The American Thyroid Association has called for pre-distribution of potassium iodide, also known as KI, to households within a 10-mile radius of nuclear power plants such as Fermi 2, and stockpiling it in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, clinics, post offices and police and fire stations in up to a 50-mile radius.
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The post ATA supports dialogue on emergency preparedness around nuclear power stations appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

The American Thyroid Association^® is the leading organization devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health.  It has come to our attention that several organizations to include Greenpeace Canada, Beyond Nuclear and a coalition of Michigan civil society organizations jointly hold a meeting at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Michigan for a dialogue on the international harmonization of radiological emergency preparedness around nuclear power stations.  One issue of particular concern is in regard to ensuring appropriate potassium iodine distribution within the emergency planning zone (EPZ) surrounding Fermi Unit 2 at the nuclear power station in Monroe, Michigan.

As stated in the American Thyroid Association^® (ATA^®) Scientific Statement on the Use of Potassium Iodide Ingestion in a Nuclear Emergency which was published in the journal Thyroid^® in 2017 (Vol 27, Number 7; Pages: 865-877), the American Thyroid Association calls for pre-distribution of potassium iodide (KI) to individual households residing within a minimum of the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) of an actively operating U.S. nuclear power plant.  The ATA also calls for maintenance of a stockpile of potassium iodine in a greater than 10 out to 50-mile ring out from nuclear power points and is to be held in local public facilities such as schools, hospitals, Clinics, post offices, and police as well as fire stations for distribution upon notification by local health officials.

The effectiveness of KI for protection of the thyroid from radioiodine fallout from a nuclear emergency is predicated on prompt use that at the same time does not delay evacuation from the affected area. It is therefore somewhat disconcerting that a study by the Michigan Department of Community Health published in 2012 found that only 5.3% of eligible residences in the EPZ of one of three nuclear power plants in MI had redeemed KI vouchers and of those individuals who had redeemed KI vouchers ~ 50% were unaware of when to take KI or that it could protect the thyroid from radiation exposure.  Of those identified as not having utilized a KI voucher, 48% were either unaware or had forgotten that such a program exists.

The ATA^® would like to again emphasize that prophylactic KI administrator should be part of a nuclear emergency plan that includes evacuation, sheltering, and the avoidance of contaminated food, milk and water ingestion in the event of a nuclear emergency.  The ATA calls for ready access to KI for the U.S. population living in nuclear power EPZs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Pharmaceutical Stockpile under appropriate regulatory guidance. The ATA also supports attempts to harmonize KI distribution strategies with Canada particularly in US-Canadian border localities that fall within EPZs from the same nuclear power plant.

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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement, understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. ATA is an international, individual membership organization for over 1,700 clinicians and researchers from 43 countries around the world, representing a broad diversity of medical disciplines. It also serves the public, patients and their families through education and awareness efforts.

Celebrating its 95th anniversary, ATA delivers its mission through several key endeavors: the publication of highly regarded monthly journals, Thyroid^®, Clinical Thyroidology^®, VideoEndocrinology™, and Clinical Thyroidology for the Public; annual scientific meetings; biennial clinical and research symposia; research grant programs for young investigators; support of online professional, public, and patient educational programs; and the development of guidelines for clinical management of thyroid disease.

Find out more about ATA at www.thyroid.org.

The post Pre-Distribution of Potassium Iodide (KI) and Maintenance of KI Stockpile Called for in Advance of Multi-Organizational Meeting appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

October 19, 2015 — The effect of radiation exposure related to the nuclear accidents that took place in Fukushima, Japan, and Chernobyl, Ukraine on thyroid cancer risk, whether dietary habits influence the risk of developing thyroid cancer, and recent study results with a triiodothyronine (T3) analog in an uncommon form of thyroid disease are all topics featured in oral presentations delivered at the 15^th International Thyroid Congress, hosted by the American Thyroid Association, October 18-23, 2015, in Orlando, Florida.

Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 2011, screening for thyroid cancer due to the risk of low-dose radiation exposure was initiated for people in the nearby area aged 18 years or younger. A positive screening result led to diagnostic testing with find needle aspiration cytology.  Shinichi Suzuki, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan, compared the rate of detected thyroid cancer or suspected malignancy from two rounds of screening of 447,570 asymptomatic young people to the rate of childhood thyroid cancer with clinical symptoms preceding the disaster. The results, described in the poster “Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Thyroid Cancer in Fukushima after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on March 11, 2011,” led to the conclusion that the cases of thyroid cancer detected on screening might not be associated with radiation exposure form the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Presenting interim clinical study results on behalf of the Triac Trial research team, Stefan Groeneweg, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, reported that treatment of a small group of patients with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) with the T3 analog Triac for, on average, 6 months, decreased serum TSH levels, resulting in a substantial reduction in T3 levels. Preliminary evidence of improvement in the levels of biochemical markers related to disease activity suggests that Triad treatment may have a beneficial effect on symptoms of AHDS.

Researchers exploring the possible role diet might play in thyroid cancer risk analyzed data on more than 61,000 individuals who participated in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, conducted between 1993 and 2009. Michael Singer, Henry Ford Health System, Bloomfield, MI, presented the results of the study in the poster,” Diet and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer: Results from a Large, Prospective Cohort,” concluding that no clear evidence exists to identify dietary habits or consumption of specific foods or vitamins as risk factors for thyroid cancer.

Michael Fridman, Belarusian Medical Academy for Postgraduate Education, Minsk, Belarus, conducted a population-based study to determine whether individuals treated for papillary thyroid cancer in the years following the Chernobyl nuclear accident (1990-2015) are at increased risk of a second primary malignancy (SPM). A SPM developed in 1% of the study group, affecting more women than men. The most common types of cancer were hematologic malignancies and solid tumors of the cervix, breast, and colon, as described in the poster “Second Primary Malignancies in Belarus, Patients with Pos-Chernobyl Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.”

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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement, understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. ATA is an international membership medical society with over 1,700 members from 43 countries around the world. Celebrating its 92^nd anniversary, the ATA delivers its mission — of being devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health — through several key endeavors: the publication of highly regarded professional journals, Thyroid, Clinical Thyroidology, and VideoEndocrinology; annual scientific meetings; biennial clinical and research symposia; research grant programs for young investigators, support of online professional, public and patient educational programs; and the development of guidelines for clinical management of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. The ATA promotes thyroid awareness and information through its online Clinical Thyroidology for the Public (distributed free of charge to over 11,000 patients and public subscribers) and extensive, authoritative explanations of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in both English and Spanish. The ATA website serves as the clinical resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the Internet.  Every fifth year, the American Thyroid Association joins with the Latin American Thyroid Society, the European Thyroid Association, and the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Association to co-sponsor the International Thyroid Congress (ITC).  This year the ITC is hosted by the American Thyroid Association at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.  More information about the 15^th ITC can be found at http://www.thyroid.org/itc2015/.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836

Markey, Public Health, Nuclear Safety Experts Urge White House to Implement Nuclear “Emergency Pill” Law

Fukushima analysis highlights flaws in Bush administration decision not to implement 2002 Markey law

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2013) – Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) was today joined by public health and nuclear safety experts to call on the White House to implement a decade-old law authored by Rep. Markey that requires the supply of radiation “emergency pills” to U.S. citizens who live within 20 miles of a nuclear power plant. Rep. Markey and leaders of the American Thyroid Association and Physicians for Social Responsibility today wrote White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren, urging him to overturn the Bush administration’s decision not to implement the law.

 “After the Japanese nuclear meltdown, U.S. citizens need to have this emergency radiation pill available for their families,” said Rep. Markey. “Massachusetts citizens who live near the Pilgrim, Seabrook or Vermont Yankee nuclear power plants are being ignored by the government, with potentially dire consequences if an accident were to ever occur.”

The pills, potassium iodide — also called KI — are safe, effective and inexpensive means of protecting against the cancer-causing effects of radioactive iodine that can be released into the atmosphere following a nuclear meltdown. According to recent press reports, radiation in some areas near the reactors that melted down in Japan surged to as much as 700 times normal levels before residents evacuated, highlighting the need for the medication to be stockpiled in private residences and other public facilities so that people can take it in the first critical hours after they are exposed to radiation, as they are in the process of evacuating the area.

The letter to Dr. Holdren states that a failure to implement the law, “would be tantamount to a rejection of both sound science and the opportunity to learn important lessons from the 2011 nuclear meltdowns in Japan.”

The letter points out several fundamental flaws associated with the Bush administration’s decision not to implement the 2002 law:

·        The Bush administration decision was based on the assumption that U.S. nuclear reactors would be unlikely to experience the sort of meltdowns and radiation releases later experienced in Japan and that such an accident would take hours or even days to develop. The letter points out that there are 23 nuclear reactors in the U.S. with identical designs to the Fukushima reactors that melted down and that radiation was released from those reactors within hours of the blackout that initiated the meltdowns.

