| Protecting Yourself From Nuclear Attack: | |
by Mary J. Shomon
After the June, 2002 announcement of the arrest of an alleged al-Qaeda member who had potential plans to set off radioactivity-laden "dirty bombs" in America's cities, the interest in potassium iodide has skyrocketed. Potassium iodide pills, when taken in the hours and days after certain types of radioactive releases, can protect the thyroid from radioactive damage. In the days after the"dirty bomber" announcement, various federal agencies in Washington, DC -- including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Human Services rushed to order hundreds of thousands of potassium iodide pills to keep on hand. Gordon Johndroe, the spokesman for the Office of Homeland Security, said that the agencies were stockpiling the pills "in case of a nuclear event."
Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, orders for potassium iodide have been on the rise, primarily as individuals and municipalities in the areas around nuclear plants have ordered the thyroid-protective drug to keep on hand or distribute in the event of an attack on nuclear facilities, or a dirty bombing.
Would Potassium Iodide Help You in the Event of a Radioactive Release?
Radioactive iodine is a major constituent used in nuclear power plants as well as in the fallout from nuclear detonation. Carried for hundreds of miles on the winds, if radioactive iodine is taken into the body through breathing or consumption of contaminated food, it is collected and retained by the thyroid gland. There, this concentration of radioactive material results in a variety of life-threatening illnesses including cancers and leukemia. Children -- born and unborn -- are particularly at risk due to their small physical size and weight.
In the event of a reactor or plant accident, the potassium iodide pills can, if taken prior to exposure to fallout, protect the thyroid gland from damage, reducing the future risk of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer.
Potassium iodide saturates the thyroid with a safe, stable form of iodine, thus preventing the uptake of radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide is the only FDA approved thyroid-blocking agent and is approved for over the counter sale.
Where Is the Risk?
As far as accidents or attacks on nuclear plants, most people in the eastern half of the U.S. are in a danger zone of exposure to radioactive iodine. Several other states, including Texas, California and Washington state, are also at risk.
See a map of U.S. nuclear reactors and plants
Will Potassium Iodide Help With Dirty Bombs?
While demand for the supplement has never been higher, and many jurisdictions have distributed pills to people within a certain risk radius of key plants, potassium iodide may not help with so called "dirty bombs." It's thought that such bombs would likely use other radioactive materials, not radioactive iodine, and potassium iodide is only thyroid-protective in the event of exposure to radioactive iodine.
This information does not appear to be slowing down the sales of the drug, however, as government agencies and individuals continue to stockpile and distribute the drug. The strongest sales have been coming from the Washington, DC area, where it's though that the dirty bomber Jose Padilla is alleged to have planned his attack.
More Information About Potassium Iodide and the Thyroid
Here at About.com, we've been informing the public about the use of potassium iodide as a protective agent for the thyroid since June of 1999, after the Tokaimura nuclear accident in Japan. Here are some additional resources for information:
Where to Buy Potassium Iodide
Click here for a list of the Top Sites Selling Potassium Iodide.
Top Online Sources for Potassium Iodide
