Potassium
Iodide
Anti-Radiation Pill FAQ & iodine sources (PART II) |
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(Originally Potassium Iodide Radiation Protection FAQ)
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Last Updated: February 14th, 2006 |
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SOURCES: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, New England Journal of Medicine,
Nuclear War Survival Skills, National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurements, Federal Register, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,
Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services,
Salt Institute, Morton® Salt, Solgar®, American Thyroid Association,
Physicians for Civil Defense, The United States Pharmacopeial Convention,
Inc., USP Drug Research and Testing Laboratory, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Health Physics Journal, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,
World Health Organization, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research,
United States Disaster Preparedness Institute (Forward additional relevant resources or suggestions for this FAQ
to:webmaster@ki4u.com) |
DUE TO THE
LARGE SIZE OF THE FAQ, THIS IS PART 2.
PART 1 IS HERE OR SIMPLY CLICK ON ANY TOPIC LINK ABOVE.
Q: What About Potassium Iodate (KIO3)?
A: Potassium Iodate (KIO3), offered in an 85 mg tablet
(200 tablets to a bottle),
is the 'cousin' of Potassium Iodide (KI). This is the 'new kid on
the block' commercially offered here in the U.S. for preventative thyroid blocking of radioiodine. With its
extra molecule of oxygen, making it KIO3, its U.S. manufacturer, Medical Corps,
claims it is/has...
- extended shelf life
- no bitter taste
- cheaper per dose
KIO3 has an iodine content of 60%, so two 85 mg tablets (170 mg total,
one adult dose) works out to 103 mg of available iodine. (That's very similar
to Potassium Iodide (KI), with its iodine content of 76.5%, to where each 130 mg tablet of
Potassium Iodide (KI) has 99.45 mg of iodine available.)
The recently updated 1999 World Health Organization:
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents shows both
Potassium Iodide (KI) and KIO3 as equals in regards to their bioavailability of stable iodine.
Regarding the extended KIO3 shelf-life; it is more stable as KIO3 is non-hygroscopic
(very stable in humid air) where Potassium Iodide (KI) will readily dissolve in water.
However, to put
this into perspective, Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets sealed in their original packaging have also been
tested, many years after it was manufactured and 'expired', and found to be quite
stable and maintaining full strength. See Potassium Iodide (KI) stability report below here.
Additionally, the recently updated 1999 World Health Organization:
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents states:
"There is no decisive difference in shelf life between KIO3 and KI."
Regarding
the lack of a bitter taste; this is quite true, you can actually chew
these tablets as they have no taste at all. However, the tablet forms
of Potassium Iodide (KI) offered by two of the other sources for it are
actually quite small, like sublingual nitro pills. For most adults,
they should go down quite readily and offer no problems. (Note: The
newer Potassium Iodide (KI) tablet, from KI4U™ is actually coated to
assure no bitterness taste.) However, if even the thought of having to
swallow a pill (regardless of the size) is a challenge, and it is for
some, this might be a more important feature.
More importantly, though, because the KIO3 formulation (and KI4U™ KI) requires the taking
of two tablets for a complete adult daily dose, children then can more easily be correctly
dosed, too, as they will always require less than a full adult dose.
For instance, children age 3-12, who require exactly half of an adult dose, can simply
take one single/whole tablet of KIO3 (or KI4U™ brand of KI) for their required full daily dose.
In comparison, the Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets offered by two of the formulations, where their single
tablet is a full adult dose, dosing children would thus require effectively splitting,
and sometimes even quartering or eighthing those already tiny tablets and they are also
quite bitter. That would certainly make it much harder to quickly and properly dose children, who
are always at the greatest risk from radioiodine, both from accurately attaining
the proper dose amount and then the need to mask or dilute
the bitterness. Especially when
everyone concerned would likely be in a very stressful and urgent emergency situation.
Regarding the reduced per dose cost; KIO3, as offered and priced by its manufacturer,
is clearly competitive with the available Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets current pricing.
Labeled dosing recommendations for the new Medical Corps KIO3, 200 tablets per
bottle (85 mg tablets), closely mirrors the most recent 1999 World Health Organization:
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents and are as follows:
Adults, and Children over 12 years of age:
Take: 2 tablets per day for 15 days (minimum) to 85 days
Children 3 years to 12 years:
Take: 1 tablet per day for 15 days (minimum) to 85 days
Babies 1 month to 3 years
Take: ½ tablet per day for 15 days (minimum) to 85 days
Newborns to 1 month:
Take: ¼ tablet per day for 15 days (minimum) to 85 days
Pets: for 15 days (minimum) to 85 days
Large Dog-- 1-2 tablets per day
Medium Dog-- 1/2 to 1 tablet per day
Cats-- 1/4 to ½ tablet per day
We
are continuing our research into KIO3 and have learned that a number of
other countries have been stockpiling it for nuclear emergencies. Among
those we've been able to confirm are the United Kingdom and South
Africa, where they both utilize KIO3 for protecting their populations
surrounding their nuclear power plants.
Information
request to the United Kingdom National Radiological Protection Board
produced this reply (11/11/99) from Frances A. Fry, Division Head,
NRPB:
Potassium
iodate tablets are manufactured in the UK by Cambridge Laboratories.
