To California residents, the catastrophic consequences of the recent Japanese earthquake were particularly alarming. California is known for its earthquakes, and is home to several operational nuclear power plants. The possibility of a similar disaster occurring closer to home suddenly became more palpable.
Following the earthquake in Japan, government officials distributed packages of iodide pills to people living nearby damaged nuclear reactors. It has been found that if given an iodide supplement in anticipation of exposure to radioactive material, the risk of certain types of cancer is greatly reduced.
How Iodide Supplements Work
Nuclear energy is produced by a process called fission. Most reactors harvest this energy from the breakdown of a radioactive element called uranium-235. When an atom of uranium-235 decays, it produces a huge amount of energy as well as several new, lighter radioactive particles. One of these byproducts is iodine-131, a radioactive isotope of iodine.
Normal iodine is a very important component to the human metabolism. We usually get it in sufficient quantities from foods such as fish, vegetables and eggs. Our thyroid glands absorb iodine from the bloodstream and convert it into hormones such as thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which help our cells produce energy.
If we happen to ingest radioactive iodine, our thyroid gland treats it in exactly the same way. It is absorbed from our bloodstream and used to build hormones, which then flow through our body and into our cells. Because it has a very short half-life, iodine-131 releases a large amount of harmful free radicals in a very short amount of time. Free radicals mutate our DNA, and as a result, people exposed to radioactive iodine very rapidly develop thyroid cancer.
If, however, a person were to take an iodide pill in anticipation of exposure to iodine-131, the thyroid would be overwhelmed with the non-radioactive material and incapable of absorbing any more. This would stop the harmful substance from fully infiltrating the body, preventing it from causing as much damage.
Risk in California
There are several nuclear power plants in California, two of which are currently in operation. It is possible that a particularly destructive earthquake could damage the reactors, causing leaks or even meltdowns. In such an event, Iodine-131 and other radioactive material could enter the air and water supply.
Depending on how much damage the earthquake causes, authorities may be prevented from properly distributing iodide supplements in time. Every household should consider including iodide supplements in a survival kit, especially if there is a nuclear power plant nearby. FDA approved pills can be purchased in healthfood stores, in pre-assembled emergency survival kits, or online.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
"Foods Containing Iodine And Iodine Rich Diet | Diet, Nutrition, Exercise for a Healthy Life." Nutrition Facts | Balanced Diet and Health | Diet Chart - Weight Loss Programs. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.diethealthclub.com/blog/diet-profile/foods-containing-iodine-and-iodine-rich-diet.html>.
"How Iodide Pills Work | Japan Disaster & Nuclear Meltdown | Radiation Poisoning | LiveScience." Current News on Space, Animals, Technology, Health, Environment, Culture and History | LiveScience. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.livescience.com/13203-japan-nuclear-meltdown-iodide-pills-work.html>.
"Nuclear Energy in California." California Energy Commission Home Page. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.energy.ca.gov/nuclear/california.html>.
"Potassium Iodide and Radiation Emergencies." Calvert County Health Department. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.calverthealth.org/healththreats/healthhazards/pi.htm>.
USA MADE Iosat Potassium Iodide Pills | ThyroShield | RADTriage Radiation Detector | Emergency Kits | Dirty Bomb Emergency Kit | Potassium Iodine | Radiation Pills. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.nukepills.com/>.
Aisling Williams - Aisling (Ash) Williams is a college honors student in California, majoring in Biology and English. She is currently working on earning her ...
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