Difference Between a Radiological and Nuclear Emergency

• Key
  • Nuclear incidents involve detonation of a nuclear device whereas radiological incidents produce radiation without detonation of a nuclear device.
• Radiological incidents
  • Victim can have contamination and/or exposure
  • Examples:
    • Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD): explosive/non-explosive
    • Hidden radioactive source: radiological exposure device (RED)
• Nuclear incidents (blast, detonation, explosion)
  • Involves a nuclear explosion (fission)
  • Victims can have contamination and/or exposure
  • Examples:
    • Nuclear weapon detonation
    • Improvised Nuclear Device detonation

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