Most of the production is held by the nuclear industry for emergencies.
A small amount is sold to hospitals. some is retained by Cambridge
Laboratories.The
use of potassium iodate, rather than iodide, was current practice in
the UK. A UK working group on iodine prophylaxis following nuclear
accidents concluded that there was no obvious benefit of potassium
iodide over potassium iodate. Reference: Department of Health, Report
on Health and Social subjects 39, Nuclear Accident Countermeasures:
Iodine Prophylaxis, 1991.
Another information request to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation (ANSTO) was an inquiry into their preference for having
acquired potassium iodide over iodate in 1999. The response from Brian Holland,
Senior Health Physicist at ANSTO on Mon, 8 Nov 1999 was:
The choice of potassium iodide or iodate was made purely on a cost basis,
iodide was significantly cheaper than iodate. The important fact is that
the stable iodine content of both tablets is the same (100mg). The only
information I have regarding a difference in the two forms is the storage
life. As TGA do not seem to like more than 5 years for an expiry date this
did not seem important.
The 'TGA' referenced above is the Australian government Therapeutic Goods
Administration, their version of the U.S. FDA.
Also, it should be noted, the potassium iodate tablet source they were
considering was not the U.S. manufactured, or priced, Medical Corps brand.
Because KIO3 is new to the U.S. market for this application, compared to Potassium Iodide (KI),
we eagerly invite additional submissions of any resources, reports, or
authoritative quotes, regarding KIO3 use for radiation protection. We will
promptly post, or link to, them all here in this new Potassium Iodate
(KIO3) section. Please forward any additional KIO3 documentation to:
webmaster@ki4u.com
Q: How Do You Make a Potassium Iodide (KI) Solution?
A: Prepared Potassium Iodide (KI) solutions are only available by prescription, such
as Lugol's Solution. However, anyone can buy Potassium Iodide USP at a chemical supply house (and even some larger photo
supply outlets) and readily
mix up their own Potassium Iodide (KI) solutions that is every bit as effective as the tablets. Also, we were recently reminded
by a science teacher, that every town in
America likely has a ready and waiting supply of KI sitting in their high school science labs that could protect hundreds of
their students and local residents! A single 500 gram bottle of KI, now already on many of
their shelves, could provide 3,846 adult daily doses or 7,692 child (age 3-12) thyroid-blocking doses!
Community leaders need to pull together their resourceful science teachers, local pharmacists
and doctors to fully explore the resources already at hand and available for any future
nuclear emergency that might befall their locale. You might could be responsible for saving
many in your community from future thyroid cancer by simply bringing this to the attention of your
local officials, science teachers, pharmacists and doctors!
There are two kinds of Potassium Iodide (KI) solutions that can be made.
Saturated and anything less than saturated.
With a saturated Potassium Iodide (KI) solution you are adding a
little more Potassium Iodide (KI) to a fixed amount of water until some of the crystals or
granules will not dissolve. They will be visible at the bottom of the
solution, even after vigorous mixing. The solution is now considered
saturated when it won't take up and dissolve any more Potassium Iodide (KI).
From Cresson H. Kearny, the author of
Nuclear
War Survival Skills by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, states on
page 114:
"To prepare a saturated solution of potassium iodide, fill a bottle about 60% full of crystalline or
granular potassium iodide. (A 2-fluid-ounce bottle, made of dark glass and
having a solid, non-metallic, screwcap top, is a good size for a family.
About 2 ounces of crystalline or granular potassium iodide is needed to
fill a 2-fluid-ounce bottle about 60% full.) Next, pour safe,
room-temperature water into the bottle until it is about 90% full.
Then close the bottle tightly and shake it vigorously for at least 2
minutes. Some of the solid potassium iodide should remain permanently
undissolved at the bottom of the bottle; this is proof that
the solution is saturated.
Experiments with a variety of ordinary household medicine droppers
determined that 1 drop of a saturated solution of potassium iodide contains
from 28 to 36 mg of potassium iodide."
Two ounces of granulated Potassium Iodide (KI), mentioned above, is about 56.7 grams.
Also,
from the above, an adult would be wanting four drops of the saturated
solution as an expedient dosage. This would amount to between 112 to
144 mg of Potassium Iodide (KI) total. Remember, 130 mg of KI is an
adult daily dose and half that (65 mg) is a child (age 3-12) daily
dose.
Less than saturated Potassium Iodide (KI) solutions, when properly mixed, should give even more
accurate dosages because there is more solution overall to be measured out
per dose. For example, mixing and dissolving exactly 26 grams of Potassium Iodide USP into
a one liter bottle of water, for example, produces 1000 ml of Potassium Iodide
solution with a strength of 130 mg for each 5 ml of that Potassium Iodide (KI) solution. There
are 200 of those 5 ml servings in that 1000 ml (1 liter). 5 ml can be easily and
accurately measured out with a common graduated medicine dropper. 5 ml is also equal
to one measuring teaspoon.
Following the above formula, you could make up most any size and/or strength Potassium Iodide (KI)
solution needed with accurate scales and enough bulk Potassium Iodide (KI).
