In the event of being exposed to radiation, for example being exposed
to fallout from a nuclear bomb blast or a nuclear reactor explosion,
it is advisable to take potassium iodide (KI) as quickly as possible.
The thyroid cannot tell the difference between stable and radioactive
iodine. By flooding your thyroid with stable iodine, you can help
stave off the thyroid becoming contaminated with radioactive iodine.
For example, the population of Pripyat, near Chernobyl, were
issued with potassium iodide pills in the morning after the meltdown.
The Soviets had stockpiled them for such an emergency.
Since there are health risks associated with taking potassium iodide,
you should only take it on advice of officials in an emergency.
The BBC reports that Belgium's Health Minister, Maggie De Block, said
that iodine pills should now be issued to the entire Belgium population.
Currently iodine pills are issued to people living within 20km of nuclear
reactors in Belgium and the call is to increase that to 100km.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by BBC
Belgium's neighbours have criticised the state of its nuclear reactors.
However, the minister said the change was as a result of the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by BBC
Belgium has seven reactors, at Doel and Tihange, and a research reactor at Mol. But the advice also takes into account reactors in neighbouring countries including the Netherlands, which has a reactor at Borssele close to the Belgian border.
Ms De Block said pills would be given to the whole population because if a 100km circle was drawn from all the reactors in the region there was not one square centimetre of Belgium that was not covered.
The Dutch government updated its policy on iodine tablets last month, so that pregnant women and under-eighteens are given the pills within 100km of the Borssele and Doel reactors.
Earlier this month Belgium refused a German request to shut down two of its oldest reactors temporarily because of defects found in their pressure vessels.
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Article here -
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36157806
A subtext might also be the fear of a terrorist attack on a nuclear reactor.
Last month a Belgium nuclear plant guard was murdered and his security pass
stolen. It was also reported that two workers at a Belgium nuclear power plant had fled to
Syria and had joined ISIS. One is believed to have been killed in Syria.
See -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-attacks.html