Help Prevent Radiation-Caused Thyroid Cancer

Now that nuclear power plants are seen as vulnerable targets for terrorism, it is even more important to be aware of some of the precautions to take in case of a major release of radiation. Plant security has been increased since the September 11 attacks. However, there is still a danger that a reactor would become a radiological weapon through an attack by air or a land takeover. In Connecticut, the radioactive spent fuel pools at Millstone 1 in Waterford and Connecticut Yankee in Haddam could be at the greatest risk because they lack the containment coverage of the reactors.

Millstone 2 and 3 in Waterford and Indian Point in Buchanan, NY have emergency plans to protect people within a ten-mile radius in case of a nuclear accident or attack, but there are presently no plans to protect people located beyond that limit. Even communities far away are at risk because wind and rain could carry the radiation anywhere within or outside the state. Tens of thousands of people could be affected.

Research by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) indicates that a major release of radioactive iodine could injure hundreds of thousands of people and that 95% of the health effects would be thyroid-related. Why? (1) Radioactive iodine is very abundant in reactors. (2) It remains in the environment for at least a month. (3) Once it is absorbed in the body, it stays there, concentrated in the thyroid gland. (4) In case of a nuclear accident, it can be blown downwind for hundreds of miles.

Children's thyroids are especially susceptible to cancer caused by radioactive iodine. Parents can do something to protect their children’s thyroid glands in case of a nuclear accident caused by terrorism or a malfunction at one of the plants. Potassium iodide (KI), when given to children just before or promptly after exposure, can prevent almost all the injuries that would otherwise occur.

Sandy Bali, owner of Arrow Prescription Center in Canton, sells potassium iodide, but the increase in orders since September 11 has temporarily depleted his supply. Packets of IOSAT containing fourteen 130-mg tablets of KI may be ordered for $10 each. As pharmacist Bali put it, "That’s an extremely cheap insurance policy."

The value of KI in preventing thyroid cancer was demonstrated following Russia’s Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. As the levels of radiation climbed 300 miles away in Poland, doctors ordered a protective dose of KI for every child in the country. Because of the wise leadership in Poland, there has been no increase in thyroid cancer in those children who were given KI before exposure to Chernobyl’s radiation. On the other hand, thyroid cancer among children living near Chernobyl who were not given KI is 80 times higher than normal. Other European countries, which had stockpiled KI in case of a nuclear accident or war, also used it after Chernobyl, preventing many cases of thyroid cancer. To learn more about potassium iodide, go to <www.anbex.com>.

Joan W. Benham is member of People's Action for Clean Energy.