The Bay Area is a cradle of environmentalism and a region with a rich trove of health and medical research and resources. In this blog, we’ll report on the deepening understanding of how the places we inhabit and the lifestyles we adopt contribute to our own health and the health of our communities.
For Bay Area residents concerned about harmful effects of radioactive fallout blowing our way from Japan, caution is being urged by public health officials after reports that some Californians are stocking up on potassium iodide.
Potassium iodide, available as pills or liquid, is a stable, salt form of iodine, which is used by the thyroid to make hormones.
Potassium iodide (KI) has been used in the aftermath of nuclear disasters or radiation release because it is absorbed by the thyroid and blocks radioactive iodine—I 131—from being absorbed. If the thyroid is full of KI, it won’t take in the radioactive type. The CDC has a good explainer on potassium iodide’s role in protecting the thyroid.
The Bay Citizen reported that the chances of harmful levels of radiation making their way here from Japan are slim.
Nonetheless, some are snapping up KI in anticipation of the region being hit by fallout. This prompted warnings from local public health officials.
San Rafael’s city manager issued a press release today urging residents not to take potassium iodide:
"According to the Department of Public Health it is not necessary given the current circumstances in Japan, it can present a danger to people with allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems, and taken inappropriately it can have serious side effects including abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte abnormalities and bleeding."
The Fresno Bee also reports that pharmacies are selling higher than normal quantities of potassium iodide. It quotes the Fresno County public health director saying there is little radiation risk, and the state public health department advising residents not to take KI unless a doctor advises it.
For updates on impacts of the fallout from Japan, the public can call a new hotline at the California Department of Public Health: 916-341-3947; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
So take a deep breath, exhale, relax.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
