[ RadSafe ] observations on iodized salt

[radbloom at comcast.net]

John, 

I'm also still not sure what you are asking. :-) In regards to the iodine in iodized table salt or salt substitute, there is no radioactive iodine in these substances. If you are asking about radioactive iodine in air/food/water, then you can look at the ICRP models. Industry typically uses ICRP Publication 30, which have been updated in Publications 60-72 (depending on what exactly you are looking for). I believe there are more recent updates, but I'm not sure if these provide any significant change to the iodine metabolic modeling. 



In considering radioiodine damage to the thyroid, I personally think about radiation therapy, where the goal is to reduce [over-active] thyroid function (an [acute] oral intake of about 10 millicuries [3.7 e7 Bq]) or to destroy cancer in thyroid tissue, which also stops thyroid function (an [acute] oral intake of about 100 mCi [3.7 e8 Bq]). In ICRP 30, it is assumed that 30% of the iodine is absorbed by thyroid tissue and the rest is excreted. In these large dosages, there is sufficient energy absorption within a sufficient number of thyroid cells to cause dysfunction of the organ. 



Still not sure if this is what you are looking for. You might do a search on "iodine metabolism". You can also look at ALIs and DACs published by the EPA and NRC. 



Cindy 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Gerald Center, Jr" <john.center at wmich.edu> 
To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List" <radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu> 
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 10:27:13 AM 
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] observations on iodized salt 

I think I didn't start out right.  And I am still not sure what I am asking. I and many others voluntarily take in radioactive food sources.  Beta and gamma emmiters with greater half lives than Iodine.  The concern is the thyroid with iodine if I am not mistaken. Does anyone have a resource I can look to,to see specifically how Iodine is absorbed and the damage it does?  John 

John G. Center, Jr. 
Radiation Safety Officer 
3922 Wood Hall 
Western Michigan University 
1903 W. Michigan Ave. 
Kalamazoo, MI  49008-5410 

Office (269) 387-5933 
Cell  (269) 744-0996 
E-mail: john.center at wmich.edu 

_______________________________________________ 
You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list 

Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood the RadSafe rules. These can be found at: http://health.phys.iit.edu/radsaferules.html 

For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings visit: http://health.phys.iit.edu