What is the goal of a dirty bomb?

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The idea behind a dirty bomb is to spread radioactive material into the environment using a conventional explosion, so the area becomes contaminated with radiation. The goal isn’t to cause a massive blast; it’s to create radiological contamination that forces evacuation, decontamination, and long-term cleanup, along with public fear and disruption. The other options describe different kinds of attacks: a large immediate explosion would be the aim of a high-yield explosive or nuclear device, a chemical irritant would be a chemical weapon, and infecting people with a virus would be a biological attack. In a radiological threat, the focus is on monitoring, detonation dispersal of radioactive material, decontamination, and protecting people from exposure.