Also, Stanley L. Rapaport, M.D. shared with me (2/15/03) that he has been trying to point this out to the Surgeon
General, Homeland Security, and Armed Forces Surgeon Generals. If the government bought KI in bulk,
which then is not very expensive and would work out to about .01 cents per child dose, an easy distribution
program could be at the ready in every community in the nation! As Dr. Rapaport explains;
"Bulk purchases must be repackaged from 100# to appropriate sized packages
depending on city size and proposed stockpile locations. There are 3492
adult doses per pound or 6984 children's doses per pound.
Stored in appropriate location viz. pharmacies, fire or police stations.
Made up into a solution of 130mg per 5cc. (1 pound of Potassium Iodide to
17.5 liters of water) gives a solution where one teaspoonful equals one
adult dose, ½ teaspoonful equals a children's dose and so forth as per
schedule below.
Dispensed from appropriate sites including the hospital , parking lots,
drive bys, etc. in any container as is very stable. Paper cups, drink
bottles, with dosage directions.
Taken for ten days (even one dose is markedly effective) or as directed via
appropriate authorities. Solution is somewhat unpleasant and can be masked
by honey, syrup, soft drink, additional water, etc.
The solution as made up is equal to 130mg per 5cc (1 teaspoonful)
Adult dose is 1 teaspoonful
Ages 3-18 ½ teaspoonful
Ages 1 month to 3 years ¼ teaspoonful
Age 1 month or less 1/8 teaspoonful"
As Dr. Rapaport details above, this is all too easy to have in-place and ready to go, and rightly deserves serious
consideration by our government officials tasked with safeguarding public health at all levels; federal, state, and municipal.
Remember, regardless of what kind of Potassium Iodide (KI) solution might be utilized, Potassium Iodide (KI) is very bitter.
You must always then mix that dose (whether 4 drops saturated or 5 ml from the
above formula) into another glass of
juice, milk, or, at least, water to dilute it further before drinking.
As
with the Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets... NEVER TAKE ANY MEDICINE OR
DRUG WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN! YOU COULD HAVE
ALLERGIES, OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR REACTIONS TO OTHER MEDICATIONS
YOU ARE TAKING, THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS OR LIFE THREATENING! ASK
YOUR DOCTOR NOW, BEFORE A NUCLEAR EMERGENCY, AND THEN YOU'LL KNOW
IF/WHEN IT'S NEEDED! (That's just part of being truly prepared, getting
that assurance now while you still can!)
Q: Long Term Stability of Stocked Potassium Iodide (KI)?
A:
Jerome A. Halperin, Executive Vice President-CEO of The United States
Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc., wrote to the Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission on January 30, 1998 of a recent assay of 'expired' Potassium Iodide (KI)
tablets.
The Thyro-Block Tablets (Potassium Iodide Tablets, USP, Lot T242N, Exp.
November 89), after the USP Drug Research and Testing Laboratory analyzed
samples, showed that approximately 11 years after their manufacture and
eight years after their expiry date, the tablets assayed at 99.1% of
the labeled content of potassium iodide. (This result was well within the
rubric range of 92.5 to 107.5% required by the monograph.)
See the complete
letter and laboratory reports here.
(Mr. J. Halperin should know what he is talking about. In 1979, while
deputy director of the Bureau of Drugs of the Food and Drug
Administration, he had directed the effort to get Potassium Iodide Solution,
USP, manufactured and stockpiled in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the
Three Mile Island incident!)
Also, in conversations with one of the largest Potassium Iodide manufacturers
in the U.S., they shared that the shelf-life of their
USP grade Potassium Iodide (KI), in their original factory drums, was 'indefinite', when kept
dry and at room temperature or below. Furthermore, that the shelf-life of
their USP grade Potassium Iodide (KI) dissolved into a water solution contained in a closed,
dark colored, bottle at room temperature or below, was also 'indefinite'.
It's expected that mandatory USP expiration dating will have them revising
these downward some publicly, but the point is, properly stored, Potassium Iodide (KI) is
inherently very stable. (If you have a need to know the name of this
manufacturer, write: webmaster@ki4u.com)
Both
KI and KIO3 tablets can show some discoloration with age, temperature
and humidity that will not affect their viability. KIO3 tablets will
often turn slightly grey in color, and cellulose coated KI tablets will
often have an orange surface discoloration that is only cosmetic while
the underlying tablet, if you break one open, is still original white.
Also, some of the cellulose coated KI tablets may stick together
slightly and need to be shaken to be released.
Q: How Much Personally Stocked Potassium Iodide (KI) is Enough?
| A: Unfortunately, there is no simple or
standard response that could ever be applicable to all American families
with their wide variety of concerns, locations, and situations. There are too many variables
involved, both in the nature of the possible nuclear radiation threats
and your particular family exposure to those threats. |
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From the following observations, tempered with your own knowledge and
expectations, you'll have to try to arrive at a comfortable,
prudent balance,
tailored to your situation.
The currently available foil packaged and small bottled KI formulations both contain 14 Potassium Iodide (KI) adult dose tablets.
