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 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.

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Recommended daily allowances for iodine intake are 150 mcg for non-pregnant adults. During pregnancy and lactation, higher iodine intakes of 220-250 mcg in pregnant women and 250-290 mcg in breastfeeding women in the U.S are encouraged. ATA recommends that women take multivitamins containing 150 mcg iodine daily in the form of potassium iodide (KI) during preconception, pregnancy, and lactation to meet these needs. “For other individuals, the U.S. diet generally contains enough iodine to meet nutritional needs, with common sources being iodized salt, dairy products, breads, and seafood.” says Angela Leung, MD, Chair of the ATA Public Health Committee and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. There are only a limited number of medical conditions in which the short-term use of high amounts of iodine is indicated.

The public is advised that many iodine, potassium iodide, and kelp supplements contain iodine in amounts that are up to several thousand times higher than the daily Tolerable Upper Limits for iodine. There is no known thyroid benefit of routine daily iodine doses in excess of the U.S. recommended daily allowance.

To access the statement in its entirety, visit www.thyroid.org.

About the American Thyroid Association

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) 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. ATA is an international individual membership organization with over 1,600 members from 43 countries around the world. Celebrating its 90th anniversary, ATA delivers its mission through several key endeavors: the publication of highly regarded monthly journals, THYROID, Clinical Thyroidology and Clinical Thyroidology for Patients; 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. Visit www.thyroid.org for more information.

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Ingestion of greater than 1,100 mcg of iodine per day (Tolerable Upper Limits for iodine) (1) is not recommended and may cause thyroid dysfunction. During pregnancy and lactation, the recommendations for the upper limit vary and range from 500-1,100 mcg of iodine daily (2). In particular, infants, the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, and individuals with preexisting thyroid disease are susceptible to adverse effects of excess iodine intake and exposure (5). The public is advised that many iodine, potassium iodide, and kelp supplements contain iodine in amounts that are up to several thousand times higher than the daily Tolerable Upper Limits for iodine. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) advises against the ingestion of iodine and kelp supplements containing in excess of 500 mcg iodine daily for children and adults and during pregnancy and lactation. Chronic iodine intake in amounts greater than the Tolerable Upper Limits should be closely monitored by a physician. There is only equivocal data supporting the benefit of iodine at higher doses than these, including a possible benefit for patients with fibrocystic breast disease (6). There is no known thyroid benefit of routine daily iodine doses in excess of the U.S. RDA.

There are a limited number of medical conditions in which the short-term use of high amounts of iodine is indicated. Exceptions for the recommendations to not exceed the Tolerable Upper Limits include closely-monitored patients prescribed Lugol’s solution or SSKI (saturated solution of potassium iodide) in their treatment of severe hyperthyroidism, such as thyroid storm and prior to surgery in patients with Graves’ disease, and individuals in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant who are recommended to take KI in the event of a nuclear accident. SSKI is not indicated nor recommended in individuals with thyroid nodules. Finally, patients receiving the large amounts of iodine in iodinated contrast dyes, as required for radiologic studies, should be monitored for iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction if risk factors are present.

Key points:

– Adequate iodine intake is required for normal thyroid function

– The recommended iodine intake in non-pregnant adults is 150 mcg daily

– Higher iodine intakes are recommended in pregnancy and lactation

– Given a Tolerable Upper Limit of 1100 mcg iodine daily, ingestion of an iodine or kelp supplement containing in excess of 500 mcg iodine daily should not be done

– Certain exceptions to these recommendations include those for specific medical conditions; such individuals should be closely monitored for thyroid dysfunction

References:

1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press; 2006.

2. De Groot L, Abalovich M, Alexander EK, Amino N, Barbour L, Cobin RH, Eastman CJ, Lazarus JH, Luton D, Mandel SJ, Mestman J, Rovet J, Sullivan S. Management of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012;97:2543-65.

3. Leung AM, Pearce EN, Braverman LE. Iodine content of prenatal multivitamins in the united states. N Engl J Med 2009;360:939-40.

4. Stagnaro-Green, A, Abalovich, M, Alexander, E, Azizi, F, Mestman, J, Negro, R, Nixon, A, Pearce, EN, Soldin, OP, Sullivan, S, Wiersinga, W, American Thyroid Association Taskforce on Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and postpartum. Thyroid 2011;21:1081-1125.

