[hispanarepublicana]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

[Poohbah]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Kill the schmuck carrying it in his trunk.

[cavtrooper21]

I'm not the brightest bulb in the fixture, but at the very LEAST it would make folks very ill, and cause long term health effects, not unlike a small Chernoble(sp?)

[rs79bm]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Here's my reply to your post:, from afore mentioned article in WND:

The CFR report states that such radioactive substances are not always well-guarded. The report says, "The [International Atomic Energy Agency] notes that virtually every country has radioactive substances that could be used to make dirty bombs." It cites a U.N. report stating "Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were not deadly enough."

[Calpernia]

Ping

[LayoutGuru2]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Keep 5,000 people in bunny suits busy for six months cleaning up a nasty mess? Some people in the immediate vicinity of the dirty bomb blast would be killed by the conventional blast, the number would depend on where it is set off. The health effects on those exposed to any of radioactive material near and downwind of the blast would depend on how long they remained in affected area before vacating and what type of material was used. The real power of this type of weapon is psychological. Ninety-percent of the public would hear 'explosion' and 'radioactivity' uttered in the same sentence and liken it to a proper nuclear explosion which is many times more deadly.

[judicial meanz]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

I would have to know the type of nuclear material to tell you any really hard facts. If it is a byproduct of fission, you may be looking at aything from plutonium to yttrium, and each of these have different properties.

The biggest danger from a dirty bomb is the conventional blast that is designed to trigger it. Fission just isnt possible in the design of a dirty bomb. At the very least, a large area would need decontamination.