KI and nuclear weapons

[james.g.barnes@att.net]

Dear all;



If memory serves, Brooke Buddemeier raised this issue several weeks ago (check the RadSafe archive).



If I recall, iodine is of significance in a nuclear explosion as a component of fallout.  KI does make sense *IF* (that's a BIG IF) one can get the iodine into the system before the fallout arrives.  Given the logistics of KI distribution, etc. etc., that may not be feasible.  Considering that a plume could be in an area within several minutes of a detonation, it probably is too late to try to distribute after an explosion.  If you are going to distribute BEFORE an explosion, then who do you give the pills to (as the location of such an explosion is probably not going to be announced ahead of time)?



My thyroid specialist colleagues in the Chernobyl region have mentioned to me, however, that it is critical that the person take the iodine BEFORE the plume has arrived.  Iodine stimulates the thyroid, so if there is an unprotected (i.e., not KI'd) uptake, taking the KI post-exposure may actually increase the chances for cancer.  My concern is that folks will start taking the KI pills like antibiotics; i.e., one a day until they all run out, after the plume has drifted by.



Anyway, I paraphrase horribly here.  The full thread should be in the Archives.



Jim Barnes, CHP

james.g.barnes@att.net

> 

> John Jacobus and other wrote:

> -----Original Message-----

> From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM] 

> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 2:51 PM

> To: Jane Orient; 'Howard Long'; 'radsafe'

> Subject: RE: Societies issue primer on radiological terrorism

> threats:Kearny practicalities

> 

> 

> I agree, and I was obviously not too clear.  (As I

> reread it, I must have lost my train of thought)

> 

> My point is that fallout from a nuclear weapon would

> contain a significant number of radionuclides that

> would give a higher dose than the iodines.  However,

> the population would probably have enough time to take

> shelter and sequester dairy products.  Of course, you

> would take the same precautions following a reactor

> accident, as Chernobyl, a reactor accident,

> demonstrated the risk from iodine uptake.

> 

> I am not a proponent of handing out KI automatically

> in either case.

> 

> --- Jane Orient <jorient@mindspring.com> wrote:

> > Thyroid blockage is needed whenever ingestion of

> > radioactive iodine is a

> > possibility. That is definitely a component of

> > fallout from a nuclear

> > weapon. Yes, it could happen in a reactor accident

> > (extremely unlikely), but

> > it's okay to talk about that one.

> > 

> > -----Original Message-----

> > From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird@yahoo.com]

> > Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 1:17 PM

> > To: Howard Long; John Jacobus; radsafe

> > Cc: Jane Orient

> > Subject: Re: Societies issue primer on radiological

> > terrorism threats:Kearny

> > practicalities

> > 

> > My understanding is the thyroid blockage is an issue

> > for reactor accident release, not a nuclear attack.

> > Chernobyle, again, clearly demonstrated the risks

> > associated with iodine releases from a reactor.

> > 

> > --- Howard Long <hflong@pacbell.net> wrote:

> 

>   <snip>

> 

> ================

> 

> Sequester milk and turn it into aged cheese?

> 

> What radionuclides other that I-131 show up in milk following a reactor

> accident or nuclear explosion?  What pathways other than dairy for

> I-131?

> 

> Best regards.

> 

> Jim Dukelow

> Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

> Richland WA

> Jim.dukelow@pnl.gov

> 

> These comments are mine and have not been reviewed and/or approved by my

> management or by the U.S. Department of Energy.

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