What do you call a device designed to expose people to radiation or disperse radiological materials?

• A. Dirty bomb
• B. Radiation device
• C. Nuclear flare
• D. Contamination tool

Answer: (A)

A radiological dispersal device, commonly called a dirty bomb, is the device designed to expose people to radiation by dispersing radiological materials. The idea is to use conventional explosives to spread radioactive material over an area, creating contamination and exposure without a nuclear chain reaction. This term specifically captures the combination of dissemination and radiologic exposure, which is exactly what the question describes. Other labels aren’t standard terms for this concept: a radiation device isn’t a recognized category; a nuclear flare suggests a nuclear explosion; and a contamination tool isn’t used in practice.