Fig. 3

Impact of the plume height on the committed effective dose (50 years, a) and the equivalent dose (b) absorbed in the first 10 days by the red bone marrow (RBM) in a victim of a “dirty bomb” attack in the vicinity of the detonation point (within 150 m) depending on the distribution of particle sizes (5 µm respirable; 100 µm non-respirable). Assumed evacuation time: 30 min. The given doses are the sum resulting from external irradiation (“ground” and “cloud shine”) and the incorporation of radioactive material by inhalation. Assumptions: activity of cesium-137 in the bomb 2300 Ci, aerosolisation of the radioactive material 90%. Assumed deposition velocity for smooth surfaces: 0.3 m/s for 100 µm and 0.002 m/s for 5 µm particles [80]