5. Leung AM and Braverman LE. Iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2012;19:414-419.

6. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Iodine. Available at: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional (accessed April 23, 2013).

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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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Connecticut Department of Public Health
Potassium Iodide (KI) and Nuclear Emergency Readiness
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3126&q=389034

Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health (PDF File)
Facts about “KI”
http://dema.delaware.gov/Docs/Ki_QandA.pdf

Florida Department of Health – Bureau of Radiation Control (PDF File)
Potassium Iodide (KI) Fact Sheet
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/radiation/KI-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
Important Information on the Use of Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets
http://www.state.il.us/idns/html/emergencyinfo/kibrochure.asp

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
The Potassium Iodide (KI) Issue
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3312_4120_4243-10401–,00.html

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Public Health Component
http://www.state.nj.us/health/er/piodide.htm

New York State Department of Health
Use of Potassium Iodide During Radiological Emergencies: Information for the Public
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ki/ki_high.htm

Pennsylvania Department of Health
Potassium Iodide (KI) Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=171&q=233572

Texas Department of Health
Potassium Iodide Information
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/radiation/dirty.shtm

Vermont Department of Health
A Fact Sheet on Potassium Iodide & the Vermont Distribution Program
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/rad/KI_fact.aspx

Potassium Iodide (KI) Information on the ATA Site

Questions and answers about potassium iodide (KI)

American Thyroid Association endorses potassium iodide for radiation emergencies

Editorial: “Say yes to potassium iodide,” by Peter G. Crane, reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 14, 2002

Web links for important documents about potassium iodide

The post Web links for state information about potassium iodide appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

Final Text of NRC Ruling NRC 10 CFR Part 50 (RIN 3150-AG11)
Consideration of Potassium Iodide in Emergency Plans
Federal Register, January 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 13)
Rules and Regulations, pages 5427-5440 [DOCID:fr19ja01-1]http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/fr/2001/20010109part2.html

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research:
Radiation Emergencies
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm063807.htm

Frequently Asked Questions on Potassium Iodide (KI)
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm072265.htm

Home Preparation Procedure for Emergency Administration of Potassium Iodide Tablets to Infants and Small Children
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/UCM072248

Guidance for Industry: KI in Radiation Emergencies–Questions and Answers
(explaining flexibility in KI dosing guidelines)
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM080546.pdf

Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM080542.pdf

U.S. Congress:
Section 127 (Potassium Iodide) of H.R. 3448,
the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
(Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate), enacted June 12, 2002

Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/. Search for Bill Number “HR 3448” in the 107th Congress. Choose Version 3 (“H.R.3448.ENR”). Once in the bill, choose “Sec. 127, Potassium Iodide.”

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP):
These and other reports are available for purchase at http://www.ncrppublications.org:

“Management of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material”
(Report #138, published 2001; abstract and press release may be read on the NCRP site)

“Induction of Thyroid Cancer by Ionizing Radiation”
(Report #80, published 1985; abstract may be read on the NCRP site)

“Protection of the Thyroid Gland in the Event of Releases of Radioiodine”
(Report #55, published 1977)

United Nations:
United Nations Press Release GA/9718
UNSCEAR Focuses On Chernobyl Accident in General Assembly Report
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000606.ga9718.doc.html

World Health Organization:
Guidelines for Iodine Prophylaxis following Nuclear Accidents (PDF File)
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/pub_meet/Iodine_Prophylaxis_guide.pdf

British National Radiation Protection Board:
Stable Iodine Prophylaxis: Recommendations of the 2nd UK Working Group
on Stable Iodine Prophylaxis
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1254510581689

Potassium Iodide (KI) Information on the ATA Site

Questions and answers about potassium iodide (KI)

American Thyroid Association endorses potassium iodide for radiation emergencies

Editorial: “Say yes to potassium iodide,” by Peter G. Crane, reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
February 14, 2002

Web links for state information about potassium iodide

The post Web links for important documents about potassium iodide appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

What is 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. The two FDA-approved brands of full adult dose 130-mg KI pills are IOSAT® (Anbex, Inc.) and Thyro-Block® (Medpointe, Inc.). The FDA-approved brand of 65-mg KI pills is ThyroSafe® (Recip US). Properly packaged, KI’s shelf life is at least 5 years and possibly as long as 11 years. If you accidentally 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 all over Europe. As many as 3,000 people exposed to that radiation have already developed thyroid cancer. Most victims had been babies or young children living in Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia at the time of the accident. According to a UN report released in February 2002, another 8,000 to 10,000 exposed people may develop thyroid cancer within the next 10 years. Poland, immediately adjacent to Belarus and Ukraine, distributed KI to its people and does not appear to have had an increase in thyroid cancer.