The KI4U™ Potassium Iodide (KI) bottle contain 200 tablets (100 adult doses) per bottle.
For a single and 'simple' nuclear facility radiation emergency event where a
gaseous or aerosol
radioiodine plume is released, and the source is soon contained so as additional
radioiodine contamination is not
ongoing, and that released radioiodine is soon dispersed by the wind, then the FDA Potassium Iodide (KI)
product insert statement "You will probably be told not
to take the drug for more than 10 days." would be applicable. In fact, you may only need to take it for a couple days.
That amount (10 days of tablets) would be available in any of the products mentioned above.
However,
if the radioiodine is, instead, in the form of a particulate or
fallout, not a quickly dispersing gas or aerosol, it will continue to
be a threat via inhalation (dust) or ingestion (food, milk, etc.) there
in the area it's deposited in. (However, aggressive interdiction of
radioiodine contaminated food stuffs and milk will greatly minimize the
ingestion route.)
That's why, while radioiodine has a short half-life of only eight days,
health physicists have suggested that it could continue to be dangerous for up to as
many as ten half-lives...80 days! Staying in, or not being able to get out
of, that radioiodine fallout contaminated area will require more than the 14
day supply provided by some formulations.
It should be noted here that you may also be directed to try and
evacuate the area altogether well before you exhaust your Potassium Iodide (KI) supplies,
and you should do so immediately, if directed, both because of persistent radioiodine and the potential for other
additional, and very dangerous, radioisotope fallout contaminations in
that area.
The absolute minimum protection then, assuming successful evacuation in less than
two weeks if needed or directed, would require stocking, at least, a two week supply
per family member. Again, this is for the above scenario of a
one-time 'simple' and brief nuclear facility radiation emergency event
and your families safe exit to a non-contaminated location
before exhausting your Potassium Iodide (KI) supplies, if required.
Preparing your family for future nuclear radiation emergencies will be based on your best
perception of the possible and probable threats and nature of those
nuclear radiation emergencies.
You will have to gauge for yourself, and your family, the likely possibility
for future nuclear radiation accidents, terrorism or war and your families potential exposure to
radiation contamination, if/when it occurs.
You also have to make some
assumptions regarding the likely nature of those possible future nuclear radiation
emergencies from study of current events and reviewing past nuclear radiation
emergencies and the governments response. Short term,
single event, where the radioiodine is gaseous/aerosol and soon dispersed. Or, something
bigger, possibly multiple events, nuclear terrorism and/or ongoing continuing new contaminations being unleashed.
Additionally, you have to assess the probable threat from nuclear war,
either directed at the U.S. or, even more likely, fallout contamination originating from
elsewhere in the world. Russia, China, North Korea, Pakistan, India, Iran, Israel, other Middle East countries, etc.
where any of them are exchanging nuclear blasts with any of their neighbors
could have the prevailing west-to-east trade winds carrying the resultant radioactive fallout here to our
shores, too. (See Trans-Pacific Fallout.)
You'll have to decide whether that's an impossible scenario
in your families lifetime, or not. And, prepare accordingly.
In
light of all of the above, some civil defense experts recommend
Americans should be stocking closer to 100 Potassium Iodide (KI) doses per family member. They are also cognizant of the fact that
if we ever have need for these products in a nuclear emergency that
they would immediately be in short supply for some time. Getting
re-supplied, if you ever need to utilize your stock of Potassium Iodide
(KI), could be difficult. Also, the probability goes up
dramatically that if/when we do have a nuclear 'event' it will then be
much more likely that additional subsequent 'events' will follow
requiring the use again of your remaining supply, too.
With
this in mind, some families nuclear radiation emergency preparations
should include a bottle each of 100 doses of Potassium Iodide (KI) or
KIO3 tablets for each family member. This would allow for the
convenience of each adult member being able to keep some with them for
initial and immediate use whenever and wherever they might be when a
nuclear emergency is first declared or recognized. (Also, to give
immediately to your children if/when you decide to go and retrieve them
from school, etc.)
Also, for families where the funds are snug,
they might also have
stocked some of the less expensive granular Potassuim Iodide USP for mixing a
larger Potassium Iodide (KI) solution for the whole families use
for the rest of the duration of the nuclear radiation emergency. (Thus also
helping to save some of
the remaining,
and more expensive, Potassium Iodide (KI) or KIO3 tablets.)
Need
to give thought here, too, to extended family, friends, neighbors, etc.
Either stocking extra Potassium Iodide (KI) or KIO3 for them or
advising them of their need to do so for themselves. It'll be hard not
to help them all out, if needed, but it would be even better to have
tried to awaken them to the need to get their own stock first!
Bottom Line:
Everyone will have to decide for themselves, and their families, the
possible and probable threats, their personal and families potential
exposure to them, and their comfort level to rely solely on outside
government solutions to their future nuclear radiation emergencies.
It's not hype to state that it's unlikely you'll have too much --- when
it's needed! Nor will you likely be able to easily get any more!
Q: When Should I Take Potassium Iodide (KI)?
A:
The FDA potassium iodide product insert says:
"Potassium iodide should be taken as soon as possible after public
health officials tell you. You should take one dose every 24 hours."
