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Government Stockpiles Thyroid-Protecting Drug... |
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But Are You Safe?
by Mary Shomon
Jan 4, 2002 -- The federal government has purchased 1.6 million doses of the drug potassium iodide, as a protection against a possible of radioactivity in the even of an attack or accident at a nuclear plant.
Potassium iodide, known by its chemical symbol KI, is a nonprescription drug that has been shown to prevent thyroid cancer if taken within 3 to 4 hours after a nuclear release. Thyroid cancer is one of the main causes of death and disease after exposure to radiation. Children and unborn babies are at the greatest thyroid risk from exposure to radioactive releases.
The government also has indicated that another 5 million to 10 million doses will be purchased later this year.
In December, the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) purchased for $180,000, HHS spokesman Bill Pierce said Thursday.
The pills -- including 1 million adult-strength tablets and 600,000 children's doses -- are being stored at undisclosed locations around the country -- likely to be those that would be in the path of nuclear releases in the areas around the nation's nuclear plants.
Will This Protect You?
The key question for the American public is whether or not stockpiled potassium iodide will protect you in the event of a nuclear release. Given the orders to remain indoors or mass evacuations that would undoubtedly ensue after some sort of nuclear accident or terrorist attack, would the government be able to get doses of potassium iodide to everyone downwind of the attack within the 3-4 hour period during which the dosage needs to be taken in order to protect the thyroid gland?
For those who don't have confidence that hundreds of thousands -- or potentially millions -- of doses of potassium iodide could be made available in time, it's recommended to keep the drug on hand, to be taken
Potassium iodide is not a prescription drug, and anybody who wants to can buy it inexpensively, though most pharmacies don't stock the drug. You can purchase it online at a variety of sources, including KI4u.com.
New FDA guidelines recommend daily doses of potassium iodide at the following levels during the period deemed as dangerous after a radioactive accident:
- Infants: birth to 1 month less than 1 month old: 16 milligrams.
- Children aged 1 month to 3 years: 32 milligrams.
- Children 3 to 18 years old: 65 milligrams.
- Adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, and adolescents over 150 pounds: 130 milligrams.
For more information, see: FDA Issues Instructions on Potassium Iodide.
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