Responding to Nuclear Terrorism: is Training of First Responders at Sites of Nuclear Disasters Enhancing Their Preparedness for Incidents Involving Nuclear and Radioactive Material?

Abstract

Preparedness of the first responders’ community is largely driven by extensive training programmes, based upon operational procedures and incident awareness and management. Specialised training facilities allow enhancing preparedness for incidents involving radioactive and nuclear material; due to the merging threat posed by radiological, nuclear and explosive (RNE) materials, there has been increased focus on this particular training for first responder and military communities worldwide. Few countries have live-agent training facilities that would even allow the use of open, unsealed radioactive sources. But there is the need for realistic full force field training to confirm the units’ readiness to assume the mission. The accident in the 4th reactor unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that occurred in the early morning of April 26, 1986 is known to have released an enormous quantity of radionuclides from the destroyed reactor. The activity that was released into the atmosphere to generate the fallout that precipitated onto the adjacent territories was approximately 3,330 PBq (90 MCi), not including noble gases. The most affected area, the so-called exclusion zone of Chernobyl, covers an area of approximately 2,600 km2 (1,000 sq mi) in Ukraine, immediately surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant where radioactive contamination from fallout was highest and public access and inhabitation are still restricted. This exclusion zone is used for radiation protection and response training of first responders. Can this training be done safely and are the benefits outweighing the risks?