Also, from the Health Physics Journal, Volume 78 No. 6, June 2000, "EFFECTS OF TIME OF
ADMINISTRATION AND DIETARY IODINE LEVELS ON POTASSIUM IODIDE (KI) BLOCKADE OF
THYROID IRRADIATION BY 131-I FROM RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT" Pat B. Zanzonico and David V. Becker
(Read abstract by searching title at
Health Physics Journal):
"KI administered up to 48 h before 131-I exposure can almost completely block thyroid uptake and therefore greatly
reduce the thyroid absorbed dose. However, KI administration 96 h or more before 131-I exposure has no significant
protective effect. In contrast, KI administration after exposure to radioiodine induces a smaller and rapidly decreasing
blockade effect. KI administration 16 h or later after 131-I exposure will have little effect on thyroid uptake and absorbed
dose and therefore little or no protective effect."
Regarding Nuclear Power Plant Radiation Emergencies:
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You might also want to leave yourself the option to discover, learn, and
be vigilant for other pending nuclear power plant emergency warning signs to act
upon, even before public declarations.
For instance, if you have a nuclear plant near you, you probably
already know somebody (or at least they know somebody that knows somebody)
that works there. Talk to them, ask them how they plan to have their own
families get a quick and prompt 'heads-up' if something starts happening.
You might even ask to get on their phone list of people to call, it
certainly couldn't hurt to ask, and could be a life-saver!
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Another opportunity to learn what others are doing locally to keep
abreast of any future emergency situations developing at the plant is to
seek out the local nuke 'concerned citizens' group. Regardless of their
politics, and your affinity to them or not, they may be a great source of
contacts, procedures and suggestions for monitoring and reporting on any potential future
emergencies brewing inside the plant. (They may even have some simple
Radio Shack™ scanner suggestions, like what the news reporters and crime watch
folks use, for monitoring plant and local emergency communications yourself in an unfolding emergency.)
You may also have friends (or they may have friends) who are in law
enforcement, local emergency/disaster coordinator's office, or other government
or emergency services who would be on early call-up lists for any potential problems
at the local nuclear plant. Seek them out, too. You may even find a volunteer branch
for some of these public safety functions that you could participate in
and thus be even closer to the inner circle getting a heads-up to pending news announcements before the general
public.
If, by cultivating a network of 'early warning' contacts, you do get
indications of a pending announcement of a nuclear emergency being publicly
declared soon, then you'll be in the enviable position to immediately launch
your families
nuclear emergency response plan.
Whether you then commence Potassium Iodide treatments for your family,
before official public declarations to do so or not, at least you will
have earned for them and yourself the opportunity to choose.
You need to be aware, though, that just because there is an 'alert',
'unusual event', 'site area emergency', or even 'general emergency' at a nuclear
power plant does not automatically mean that radioactive iodine will be
released. You've got to strike the right balance of being alert, informed, and prepared to act.
For
individuals not already cautioned not to use Potassium Iodide (KI)
(such as those known to be allergic to Iodine, having a medical
condition that forbids it, or currently taking another medication(s)
that would adversely react with it) the downside of beginning Potassium
Iodide (KI) treatment, when later revealed not to have been needed, is
statistically minimal. (However, you should always consult your
personal physician, well ahead of any potential need for it, to assure
that you and your children are unlikely to encounter any problems using
it. That's just a part of being truly prepared!) You'll have to balance
your final decisions against the potentially deadly downside of not
having started early enough to have saturated your thyroid, and your
childrens thyroids, with stable iodine to then avoid later uptake of a
possible plume of radioactive iodine being carried in on the winds.
There are numerous incidents of nuclear power plant emergency
releases of radioiodine that did not also have the public being
immediately and effectively notified. You need to do what you can to
network yourself into the nuclear plant emergency information loop,
closer to the action, to be better assured of a prompt and informed notification.
This author was recently challenged by an employee of the NRC (speaking unofficially)
suggesting it was 'somewhat irresponsible' to be recommending
above here that people should be encouraged to try to
attain information outside and beyond solely relying on the public
warning systems and public notification procedures already in place.
(Especially, didn't like the suggestion of utilizing scanners, where
people might could then be listening in on "...transmissions between
workers at power plants and then drawn their own conclusions from these
discussions.") Specifically because, this person stated: "...at each nuclear power plant, there
is an emergency
notification siren system to alert citizens to a general emergency
condition at a nuclear power plant. local officials will be notified
and will notify citizens."
This author responded:
"If I
could be convinced, that at the onset of a nuclear power
plant emergency, that no employee there with family downwind,
would ever think to call home, but would instead rely on the
sequence of public notifications above to unfold and alert
their loved ones to evacuate, then I could delete that whole
section."
And,
of course, for nuclear terrorism here at home we need to employ all of
the above relationship building with local police/fire/rescue
authorities, second-tier contacts and communication tie-ins as we would
for monitoring a nuclear power plants status. Anything that gets you
news before it's public news could eventually prove to be lifesaving
for your family.
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Got a great insider tip or suggestion for early warning of a nuclear
plant impending radiation emergency declaration? Write:
webmaster@ki4u.com and we'll credit
you with it here, or not. Your choice, but please do share it!
