Protecting yourself from a nuclear attack.
Where Is the Risk?
As far as accidents or attacks on nuclear plants in the U.S., 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 nuclear reactors and plants.
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.
It’s been reported that Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor (福島第一原発) in Fukushima Prefecture has seriously malfunctioned. There are credible Japanese government agency sources saying that there are measurable levels of radioactive particles showing up in Tokyo. Whether that’s within a safe range or not from the U.S., I don’t know, but thinking about protecting yourself (just in case) can’t hurt. So, what can you do?
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.
+It should be noted ”that while flooding your system with iodine will minimize absorption of radioactive iodine – which will otherwise be absorbed into your system, emitting radiation that may kill you – this will not prevent you from absorbing radiation in other ways.”
The most effective way to get iodine into your system if potassium iodide is not readily available is to consume kelp tablets. Alternately, you can eat other seaweed, such as Wakame and Nori in quantity (both wonderful sources for iodine). CDC’s guide to the use of iodine tablets.
Where Is the Risk?
As far as accidents or attacks on nuclear plants in the U.S., 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 nuclear reactors and plants.
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.
As Japan struggles to bring its spiraling nuclear catastrophe under control, a new study in a journal published by the American Medical Association (AMA) finds that, from a public health standpoint, U.S. states are “poorly prepared” to respond to a major radiation emergency.
“The nation remains poorly prepared to respond adequately to a major radiation emergency incident,” the study, titled “State-Level Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities,” says. “Capabilities are insufficient or inadequate throughout the functions assessing planning in state health departments, resources in the state health department and other state agencies, and relationships with federal and other partners. For some measures, as many as 85% of responding states reported insufficient capability to respond to a radiation incident.”
Scary.
