[ RadSafe ] Iodine Chemistry of nuclear reactorsinemergencycases

Wed Mar 23 22:34:25 CDT 2011

Yep, I goofed up again. The right result is indeed 7.5 grams. Mr.  Hearn, 
you had it right from the get-go. 

Geez.  So this is what arithmetic alzheimer's is like.

Does 7.5 grams of iodized salt per day "sound about right" to achieve  
iodine prophylaxis any event? 

Steve

In a message dated 3/23/2011 11:19:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
StevenFrey at aol.com writes:

Thanks, Mr. Hearn. You are right; I didn't compute the unit conversions.  
But now I come up with 75 grams.

Did I goof it up again?

Steve 

In a message dated 3/23/2011 10:38:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rhearn at bellsouth.net writes:

Maybe  7.5 g, but still a lot of salt. Of course there is kelp/seaweed as  a
significant iodine-bearing component in the Japanese diet.

-----  Original Message ----- 
From: <StevenFrey at aol.com>
To:  <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 9:20  PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Iodine Chemistry of  nuclear
reactorsinemergencycases

Thanks, Rich! Assuming also  that

1) iodized salt contains 20 mg of iodine/kg NaCl (per  Reference  #1 below),

2) the adult male needs 150 ug/day of  iodine (per Reference #2  below),

3) a daily adult intake of 150  ug of iodine saturates the thyroid with
iodine (implied in Reference #2,  but not definitively so stated  there)

Then a modest calculation  would give us the necessary mass of iodized
table salt per day to  saturate the thyroid as such:

Intake mass per day = (150 ug/day) /  (20 mg/kg)  (apply  appropriate
ug-mg-kg unit conversion  factors)

Intake Mass per day = 750 grams  => 1.5 pounds of  salt per  day

This rough calculation yields a result very close  to the "several pounds of
salt per day" that you mentioned in your below  email.

The key takeaway would seem to be that using iodized table  salt to achieve,
let alone maintain, effective iodine-prophylaxis of  the  thyroid would
invoke serious chemical toxicity risks of its  own.

Steve

References
1.  _https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Iodized_salt_
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Iodized_salt)

2.  _https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Iodine#Dietary_intake_
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Iodine#Dietary_intake)
========================================================================

In  a message dated 3/23/2011 7:53:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight  Time,
rich at tgainc.com writes:

1 tsp of  iodized salt contains  400 ug of iodine. The CDC recommends a 
daily

dosage  for adults,  of 130 mg (one 130 mg tablet OR two 65 mg tablets OR 
two
mL of   solution) to protect against radiation  exposure.

-----Original  Message-----
From:   radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu]   On Behalf Of Franz Schönhofer
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 4:41   PM
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics)   MailingList'
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Iodine Chemistry of   nuclear
reactorsinemergencycases

Your ask, how much one can  trust  media???????

What a question!

Franz Schoenhofer,  PhD
MinRat  i.R.
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160   Wien/Vienna
AUSTRIA

-----Ursprüngliche  Nachricht-----
Von:   radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu]   Im Auftrag von Richard 
Gallego
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 24. März 2011   00:17
An: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics)   MailingList'
Betreff: Re: [ RadSafe ] Iodine Chemistry of   nuclear
reactorsinemergencycases

I read last week online that  it  would take several pounds of salt per day.
I'm not sure how much  you can  trust media for accuracy, however.

-----Original  Message-----
From:   radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu]   On Behalf Of
StevenFrey at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011  4:22  PM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ]  Iodine  Chemistry of nuclear  reactors
inemergencycases

Friends,

What  mass of  iodized salt would one have to ingest a day to  completely
block
the  thyroid with non-radioactive iodine and  then maintain 100%  blockage?
(assuming everyone's metabolism and  uptake mechanisms are    identical...)

Thanks,
Steve
Steven R. Frey, MS,   CHP
South  Williamsport, PA   17702-7024
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