credible RDD explosion scenarios at the proposed RNPP site

Abstract

Terrorist acquisition of harmful radionuclides and subsequent construction and use of Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) can induce panic among people, as well as inflict severe economic damages. Most probable radionuclides to be used in an RDD explosion scenario at the planned Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) site, Bangladesh were studied in this work. Six radionuclides (Co-60, I-131, Cs-137, Ir-192, Am-241 and Sr-90) and six possible explosion locations were identified based on seasonal meteorological conditions. Assuming 100 mSv at the reactor building as an operational intervention level (OIL), the required threshold activities of each of the radionuclides were calculated considering prevailing atmospheric stability, using health physics code HotSpot 3.1 developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA. Alpha emitter Americium-241 and Beta emitter Strontium-90 were found to be potentially the most dangerous considered radionuclides in the event of an RDD explosion if C-4 was chosen as explosive.