Major radiological threats and emergencies requiring public health preparedness (the example of Greece)

Radiological emergencies carry the potential for major disruptions to public health care provision, due to their infrequency, unpredicted nature, delay in appearance of adverse effects and the grave psychological impact on sufferers and society. This study aims to describe and analyze the main categories of radiological hazards and emergencies that require hospital response and preparedness at a nation-wide level, taking into specific account the example of Greece. These radiological threats are either accidental, like reactor emergencies and accidents in hospital or industrial units implementing radiological sources of high activities, or deliberate, like detonation of nuclear devices and malicious use of various radionuclides.