·        The Bush administration decision assumed that evacuations in a U.S. nuclear accident would be completed before any radiation was released. The letter says that while radiation releases in Japan took place within about 11 hours of the earthquake, it took the NRC five days to order the evacuation of U.S. citizens located within 50 miles surrounding the stricken reactors. The Japanese government took 26 hours to order the evacuation of a 12.4-mile zone and 5 days to begin distribution of potassium iodide. Recent press reports on the Japanese disaster indicated that, “in one area, the level of radiation had surged to more than 700 times the normal level, indicating that many local residents were exposed to high levels of radiation before they evacuated.”

·        While the Obama administration has thus far failed to order the distribution of potassium iodide to residents living within 20 miles of U.S. nuclear reactors, during the Fukushima meltdowns it distributed it to government employees who were in Tokyo, almost 150 miles away from the stricken reactors.

Rep. Markey amended the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 to make potassium iodide available to state and local governments to meet the needs of all persons living within a 20-mile radius of a nuclear power plant. However, the Bush administration chose to ignore these provisions and declined to implement them, thereby denying communities access to stockpiles of KI.

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FAQ: Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides

Que es la glandula tiroides?

La glandula tiroides localizada en el cuello, produce las hormonas tiroideas que ayudan al cuerpo a utilizar energia, mantener la temperatura corporal y a que el cerebro, el corazon, los musculos y otros organos funcionen normalmente.

Por que la glándula tiroides precisa especial protección luego de un escape de material radioactivo?

La glándula tiroides necesita iodo para producir las hormonas que regulan la energía y el metabolismo del cuerpo. La tiroides absorbe o capta el iodo disponible del torrente sanguíneo. La glándula no puede distinguir entre el iodo estable o regular del iodo radioactivo y va a absorber todo lo que le sea posible. En bebés y niños, la glándula tiroides es una de las partes del cuerpo más sensible a la radiación.

La mayoría de los accidentes nucleares liberan iodo radioactivo en la atmósfera el cual puede ser absorbido por el cuerpo. Cuando las células tiroideas captan demasiado iodo radioactivo, puede producirse cáncer de tiroides que se desarrollará varios años después de la exposición. Los bebés y los niños son los que tienen mayor riesgo. Este riesgo es menor para los individuos mayores de 40 años de edad.

Que es el ioduro de potasio (KI)?

El ioduro de potasio (KI) es la misma forma de iodo utilizada para iodar la sal. El KI inunda a la glándula con iodo, previniendo de esta manera que el iodo radioactivo sea absorbido. Se elabora en pastillas o en forma liquida. Los productos de KI aprobados por la Food and Drug Administration FDA son: IOSAT (tabletas de 130 mg), THYROSAFE (tabletas de 65 mg) y THYROSHIELD (Solución de 65 mg/ml). Empaquetado en forma adecuada, el KI puede tener una fecha de vencimiento de 5 años y a veces hasta de 11 años. Si Ud. toma un comprimido vencido, puede ser que no funcione pero no le va a producir ningún daño.

Cual es la prueba que asegura que el KI funciona?

Luego del accidente nuclear de Chornobyl (antes Chernobyl) en 1986, casi 3000 individuos, la mayoría bebés y niños que vivían en Ucrania, Belarus y Rusia al momento del accidente desarrollaren cáncer de tiroides en los 10 años siguientes.

Polonia, inmediatamente adyacente a Belarus y Ucrania, distribuyó KI a >95% de sus niños dentro de los tres días posteriores al accidente y no parece haber tenido un incremento en la incidencia de cáncer de tiroides.

Quien debería tomar KI?

Los bebés, niños y mujeres embarazadas deben ser provistos de KI. Los adultos tienen un riesgo menor, pero aun así pueden beneficiarse con el KI. Sumado al KI, debe darse prioridad a la evacuación y buscar un refugio, en una habitación sin ventilación con las ventanas y puertas cerradas.

El KI no debe tomarse en lugar de cualquier otra medida preventiva.

Cuando debe tomarse el KI?

Se debe tomar una dosis al día mientras están expuestos al iodo radioactivo hasta que el peligro se termine. El KI debe ser utilizado solamente bajo indicaciones de las autoridades de salud local.

