How important is it to have potassium iodide (KI) available during a radiation emergency?
The thyroid gland in the human body is especially vulnerable to radioactive iodide during a radiation emergency. The thyroid gland will readily absorb the radioactive iodine 131 that enters your body and the iodine could remain there for weeks or even months. The advantage having and taking potassium iodide before you are exposed is that your thyroid will be inundated or flooded with the non-radioactive iodide, therefore “filling up” your thyroid and blocking the dangerous radioactive iodide from being absorbed in the gland. It is important to note that KI will not keep radioactive iodine from entering your body; it will only protect your vulnerable thyroid gland from absorbing the toxic radiation.
So how important is it to protect your thyroid gland? Well let’s take a look at history. According to the World Health Organization revised estimates, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster will cause 50,000 new cases of thyroid cancer among young people living in the areas most affected by the disaster. Children are especially vulnerable to long term thyroid problems associated with radiation. The rate of thyroid cancer in adolescents aged 15-18 is now 3 times higher than it was before the 1986 disaster. The incidence of thyroid cancer in children in the Ukraine is now 10 times higher than it was before the nuclear disaster. The most alarming increase is in children who were ages 4 and under when the Chernobyl accident occurred. Researchers have found that in certain parts of Belarus, up to 37% of these children have or can expect to develop thyroid cancer in their lifetimes. It is still unknown what the long term effects of the Japan nuclear disaster might be.
One important factor to consider is that you will need to take a potassium iodide supplement (like Thyrosafe) at least 45 minutes - 1 hour before being exposed to radioactive iodide. This highlights the importance of having a supply of potassium iodide included with your basic emergency supplies. During a real nuclear disaster KI supplies will vanish within hours, or even minutes and it will be too late to run to the store or order any KI once an event has started.
It is recommended that you should take a potassium iodide solution only after being instructed by local emergency personnel to do so; however, I believe in some cases you will have you use your own discretion. One dose of KI will last 24 hours. The recommended doses are as follows:
· Adults (including women who are breastfeeding) or children who are adult size and over 150lbs should take 130 mg per day (two 65 mg tablets in Thyrosafe OR two mL of solution with the Potassium Iodide Vial USP Mixture).
· Children between 3 and 18 years of age and under 150 lbs should take 65 mg per day (one 65 mg tablet of Thyrosafe OR 1 mL of solution of the Potassium Iodide Vial USP Mixture).
· Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 mg (½ of a 65 mg tablet of Thyrosafe OR ½ mL of solution of the Potassium Iodide Vial USP Mixture). This includes both nursing and non-nursing infants and children.
· Newborns from birth to 1 month of age should be given 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg tablet of Thyrosafe or ¼ mL of solution of the Potassium Iodide Vial USP Mixture). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing newborn infants. Infants who receive KI should have their thyroid hormone levels checked and monitored by a doctor due to the risk of developing hypothyroidism. Avoid repeat dosing of KI to newborns if at all possible.
Taking higher doses than the recommended does not offer any higher level of protection. You should stop taking potassium iodide once the threat has dissolved or once you have evacuated the area. It is important to stock up on your KI now and not wait for the next disaster. Visit the Shepherd Survival Radiation protection page HERE.
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