After the Ukrainian nuclear power plant of Chernobyl, the Russian military has also taken control of that of Zaporizhzhia, the largest in Europe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (Iaea) she was extremely concerned about the situation, but also reassured that radiation levels are currently normal. Fear of a possible nuclear war continues to grow in various European countries, including Italy, where a rush to buy iodine pills in pharmacies has started. These tablets, based on stable iodine salt, i.e. non-radioactive, were used following the accident at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in 1986, because they were able to block the absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid.
But is it really necessary to hire them in the event of a nuclear war? And is it okay to stock it up now? In fact, the administration of iodine is part of the strategy contained in the National Plan of protective measures against radiological emergencies, to reduce the negative effects on the health of people exposed to radiation. But experts warn against do-it-yourselfers: “It is very important to take iodine in appropriate doses and not as a preventive in the absence of radioactivity”.
What is iodine used for
Potassium iodide (KI) pills are used as a drug against hyperthyroidism (the thyroid works harder than it should) and as a protective factor in the event of radiation emissions. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones that regulate the growth of the body and the functioning of the metabolism. Getting an adequate intake from the diet – about 150 micrograms per day in adults, and about 220 and 290 micrograms respectively in pregnant and lactating women – is essential to ensure the proper functioning of the thyroid, while avoiding an accumulation, a circumstance, the latter. , which would favor the onset of hypothyroidism, goiter, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis or papillary thyroid cancer.
Because it is used in case of radiation
“During a nuclear accident – as the Higher Institute of Health explains -, radioactive iodine can be released contaminating the environment, resulting in external exposure. Inhalation of contaminated air and ingestion of contaminated food and drinking water can lead to internal exposure to radiation and absorption of radioactive iodine primarily by the thyroid. The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones and does not distinguish between radioactive iodine and stable iodine. After a nuclear accident, if radioactive iodine is inhaled or ingested, the thyroid gland absorbs it in the same way as stable iodine “.
“If stable iodine – continues the ISS – is administered before or at the beginning of exposure to radioactive iodine, the absorption of the latter will be blocked by the saturation of the thyroid gland with stable iodine, thus effectively reducing internal exposure Overall, oral administration of stable iodine (together with food and drinking water control) is considered an appropriate strategy to reduce the risk of adverse health effects of people exposed to accidental release of radioactive iodine and is included in many countries in the emergency plans “. So, in conclusion, the intake of potassium iodide pills serve to “saturate” the thyroid gland with stable iodine avoiding the absorption of radioactive iodine, which will then be expelled or decay (also called thyroid “block”).
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How iodine is distributed in an emergency
In Italy the pills are currently sold as iodine-based supplements and can be purchased at your own expense without a prescription. In the event of a nuclear accident, the Civil Protection, the Ministries concerned and the National Health Service will activate the distribution of iodoprophylaxis in the most appropriate ways and provide iodine pills in the right dosages according to age.
In the event of a “severe accident” at a nuclear power plant – the National Plan of protective measures against radiological emergencies specifies – the Department may decide to “activate the distribution of stable iodine in the affected areas”. “It is – it is explained in the document – an effective intervention measure for the protection of the thyroid, as long as it is implemented promptly (from a few hours to a day before exposure or at most within the first 6/8 hours from exposure ).
What the experts say
Experts believe that a rush to buy iodine supplements is useless at the moment, without an explicit indication from the doctor, and for the sole fear of a possible nuclear attack or accident. “It is very important to take it in appropriate doses and not as a preventive in the absence of radioactivity – said Sebastiano Venturi, physician expert in public hygiene and author of a research on this topic published in 2020 in the journal Human Evolution -. Actually, potassium iodide only protects against radioactive iodine, particularly iodine 131, but not other radionuclides emitted in nuclear accidents, such as cesium and strontium. And, moreover, it must be taken before the radioactive iodine is ingested, or in the very first hours following, and before taking it, important factors must be considered, such as age, disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding “.
Even the American Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) discourage the rush to purchase these pills and stress that there is no indication to take them except in special circumstances: “Potassium iodide should only be taken under directions of public health experts or of those who manage the emergency, as hiring it can lead to health risks “.
For some people, the pills can be toxic
In Belgium, where there are two active nuclear power plants, there is a lot of fear. For days, the Belgian Pharmacists Association has reported a rush to iodine-based anti-radiation pills: between Thursday 24 February and Monday 28 February there was a real boom. On the subject, the Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control has made it clear that “iodine pills do not offer protection against other radioactive substances from which, in an emergency, it is necessary to take shelter. Furthermore, the use of the tablets is only recommended for people in certain age groups ”.
The substance, in fact, could potentially be toxic for some subjects, in particular for those over 40 who suffer from goiter or hyperthyroidism. Among the contraindications related to an inappropriate intake and / or a wrong dosage is the risk of dysfunction of the thyroid gland or the onset of autoimmune diseases.
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