Cuales son la dosis recomendadas de KI?

La FDA recomienda las siguientes dosis:

La manera más sencilla para preparar 16 mg para los recién nacidos menores a 1 mes es disolver una píldora de 130 mg en 225 ml (8oz) de agua y darle al bebé 28 ml (1oz) del líquido.

Quienes no deberían tomar KI?

Millones de personas han tomado KI pero se han informado muy pocos efectos adversos. Las únicas personas que no deberían tomar KI son aquellos que han tenido reacciones alérgicas mayores al iodo.

Los adultos mayores de 40 años no necesitan KI a menos que estén expuestos a niveles extremadamente elevados de iodo radioactivo.

Los pacientes con enfermedad tiroidea pueden tomar de manera segura los comprimidos en las dosis recomendadas por la FDA.

Durante una emergencia nuclear, el KI es más beneficioso que cualquier otro riesgo potencial.

Informacion adicional

Mas detalles sobre este y otro temas relacionados estan disponibles en la seccion informacion para pacientes del sitio web de la American Thyroid Association www.thyroid.org y en el sitio Web de la FDA www.fda. gov (buscar ioduro de potasio).

Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides FAQ para guardar e imprimir (PDF File, 264 KB)

Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides FAQ para guardar e imprimir (PDF File, 143 KB)

The post FAQ: Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

Que es la glandula tiroides?

La glandula tiroides localizada en el cuello, produce las hormonas tiroideas que ayudan al cuerpo a utilizar energia, mantener la temperatura corporal y a que el cerebro, el corazon, los musculos y otros organos funcionen normalmente.

Por que la glándula tiroides precisa especial protección luego de un escape de material radioactivo?

La glándula tiroides necesita iodo para producir las hormonas que regulan la energía y el metabolismo del cuerpo. La tiroides absorbe o capta el iodo disponible del torrente sanguíneo. La glándula no puede distinguir entre el iodo estable o regular del iodo radioactivo y va a absorber todo lo que le sea posible. En bebés y niños, la glándula tiroides es una de las partes del cuerpo más sensible a la radiación.

La mayoría de los accidentes nucleares liberan iodo radioactivo en la atmósfera el cual puede ser absorbido por el cuerpo. Cuando las células tiroideas captan demasiado iodo radioactivo, puede producirse cáncer de tiroides que se desarrollará varios años después de la exposición. Los bebés y los niños son los que tienen mayor riesgo. Este riesgo es menor para los individuos mayores de 40 años de edad.

El cáncer de tiroides parece ser el único cáncer cuya incidencia aumenta luego de un escape nuclear. El yoduro de potasio protege solamente a la glándula tiroides, pero este el órgano que corre más peligro frente al iodo radioactivo.

Que es el ioduro de potasio (KI)?

El ioduro de potasio (KI) es la misma forma de iodo utilizada para iodar la sal. El KI inunda a la glándula con iodo, previniendo de esta manera que el iodo radioactivo sea absorbido. Si se toma en el momento adecuado, el KI protege a la glándula tiroides del iodo radioactivo que provenga de diferentes fuentes: a través del aire, comida, leche y agua. El KI es una medicación que no necesita receta y puede adquirirse a través de Internet y en algunas farmacias. Se elabora en pastillas o en forma liquida. Los productos de KI aprobados por la Food and Drug Administration FDA son: IOSAT (tabletas de 130 mg), THYROSAFE (tabletas de 65 mg) y THYROSHIELD (Solución de 65 mg/ml). Empaquetado en forma adecuada, el KI puede tener una fecha de vencimiento de 5 años y a veces hasta de 11 años. Si Ud. toma un comprimido vencido, puede ser que no funcione pero no le va a producir ningún daño.

Cual es la prueba que asegura que el KI funciona?

Luego del accidente nuclear de Chernobyl en 1986, vientos cruzados llevaron una nube radioactiva sobre Europa. Casi 3000 individuos fueron expuestos a esta radiación que desarrolló cáncer de tiroides en los 10 años siguientes. La mayoría de las víctimas habían sido bebés y niños que vivían en Ucrania,Belarus o Rusia al momento del accidente. La región de mayor riesgo se extendió en un radio de 200 millas (aproximadamente 321 Km.) desde Chernobyl.

