Do
you have your Radiation Pills?
What is the big deal about Potassium Iodate (KIO3) or Potassium Iodide
(KI)?
You know it is for nuclear preparedness, but just why is it so important?
Of
all the radioactive isotopes and radioactive particles that can come
from a nuclear reaction,
radioactive iodine 131 (I-131) poisoning is one of the most lethal.
The good news is that damage to the thyroid from exposure to I-131
can be prevented.
Your thyroid runs on iodine and will absorb all it can until it is
absolutely full.
This fullness is called saturation or blockade. However,
your thyroid does not know the difference between good iodine and
bad iodine.
Good iodine is taken up by the thyroid in the form of potassium iodate
(KI03) or potassium iodide (KI).
Bad iodine, I-131, is a radioisotope of iodine which is produced in
nuclear reactions
such as a bomb or nuclear power plant. I-131 is what we call a beta
emitter and
if you get it on your skin it will burn you much the same way as when
you get a bad sunburn.
It has a half-life of roughly 8 days (8.01 to 8.07)
If you are caught unprotected and downwind from a nuclear reaction
and the plume or cloud of fallout reaches you, your thyroid will absorb
this bad iodine.