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Regarding Nuclear Explosions Radiation Emergencies:
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There is a wealth of early warning nuclear explosion information here on
this site at Nuclear War Survival Skills
Ch. 2: Warnings and
Communications. It covers both strategic and tactical warnings and the
effectiveness of in-place public warning systems. Beyond the obvious, it
also details recognizable nuclear bomb effects, like bright lights, noise,
and wide-spread electrical and communication failures that can alert you to
the commencement of hostilities, even well away from your location, too.
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Additionally, you should even try to cultivate contacts within the military similar to
those you would establish above for early warnings of nuclear power plant
emergencies. Once you start inquiring you might be pleasantly surprised to
discover who knows who that knows somebody that might help you recognize a
'heads-up' coming or an heightened level of military alert.
And, of course, any close following of world-wide political and current events can
reveal increased nuclear saber-rattling with a corresponding increased
potential to break out into a nuclear exchange. You need to go beyond just
the national media here in America and also explore the international
overseas generated news sources. The BBC and some of the translated
World News on satellite TV can give you unfiltered insights into what
the governments in the Middle East, or China, Russia, Iran, and
North Korea, etc.
are telling their people is important to focus on. It's often insightful
'news' and glimpses of emerging trends that their peoples are being
prepped for. It's also routinely overlooked and either delayed or 'missed' altogether by the general
U.S. press.
Also, shortwave listening to
worldband broadcasting and discerning
use of the internet can connect you with important stories hours, days, and
sometimes, even months, before the mainstream press 'discovers' and reports
on it. And, often, even when they eventually do report on it, it is a brief
overview that doesn't give it the treatment deserved nor adequately reveals
the implications of that event or news item.
This is especially true in the cases where foreign countries are increasingly
belligerent to each
other and no US concern or future involvement is readily obvious to report on.
We need to remember, too, that even
nuclear war engaged in far from America, with the prevailing west-to-east trade
winds, can carry the resultant radioactive fallout to our shores, too.
(See Trans-Pacific Fallout.)
And,
of course, for nuclear terrorism here at home we need to employ all of
the above relationship building with local police/fire/rescue
authorities, second-tier contacts and communication tie-ins as we would
for monitoring a nuclear power plants status. Anything that gets you
news before it's public news could eventually prove to be lifesaving
for your family.
Bottom Line: While there may be much to be done in a developing
nuclear emergency; evacuation or sheltering, you will also have the choice
to commence your families Potassium Iodide protective treatments, early, when
they can do the most good, if you've been vigilant and observant of the
potential around you for future nuclear threats, both here and abroad.
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Got a great insider tip or suggestion for early warning of an impending
nuclear attack, nuclear terrorism, or fallout radiation emergency from one,
regardless of where it may have occurred? Write:
webmaster@ki4u.com and we'll credit
you with it here, or not. Your choice, but please do share it!
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Q: For How Long Should I Take Potassium Iodide (KI)?
A:
The FDA potassium iodide product insert says:
"You will probably be told not to take the drug for more than 10 days."
The reason for this cut-off date is the presumption that, in a
nuclear power plant radiation accident, if the radioiodine was gaseous
or an aerosol it would also probably be fully dispersed by this time.
If it was not yet dispersed and/or there was ongoing continuing radioiodine
releases, then the affected population would have likely been evacuated to a
safer location well within that 10 day time frame.
However, it must be noted, that radioiodine can be present as a much
more persistent fallout, rather than a quickly dispersing gas or aerosol.
There are also many other very dangerous radioactive isotopes that
can be released during a nuclear emergency for which immediate or
subsequent evacuation could be declared, and should be immediately heeded,
regardless of radioiodine presence.
So, for how long do you continue to daily take the Potassium Iodide (KI) or KIO3?
The newly released (November, 2001) FDA document entitled Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies makes it plain that:
"For
optimal prophylaxis, KI should therefore be dosed daily, until a risk
of significant exposure to radioiodines by either inhalation or
ingestion no longer exists."
Many others also believe that
you should not stop until you have been, for at least a day or more, out
of the possibility to ingest or inhale any more radioiodine. Either because
its finally gone or you have gone out of the contaminated area to safer
ground.
Why take any more Potassium Iodide (KI) or KIO3 at all, after getting safe? Because, even after
you leave the contaminated area you could still be bringing
some radioiodine with you...in your blood. While excess iodine, either
stable or radioactive, will be quickly eliminated via the kidneys, you need
to assure that your thyroid doesn't fall below fully saturated, until then.
For this reason, you should strive to maintain a high blood level of stable
iodine, with daily intakes of Potassium Iodide (KI) or KIO3, for at least another day.
Related to this topic, some experts reviewing the Chernobyl accident now
feel that even much less than 130 mg Potassium Iodide (KI) daily dose works well to initially fill up
and saturate the thyroid sufficiently. (FDA is also reviewing modifying its recommendations down to a much
lower dose for children, too, though not for fewer expected total days, currently 10.)