Polonia, inmediatamente adyacente a Belarus y Ucrania, distribuyó KI a >95% de sus niños dentro de los tres días posteriores al accidente y no parece haber tenido un incremento en la incidencia de cáncer de tiroides.

Quien debería tomar KI?

Debido a que los niños son los que tienen mayor riesgo frente a la exposición al iodo radioactivo, el KI debe estar disponible para todos los niños. Además, debido al riesgo que corren los fetos que están en desarrollo, las mujeres embarazadas también deberían recibir KI frente al evento de un accidente nuclear. Los adultos tienen un riesgo menor, pero aun así pueden beneficiarse con el KI. Sumado al KI, debe darse prioridad a la evacuación y buscar un refugio, en una habitación sin ventilación con las ventanas y puertas cerradas.

Evitar alimentos, leche y agua contaminados. El KI no debe tomarse en lugar de cualquier otra medida preventiva.

Cuando debe tomarse el KI?

El KI llena a las células tiroideas y evita que la glándula capte el iodo radioactivo por aproximadamente 24 hs. Se debe tomar una dosis al día mientras están expuestos al iodo radioactivo hasta que el peligro se termine. El KI debe ser utilizado solamente bajo indicaciones de las autoridades de salud local. No todos los escapes radioactivos incluyen el iodo radioactivo que puede causar cáncer de tiroides. Por ejemplo, una “bomba sucia” no contiene iodo radioactivo porque tiene una vida media corta. (Una “bomba sucia” es una bomba convencional con material radioactivo mixto y esta diseñada para explotar y eliminar isótopos radioactivos y contaminar un área determinada. Las autoridades de salud pueden determinar que tipo de isótopos radioactivos se han liberado durante un evento nuclear. Si se ha producido el escape de iodo radioactivo, las autoridades de salud indicarán cuando y cuanto tiempo se debe tomar el KI.

Cuales son la dosis recomendadas de KI?

La FDA recomienda las siguientes dosis:

La manera más sencilla para preparar 16 mg para los recién nacidos menores a 1 mes es disolver una píldora de 130 mg en 225 ml (8oz) de agua y darle al bebé 28 ml (1oz) del líquido.

Quienes no deberían tomar KI?

Millones de personas han tomado KI pero se han informado muy pocos efectos adversos. Las únicas personas que no deberían tomar KI son aquellos que han tenido reacciones alérgicas mayores al iodo. Durante una emergencia nuclear, el beneficio del KI supera con creces cualquier otro riesgo potencial. Los adultos mayores de 40 años no necesitan KI a menos que estén expuestos a niveles extremadamente elevados de iodo radioactivo.

Los pacientes con enfermedad tiroidea pueden tomar de manera segura los comprimidos en las dosis recomendadas por la FDA. Si se toman por un tiempo suficientemente largo, el KI puede producir hipotiroidismo temporario (una glándula poco activa o funcionante)

“Suficientemente largo” es diferente para cada individuo. Un tratamiento prolongado puede ser un serio problema para los niños, estos niños deberá ser evaluados más adelante por un médico. Los pacientes con Enfermedad de Graves (hipertiroidismo) o con nódulos tiroideos autónomos (funcionantes) también debes ser evaluados a posteriori.

Por que preocupa tanto el Cáncer de tiroides si la mayoría de las personas sobreviven al mismo?

En general, el 90% de las personas sobreviven al cáncer de tiroides (se curan). Los cánceres post-Chernobyl han sido muy agresivos y se han desarrollado principalmente en niños menores a 10 años de edad. Los pacientes con cáncer de tiroides siempre tienen riesgo de recurrencia y requieren seguimiento de por vida. De esta manera los individuos expuestos a iodo radioactivo por el accidente de Chernobyl que no han desarrollado cáncer de tiroides tienen riesgo de por vida de hacerlo y deben continuar siendo evaluados. La demanda de la evaluación regular y el cuidado de esta gran población implican una gran carga para los pacientes y al sistema de salud

Como debería ser incorporado el KI en un plan de emergencia?

El KI es un adjunto al plan de evacuación, refugio y evitar alimentos, agua o leche contaminados. El KI no reemplaza otras medidas preventivas.

No tener que tomar las píldoras de KI lleva a las personas a tener un falso sentido de seguridad?

No es probable. Las autoridades locales recomiendan que las personan abandonen la zona de la emergencia nuclear tan pronto como sea posible. Se les explica a estas personas que el KI es simplemente un complemento de la evacuación.

