A large radiological dispersal device (RDD) also has the potential to
contaminate the environment or ecosystems. The environmental hazards
from dispersal of highly radioactive fuel in a large RDD would be
similar to that which occurred at Chernobyl, but on a smaller scale.6
Radioactive gases, liquids, and particulates would cause considerable
environmental contamination. The areas of risk from radioactive contamination
can extend many miles away from the explosion site.
Biological pathogens may be used to perpetrate ecological terrorism.
For example, Bacillus anthracis, the organism that causes anthrax, is
very stable because of its ability to sporulate. This characteristic makes
anthrax spores attractive for terrorists to use to contaminate the environment.
Dormant spores are known to have survived in some archaeological
sites for perhaps hundreds of years.7 An aerosol release of anthrax spores in parks, playgrounds, or sports fields using a portable
cropduster sprayer would contaminate these areas and may infect
unsuspecting people who come in contact with the spores. A public
acknowledgment of such a release by a terrorist group would cause
widespread distress, panic, and fear. Bioterrorism has become a great
public health and infection control threat.