Whether this is true, or not, a person might could
go onto a reduced maintenance dosage, at some later stage, for a much longer
extended period with a further reduced potential for any negative side
effects, too. It should be repeated here, though, many thousands of people,
for thyroid ailments, take more than twice the 130 mg Potassium Iodide (KI) dose daily and
have for years. There is quite a bit of safe medical history for that
particular application.
(BTW, those thousands of thyroid patients, with their personal
stocks of Potassium Iodide (KI), might could become pretty popular folks in their local
neighborhoods, if word gets out during a nuclear emergency!)
Bottom Line: Regardless of our enthusiasm for Potassium Iodide (KI) and KIO3,
and their extremely effective and safe track record, we must also say
(according to
legal eagles): The materials and information on this web
site are intended for educational and informational purposes only.
In no
way should it be considered as offering medical advice. NEVER TAKE
ANY MEDICINE OR DRUG WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN!
YOU COULD HAVE ALLERGIES, OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR REACTIONS TO OTHER
MEDICATIONS YOU ARE TAKING, THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS OR LIFE
THREATENING! ASK YOUR DOCTOR NOW, BEFORE A NUCLEAR EMERGENCY, AND THEN
YOU'LL KNOW IF/WHEN IT'S NEEDED! (That's just part of being really prepared!)
Q: Which Product To Choose & How Much To Stock?
Candid Product Evaluations by FAQ Author:
With exploring here all the Potassium Iodide (KI) and Potassium Iodate (KIO3)
formulations currently available on the market, and showing you the 'do it yourself' alternatives, too, we are often asked for our 'short answer' or personal
opinion of what's really the best and how much should be acquired.
Bottom Line:
Be assured that they all work, as all the formulations listed below here have the required 100mg Iodine for an adult dose and with similiar bioavailability, and while the KI4U FAQ
is lengthy in its exploration of the various potential scenarios requiring
different strategies, and
quantities of pre-stocked supplies, here's our most concise recommendations:
Acquiring
some bulk Potassium Iodide (KI), to create a Potassium Iodide (KI)
solution, is the cheapest per dose, but not everyone wants to fool with
the mixing up of a Potassium Iodide (KI) solution. (Especially now with
the introduction of the relatively cheap KI4U™ KI tablets.) However,
even for those who will mix and use a Potassium Iodide (KI) solution,
and we show how on the FAQ, we still strongly recommend they also
acquire some tablets, too, both for their inherent portability and ease of immediate dosing upon the first alert of a
nuclear emergency.
Among
the KI tablet offerings, the KI4U™ KI is clearly the 'best buy',
price-wise. More importantly, though, because the KI4U™ formulation
requires the taking of two tablets for a complete adult daily dose, we
can then more easily dose our children, too, as they will always
require less than a full adult dose. (Ease of quickly and accurately
dosing children is essential as it's always our children who are at the
greatest risk from radioiodine and its effects.)
For instance, children age 3-12, who require exactly half of an adult dose (see chart below), can
simply take one single/whole tablet of KI4U™ for their required full daily dose.
In comparison, the less popular Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets
offered by others, where their single tablets are already full adult doses,
dosing children with them would thus require effectively splitting and, for younger children, even quartering
or 'eighthing'
those already tiny tablets. And, they are also quite bitter, especially with powder fragments.
(KI4U™ formulation would also require splitting of their coated tablets for children
under the age of three down to one month olds.)
The 3X's more expensive one-tablet-per-adult dose formulations make it much
harder to quickly and properly dose the majority of children,
those who are between the ages of 3 - 12. Both, because of the
difficulty of quickly and accurately attaining the proper
dose amount and then the need to successfully dilute or mask the
inherent bitterness of Potassium Iodide (KI) before it will ever be swallowed by a child.
This is especially
important because that initial first dose is so time sensitive to get
it into the bloodstream quickly upon that first alert. Consider, too,
that most everyone concerned would also likely be under much stress in
a very tense and urgent developing nuclear emergency. Perhaps, too, not
even at home, but in your car, or elsewhere, at the time you first hear
'the news'.
Finally, to clear up any confusion between KI and KIO3, understand that...
- Both deliver
the required 100mg of elemental iodine for an adult thyroid-blocking
dose. (The tablet mg size of the KIO3 is always larger simply because
it takes more KIO3 to deliver the same amount of iodine as is in less
KI.)
- The 1999 World Health Organization 'Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents'
shows both Potassium Iodide (KI) and Potassium Iodate (KIO3) as equals
in regards to their bio-availability and efficient uptake of stable
iodine for thyroid-blocking. That report also states: "There is no decisive difference in shelf life between KIO3 and KI."
- However,
the FDA does not recognize KIO3 in its recently revised dosing
guidelines and recommendations released in November 2001: 'Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies', but only Potassium Iodide (KI).
- KI4U™ KI and typical KIO3 formulations contain 200 tablets sufficient for 100 adult daily doses, or 200 child (age 3-12) doses, etc.
- KIO3
is non-bitter and would require less masking and/or diluting to
administer partial tablets to children under the age of three.
Of course,
either will work, and the choice is simply selecting whichever
formulation you personally find most convenient, economical and currently available.