Para que perder tiempo tomando las pastillas si ya se indicó la evacuación?

Los escapes nucleares son impredecibles y si hay tráfico atascado (embotellamiento de tráfico) es muy probable que endentezca el período de evacuación. Se debe tomar el KI previo a la evacuación, siguiendo las instrucciones de las autoridades oficiales locales.

Por que ofrecer KI a las personas dentro del radio de los 16 o 32Km. (10 o 20 millas) de la planta nuclear? La radiación no puede dañar en zonas más alejadas?

El departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS) ha recomendado la distribución de KI a los individuos que residen dentro de los 16 Km. (10 millas) de una planta nuclear

La Asociación Americana de Tiroides (ATA) recomienda que la distribución de KI no debe limitarse a los 16 o 32 Km. (10 o 20 millas) nadie puede predecir cuan lejos la radiación puede esparcirse. Luego de Chernobyl, se encontraron tasas más elevadas que las esperadas de cáncer de tiroides más allá de los 300 Km.(200 millas) de la planta nuclear. Por lo tanto, nadie puede predecir que tan lejos de la planta nuclear debe distribuirse el KI para proteger a las personas que pudieron estar expuestas al iodo radioactivo. Como no existe una respuesta correcta, la Asociación Americana de Tiroides recomienda tres niveles de cobertura, determinado por la distancia de la planta nuclear:

Que están haciendo otros países?

La Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda la distribución de KI. Francia, Irlanda, Suecia y Suiza no solo almacenan KI sino que lo predistribuyen a su población

Informacion Adicional

Más detalles sobre este y otros temas relacionados se encuentran disponibles en la sección información para pacientes en el sitio Web de la American Thyroid Association www.thyroid.org y en el sitio Web de la FDA www.fda.gov (buscar ioduro de potasio)

El folleto de Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides para guardar e imprimir (PDF File, 452 KB)

El folleto de Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides para guardar e imprimir (PDF File, 194 KB)

The post Radiación Nuclear y la Glándula Tiroides appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland located in the neck produces thyroid hormones which help the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working normally.

Why does the thyroid gland need special protection after a release of radioactive material?

The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce the hormones that regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. The thyroid absorbs available iodine from the bloodstream. The thyroid gland cannot distinguish between stable (regular) iodine and radioactive iodine and will absorb whatever it can.

In babies and children, the thyroid gland is one of the most radiation- sensitive parts of the body. Most nuclear accidents release radioactive iodine into the atmosphere which then can be absorbed into the body. When thyroid cells absorb too much radioactive iodine, it can cause thyroid cancer to develop several years after the exposure. Babies and young children are at highest risk. The risk is much lower for people over age 40.

What is Potassium Iodide (KI)?

Potassium iodide (KI) is the same form of iodine used to iodize table salt. KI floods the thyroid with iodine, thus preventing radioactive iodine from being absorbed. KI is made in pill and liquid forms. KI products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are: Iosat Tablets (130 mg), ThyroSafe Tablets (65 mg) and ThyroShield Solution (65 mg/ml). Properly packaged, KI’s shelf life is at least 5 years and possibly as long as 11 years. If you take a very old pill, it may not work fully but it won’t hurt you.

What is the proof that KI works?

After the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident, as many as 3,000 people, mostly babies or young children living in Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia at the time of the accident developed thyroid cancer over the next 10 years. Poland, immediately next to Belarus and Ukraine, distributed KI to >95% of their children within 3 days of the accident and does not appear to have had an increase in thyroid cancer.

Who should take KI?

Babies, children and pregnant women should be provided with KI. Adults are at a lower risk but still may benefit from KI. In addition to KI, priority should be given to evacuation, sheltering (staying in an unventilated room with the doors and windows closed) and avoiding contaminated food, milk, and water. KI should not take the place of any other protective measure.

When should KI be taken?

People should take one dose a day while they are being exposed to radioactive iodine until the risk no longer exists. KI should be used only under instruction from local health authorities.

What are the recommended KI doses?

The FDA recommends the following doses:

The easiest way to prepare a 16-mg dose for a newborn 0-1 month is to dissolve a 130-mg pill in 8 oz of a clear liquid and feed the newborn 1 oz of the liquid.

Who should not take KI?

Millions of people have taken KI but few serious side-effects have been reported. The only people who should not take KI are those who have had a major allergic reaction to iodine.

Patients with thyroid disease can safely take the pills in the FDA recommended doses for a short period of time as determined by public health officials.

