What to drink to prevent radiation exposure?

People on the Japanese archipelago, are facing a threat of radioactive contamination. The authorities immediately distributed it to everyone in the danger zone of potassium iodine tablets. Why do they use it to prevent radiation?

The most common type of radioactive dust from a nuclear power plant explosion is
radioactive iodine-131.It is dangerous for humans in causing thyroid cancer.

According to the instructions on the doctissimo (French), iodine is a method of preventing thyroid cancer.

As soon as a nuclear reactor fails, like a new disaster in Japan, a large amount of radiation can escape.

This amount of radiation appears as radioactive iodine, and will affect residents around the contaminated area. This type of toxic iodine tends to accumulate in the thyroid gland, thus increasing the risk of developing thyroid lymph nodes as well as cancer cells. Or thyroid cancer may also occur due to symptoms of impaired function of the gland.

Then, using potassium iodine tablets immediately will reduce the risk of radioactive iodine: Potassium iodine will be deposited on the thyroid gland, saturating the organism's ability to absorb. and preventing toxic iodine (radioactive) from depositing on the thyroid gland.

When taking iodine, potassium will build up in the thyroid gland. When radioactive iodine enters the body, it will not be affected
deposited and eliminated from the body.Photo: doctissimo.fr.

So how much to use?

Preventive iodine in the form of potassium iodure (potassium iodure), must be taken immediately after knowing the area of ​​radioactive contamination.

To reduce the risk of radioactive contamination by 90%, the necessary dosage is:

- In areas where people absorb iodine through the diet at normal levels: one dose equal to or more than 30mg

- In areas where people do not absorb sufficient dietary iodine (eg France, Vietnam): use 50 to 100 mg

In fact, people are often recommended to take a single dose of 130mg, equivalent to 2 tablets, dissolved in a glass of water (children under 12 years of age: 1 tablet, 1 to 36 months old child: ½ tablet, new child born under 1 month: ¼ tablet)

When should I take potassium iodine?

A potassium iodine medicine in France, used for people in the region
susceptible to contamination.

It is best to drink immediately when there is a warning about radiation, then it is nearly 100% effective.

In areas considered " rich in iodine ", 2 hours after the start of radiation exposure, the effect was only 80%, and 40% after 8 hours.

In " iodine-poor " regions take medication after 2 hours of effectiveness, nearly 65% ​​and after 8 hours it is 15%.

For example, in France (a country where people absorb iodine through eating less) how do people provide potassium iodine tablets to people near the atomic center?

Given the risks of radioactive contamination, whether more or less, the French Agency for Nuclear Safety and Local Authorities regularly organized campaigns to distribute potassium iodine tablets to people and muscles. Quan, held near the nuclear center with the support of the French National Electricity Corporation EDF. As a result, people living in radioactive areas can take medicine as soon as there is a warning bell from the nuclear center.

In fact, how does this medicine work?

Drug delivery activities for families, units such as (schools, local administrative offices, factories, factories and hospitals, etc.) are within a radius of 10 km around the centralized area. Nuclear center of France, equivalent to about 400,000 households and 2,600 public facilities in 500 cities.

Each resident in the contaminated area was given a ticket and invited to take medicine at the pharmacy.

The most recent drug campaign took place in 2009, but only partially achieved success, according to www.distribution–iode.com website, only 22.5% of the leaders of companies, enterprises and institutions The public administration is located within a 10 km radius around the nuclear center to the drugstore, while 51.9% of people come to receive it.