Dosing chart from the recently updated 1999 World Health Organization:
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents
| Age Group |
Mass of iodine
mg |
Mass of KI
mg |
Mass of KIO3
mg |
Fraction of
100 mg Iodine |
Adults and adolescents
(over 12 years) |
100 |
130 |
170 |
1 |
Children
(3-12 years) |
50 |
65 |
85 |
1/2 |
Infants
(1 month to 3 years) |
25 |
32 |
42 |
1/4 |
Neonates
(birth to 1 month) |
12.5 |
16 |
21 |
1/8 |
Regarding 'how much to stock':
We recommend a minimum of at least 100 daily doses for every person you'll be
ultimately responsible for protecting. That's one bottle of 100 doses per adult and one bottle for every two children under
the age of 12. (Only you can decide if that'll also need to
include putting some extra aside for extended family, friends, and neighbors, too.
It's unlikely you'll have too much --- when it's needed! Nor will you likely be able
to easily get any more!) -Shane Connor
If any of the above still leaves questions (or you were looking for KI to treat toenail fungus instead), write
-Shane Connor
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Q: Locations and Daily Status of Nuclear Reactors in US?
A: The NRC Daily Updated Plant Status Report is at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/reactor-status/.
The states with nuclear reactors are listed below here.
To see details of the reactors in your state (or upwind of your location), click the state name.
(Bookmark us first!)
The map below, with more info, is at http://www.nrc.gov/AEOD/pib/disclaimer.html
Another, all North American reactors, with links to many other maps, is here.
Q: More Nuclear, Potassium Iodide (KI), KIO3, I-131 & Thyroid Cancer links...
Civil Defense Radiation Detection Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters FAQ with sources!
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents (World Health Organization, hosted here)
Nuclear War Survival Skills (Complete 280 page on-line book referenced above, hosted here)
FEMA Nuclear Weapon Target Maps and Surival Info for each State!
Bruce Beach's Nuclear Survival Ark II Site! (Updated 5/12/2001)
'You Will Survive Doomsday' (A myth-busting eye-opener!)
'11 Steps to Nuclear War Survival' (Canada Emergency Measures Organization)
What's The NRC's "Fighter Jet Rule" on KI? (Expose by 23 year NRC veteran!, hosted here)
Three Mile Island: The Rest of the Story... (Govt. scramble to get KI to TMI)
SECRET FALLOUT Low-Level Radiation From Hiroshima to Three-Mile Island (Complete 270 page on-line book, hosted here)
KI And Nuclear Accidents (American Thyroid Association)
DECADES of DELAY (The NRC's Failure to Stockpile Potassium Iodide & Protect the Public Health and Safety by Public Citizen)
FACT SHEET: Nuclear Power Plant Emergency (FEMA)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
International Atomic Energy Agency
Radiation Glossary for Students
CHERNOBYL PLUME:
Country-by-Country Summary (Be sure to also check out Canada there, too...)
Dirty Rotten Reactors
(TIME EUROPE - September 18, 2000, Vol. 156 No. 12 - While the West
phases out nuclear power, Russia refurbishes its old plants and builds
new ones...)
The Next Chernobyl? (U.S. News article)
Sickness Surrounds Nation's Nuclear Weapons Complexes (Numerous in-depth articles)
Listings of all known radiation materials locations (by state)
Estimated
Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from
Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests (Full final NCI report download links.)
Results of Nationwide Study of Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Tests (NCI Press Release)
Official Statement of 'Downwinders' (re: Release of NCI report)
The Nuclear Files (Additional details and fallout maps of US Nuclear Tests)
Critique of NCI Report (by Physicians for Social Responsibility)
In Answer To Your Questions About Thyroid Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Background Information on Thyroid Cancer and Radiation Risk (National Cancer Institute)
Q & A about radiation & thyroid disease (Hanford Thyroid Disease Study)
Nuclear Fallout, Radiation Exposure, Hanford, Chernobyl and Thyroid Cancer Links (comprehensive)
Radio-Iodine: From Hanford To Chernobyl . . . And Beyond? (Committee for Nuclear Responsibility)
Nuclear Terrorism - Sabotage and Terrorism of Nuclear Power Plants
(Former nuclear weapon designer
and former Deputy Director of the Defense
Nuclear Agency, Ted Taylor says its very easy to turn a nuclear power plant
into a nuclear weapon.)
Nukefix
(Discussed in the Sept/Oct 2000 issue of The Bulletin of the Atomic
Scientists. Encyclopędia Britannica and Newsweek.com describe it as a
"superb tool." With it you can perform your own analysis of the nuclear
weapons problem.)
Nuclear Blast Mapper Pick your town, choose your A-bomb, and see the blast/fallout effects mapped out!
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
(Information and networking center for citizens and environmental
organizations concerned about nuclear power, radioactive waste,
radiation, and sustainable energy issues.)
Now, Read Here On-Line FREE...
Nuclear War Survival Skills
DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ!
Comments or Suggestions for additional resources to add here:
webmaster@ki4u.com
KI4U
212 Oil Patch Lane
Gonzales, Texas, 78629
(830) 672-8734
Potassium & Iodide Potassium & Iodate Potassium & Iodine Ark II
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