A dirty bomb is a radiological weapon dispersed with conventional explosives.
Experts have warned that terrorists who obtained such material could use it to make nuclear or radiological weapons.
The use of radiological, biological and chemical weapons is another common theme in science fiction.
Instead a new department is being established for work on defensive research on biological, chemical and radiological weapons.
The deployment of "radiological" weapons to make the oil fields unusable was also considered.
The armed services also have special teams trained to respond to attacks involving chemical, biological and radiological weapons.
The fear is that the old batteries could be turned into radiological weapons, sometimes known as "dirty nukes."
Like land mines, radiological weapons can be used as an area denial weapons method.
No country today includes radiological weapons in its armories.
He helped develop and put in place a training program to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.