ANTI-RADIATION PILLS (Iodine)

[maury <maury@webtexas.com>]

Arutz-7 News: Sunday, August 8, 2004



From:      Arutz-7 Editor <news@israelnationalnews.com>





6. ANTI-RADIATION PILLS

The IDF Homefront Command will begin distributing anti-radiation pills

to citizens living near Israel's two nuclear reactors this evening.  The

pills, known as Logol, are a compound of iodine that blocks absorption

of radioactive material by shutting down the thyroid gland. Israel has

had a stock of the pills for decades, and decided six weeks ago to

distribute them now in case of a nuclear accident or attack.



Officials have reiterated that there is no urgency or cause for concern,

explaining that the move is nothing more than a precaution.  Defense

Minister Mofaz noted that other countries, including Finland, Ireland,

Switzerland, as well some U.S. states, have also taken

measures to make anti-radiation pills more readily available to the

public.



Soldiers will knock on residents' doors this evening, and will provide

five pills to each person, along with instructions for use.  Instruction

#1 is not to consume the pills unless specifically instructed to do so

by officials.



The pills will be distributed to all those living within a 30-kilometer

radius of the Dimona plant in the Negev, and within a 5-kilometer radius

of the Nahal Sorek facility near Ashdod.





Two cities have, as yet, not agreed to receive the pills.  The Mayor of

Arad, between the Dead Sea and Dimona, says that his city is just over

the 30-kilometer limit.  The Mayor of Yavneh, near Nahal Sorek, is also

not interested in being included in the program.  Both

cities apparently are concerned about the negative image that

accompanies the pill, and an expected resultant drop in property values.



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