what is a dirty bomb

A dirty bomb, also known as a radiological dispersal device (RDD), is a weapon that combines conventional explosives like dynamite with radioactive material. Its purpose is not to cause a nuclear explosion but to spread radioactive contamination over an area, primarily to create fear, panic, and disruption rather than mass casualties. The explosion itself is typically more harmful than the radiation it spreads. The radioactive material dispersed can contaminate the environment and pose health risks if inhaled or ingested, requiring costly cleanup and potentially causing economic damage. Dirty bombs are considered weapons of mass disruption rather than mass destruction and have never been used in an attack, only tested.