During a nuclear emergency, KI’s benefit far outweighs any potential risk. Adults over age 40 do not need KI at all unless they are exposed to extremely high levels of radioactive iodine.

Where can I find additional information?

Further details on this and other thyroid-related topics are available in the patient information section on the American Thyroid Association website at www.thyroid.org and at the FDA website www.fda.gov (search for Potassium iodide).

Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid FAQ for Saving and Printing (PDF File, 262 KB)

Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid FAQ for Saving and Printing (PDF File, 139 KB)

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What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that is normally located in the lower front of the neck. The thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should.

Why does the thyroid gland need special protection after a release of radioactive material?

The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce hormones that regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. The thyroid absorbs available iodine from the bloodstream. The thyroid gland cannot distinguish between stable (regular) iodine and radioactive iodine and will absorb whatever it can. In babies and children, the thyroid gland is one of the most radiationsensitive parts of the body.

Most nuclear accidents release radioactive iodine into the atmosphere which can be absorbed into the body. When thyroid cells absorb too much radioactive iodine, it can cause thyroid cancer to develop several years after the exposure. Babies and young children are at highest risk. The risk is much lower for people over age 40. Thyroid cancer seems to be the only cancer whose incidence rises after a radioactive iodine release. Potassium iodide protects only the thyroid, but it is the organ at greatest risk from radioactive iodine.

What is Potassium Iodide (KI)?

Potassium iodide (KI) is the same form of iodine used to iodize table salt. KI floods the thyroid with iodine, thus preventing radioactive iodine from being absorbed. If taken at the proper time, KI protects the thyroid from radioactive iodine from all sources – air, food, milk, and water. KI is a non-prescription drug that can be bought over the internet and at some pharmacies. KI is made in pill and liquid forms. KI products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are: Iosat Tablets (130 mg), ThyroSafe Tablets (65 mg) and ThyroShield Solution (65 mg/ml). Properly packaged, KI’s shelf life is at least 5 years and possibly as long as 11 years. If you take a very old pill, it may not work fully but it won’t hurt you.

What is the proof that KI works?

After the 1986 Chornobyl (formerly called “Chernobyl”) nuclear accident, shifting winds blew a radioactive cloud over Europe. As many as 3,000 people exposed to that radiation developed thyroid cancer over the next 10 years. Most victims had been babies or young children living in Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia at the time of the accident. The region of excess risk extended up to a 200 mi radius from Chornobyl. Poland, immediately adjacent to Belarus and Ukraine, distributed KI to >95% of their children within 3 days of the accident and does not appear to have had an increase in thyroid cancer.

Who should take KI?

Since children are at the highest risk to exposure to radioactive iodine, KI should be available to all children. Also, because of the risk to the developing fetus, pregnant women should also take KI in the event of a nuclear accident. Adults are at a lower risk but still may benefit from KI. In addition to KI, priority should be given to evacuation, sheltering (staying in an unventilated room with the doors and windows closed) and avoiding contaminated food, milk, and water. KI should not take the place of any other protective measure.

When should KI be taken?

KI fills the thyroid cells and prevents the gland from absorbing radioactive iodine for approximately 24 hours. People should take one dose a day while they are being exposed to radioactive iodine until the risk no longer exists. KI should be used only under instruction from local health authorities. Not every radioactive release includes the radioactive iodine that can cause thyroid cancer. For example, a “dirty bomb” is not likely to contain radioactive iodine because it has a short half-life. (A “dirty bomb” is a conventional bomb mixed with radioactive material, and designed to explode spewing out the radioactive isotopes and contaminating a wide area.) Health authorities can determine which radioactive isotopes are released during a nuclear event. If radioactive iodine is released, then health authorities will advise on when and how long to take KI.

What are the recommended KI doses?

The FDA recommends the following doses:

The easiest way to prepare a 16-mg dose for a newborn 0-1 month is to dissolve a 130-mg pill in 8 oz of a clear liquid and feed the newborn 1 oz of the liquid.

Who should not take KI?

Millions of people have taken KI but few serious side-effects have been reported. The only people who should not take KI are those who have had a major allergic reaction to iodine. During a nuclear emergency, KI’s benefit far outweighs any potential risk. Adults over age 40 do not need KI at all unless they are exposed to extremely high levels of radioactive iodine.

