Radiology. Nuclear bomb damaging factors. Disaster Medical Support and Management
Written by Anam Hussain
A radiological disaster strikes after detonation of a nuclear bomb.
Damaging factors:
- The main damaging factors that result from nuclear bomb detonations include:
- Blast wave, Thermal and radiological.
- 50% of the energy released from a nuclear bomb is in the form of blast energy.
- 35% is released in the form of thermal energy.
- 15% is released in the form of other types of nuclear radiation
- Because more than one damaging factor is present AOD is referred as a combined one
- DFs present in this combines AOD include: overpressure, thermal and radiological (ionizing radiation)
- Sequence of damaging factor impacts: light, electromagnetic pulse, blast wave, initial radiation (radiation released in decay of elements in the bomb), residual radiation (created from secondary contaminated air, soil and water)
Blast wave:
- Causes different levels of damage depending on: power of the bomb, distance from explosion, types of construction and terrain (stretch of land)
- Blast damage itself is caused by arrival of a shock wave caused by the nuclear explosion
- Humans are generally relatively resistant to overpressure compared to building hence the real threat from overpressure and blast wave is the collapsing buildings
- There are 4 zones related to blast wave: Zone of complete destruction, Zone of severe (beyond repair) destruction, Zone of moderate (repairable) destruction, Zone of light destruction
- Zone of severe destruction usually has the greatest number of medical losses
Thermal radiation effects:
- Is the main cause of eye injuries and skin burns
- Causes combustible rocks to burst to flames
- Thermal radiation travels at the speed of light and so it is the first DF to impact the population and its environment
- Flash of light and heat precedes blast wave by a matter of seconds
- Depends strongly on weather conditions
- Can ignite materials directly causing spontaneous, self-sustaining fires
- Skin burns are caused by higher light intensity and so are found in casualties located closer to the site of explosion.
- In regards to burn degrees, 4 zones can be distinguished within the thermal AOD
- Zone of 4ᵗʰ degree burns, Zone of severe burns, Zone of moderate burns, Zone of erythema
Disaster Medical Support and Management
- Types of injuries expected include Acute radiation syndrome, trauma, burns and stress
- Specialists needed include: trauma surgeon, burn and plastic surgeon, ophthalmologists, specialists in integral diseases and haematology
- Time and scope for surgical treatment depends on acute radiological syndrome