Patients with thyroid disease can safely take the pills in the FDA recommended doses. If taken long enough, KI can cause temporary hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). “Long enough” is different for every person. Prolonged treatment can become a serious problem for very young children. Such children should be seen afterward by a health professional. Patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism or with autonomous functioning thyroid nodules should also be seen.

Why worry so much about thyroid cancer if most people survive it?

In general, 90% of patients survive thyroid cancer. The post-Chornobyl cancers have been aggressive and have been unusual in affecting children younger than 10 years of age. Thyroid cancer survivors always remain at risk for recurrence and require lifelong medical care. Likewise, the people who were exposed to radioactive iodine from the Chornobyl accident but have not developed thyroid cancer remain at risk for life and must continue to be tested. The demands of regular testing and care for this large population are putting a heavy burden on both patients and health care systems.

How should KI be incorporated into an overall emergency plan?

KI is an adjunct to evacuation, sheltering (staying in an unventilated room with the doors and windows closed), and avoiding contaminated food, milk, and water. KI should not take the place of any other protective measures.

Won’t having KI pills lull people into a false sense of security?

Not likely. Local authorities recommend that people leave the vicinity of a nuclear emergency as quickly as possible. People are being taught that KI is just a supplement to evacuation.

Why waste time taking a pill if you’re being told to evacuate?

Nuclear releases are unpredictable and traffic jams are likely to delay speedy evacuation. People should take their KI before they evacuate, following instructions from local health officials.

Why offer KI to people just within 10 or 20 miles of a plant? Can’t radiation be harmful farther away?

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended distribution of KI to individuals residing within 10 miles of a nuclear plant.

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends that KI distribution not be limited to 10 or 20 miles. No one can predict how far a radioactive iodine cloud might spread. After Chornobyl, higher than expected rates of thyroid cancer were found more than 200 miles away from the nuclear plant. Thus, no one can predict how far from a nuclear plant the U.S. should distribute KI if it is to protect every person who might be exposed to radioactive iodine. Because there is no right answer, the American Thyroid Association recommends three levels of coverage, determined by distance from the nuclear plant:

What are other countries doing?

The World Health Organization endorses KI distribution. France, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland not only stockpile KI but predistribute KI to their populations

Further Information

Further details on this and other thyroid-related topics are available in the patient information section on the American Thyroid Association^® website at www.thyroid.org.

Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid Brochure for Saving and Printing (PDF File, 452KB)

Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid Brochure for Saving and Printing (PDF File, 193KB)

The post Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

March 18, 2011

The recent nuclear reactor accident in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami has raised fears of radiation exposure to populations in North America from the potential plume of radioactivity crossing the Pacific Ocean. The principal radiation source of concern is radioactive iodine including iodine-131, a radioactive isotope that presents a special risk to health because iodine is concentrated in the thyroid gland and exposure of the thyroid to high levels of radioactive iodine may lead to development of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer years later. During the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident in 1986, people in the surrounding region were exposed to radioactive iodine principally from intake of food and milk from contaminated farmlands. As demonstrated by the Chernobyl experience, pregnant women, fetuses, infants and children are at the highest risk for developing thyroid cancer whereas adults over age 20 are at negligible risk.

Radioiodine uptake by the thyroid can be blocked by taking potassium iodide (KI) pills or solution, most importantly in these sensitive populations. However, KI should not be taken in the absence of a clear risk of exposure to a potentially dangerous level of radioactive iodine because potassium iodide can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, salivary gland inflammation, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism in a small percentage of people. Since radioactive iodine decays rapidly, current estimates indicate there will not be a hazardous level of radiation reaching the United States from this accident. When an exposure does warrant KI to be taken, it should be taken as directed by physicians or public health authorities until the risk for significant exposure to radioactive iodine dissipates, but probably for no more than 1-2 weeks. With radiation accidents, the greatest risk is to populations close to the radiation source.  While some radiation may be detected in the United States and its territories in the Pacific as a result of this accident, current estimates indicate that radiation amounts will be little above baseline atmospheric levels and will not be harmful to the thyroid gland or general health. 

We discourage individuals needlessly purchasing or hoarding of KI in the United States. Moreover, since there is not a radiation emergency in the United States or its territories, we do not support the ingestion of KI prophylaxis at this time. Our professional societies will continue to monitor potential risks to health from this accident and will issue amended advisories as warranted.

Contact: Bobbi Smith (703) 998-8890
BSmith@thyroid.org

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