When should KI be taken?
Taken 6-12 hours before exposure to radioactive iodine, KI fills the thyroid cells and prevents the gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. KI is also protective if taken within the first few hours after exposure to radioactive iodine. People should take one dose a day, only while they are being exposed to radioactive iodine and one day afterward. 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.) Only health authorities can determine which radioactive isotopes are released during a nuclear event, and, if radioactive iodine is released, when to take KI and how long to keep taking it.

What are the recommended KI doses?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published general recommendations for minimum KI doses: a full 130-mg pill for adults, 65 mg for children 3 to 18 years old, 32 mg for babies 1 month to 3 years old, and 16 mg for newborns up to 1 month old. In the U.S., KI pills are now sold in both 130-mg and 65-mg doses. The pills are scored to make it easier to cut them up for children’s doses. An April 2002 FDA statement says that “absolute precision in dosing is generally not critical to safety or efficacy” and “the overall benefits of KI far exceed the risks of overdosing, especially in children.” According to the FDA, children over 1 month old can safely be given a full-dose 130-mg pill on each of 2 consecutive days. However, newborns should be given only a 16-mg dose. The easiest way to prepare a 16-mg dose is to dissolve a 130-mg pill in 8 oz of a clear liquid and feed the newborn 1 oz of the liquid. Another alternative is to give the newborn 16 mg of the liquid form of KI (saturated solution of potassium iodide [SSKI]), which requires a doctor’s prescription. For FDA suggestions on preparing KI doses for children, see http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm072254

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. In the amounts that the FDA recommends, and for the few days that public health officials expect people to need KI, patients with thyroid disease can safely take the pills in the regularly recommended doses. 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.

If taken for 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 measure.

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?
Because nuclear releases are unpredictable but 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?
KI distribution should 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 do U.S. government agencies recommend?
KI is endorsed for radiation protection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services has included KI in the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile for use in health emergencies. In December 2001, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission wrote to the 34 states that either have a functioning nuclear power plant or are within 10 miles of another state’s plant; the letter offered two free KI pills for each resident within the 10-mile “emergency zone” surrounding active plants, and an extra supply to be provided for transients. As of September 13, 2002, Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia had taken up the NRC on its offer. Instead of accepting the NRC offer, Illinois chose to distribute KI pills provided by the operator of most of the state’s nuclear plants. Tennessee has had its own KI program in place since 1981. Maine has discontinued its state program.

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, enacted by Congress in May 2002, creates a mechanism to extend the radius of KI distribution to communities within 20 miles of nuclear plants, and directs the President to decide which agency or agencies will oversee KI stockpiling and distribution. Distribution under the new law could begin as early as June 2003.

Won’t distribution and public education be expensive and time-consuming?
Possibly, although the potential benefit of KI far outweighs the cost. The Bioterrorism Act directs the National Academy of Sciences to study “the most effective and safe way to distribute and administer potassium iodide tablets on a mass scale.” The National Academy of Sciences panel should address many of the decisions still to be made, for example: Who should be responsible for distribution? Within 50 miles of a nuclear plant, how should pills best be predistributed to families to store at home, before the time of need? Within 50 miles of a plant, should pills also be kept at local schools, clinics, post offices, and police and fire stations for distribution during an emergency? How should children be treated at school? How should stockpiles be maintained? Provision must also be made to educate the public about why KI is important, what it can and cannot do, and how and when to use it. The states that want KI are working out individual distribution and education plans, as part of their overall emergency plans. Vermont’s draft plan is posted on its web site (http://healthvermont.gov). It is noteworthy that the offer of KI has led some states to reassess their overall emergency response plans.

What are other countries doing?
The World Health Organization endorses KI. France, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland not only stockpile KI but predistribute it to their populations.

What does the American Thyroid Association recommend?
The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has been urging KI stockpiling since 1984. ATA members have been studying the Chornobyl nuclear accident and caring for its victims. The Association’s recommendations are outlined in the public health statement American Thyroid Association endorses potassium iodide for radiation emergencies. This plan is endorsed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and the Thyroid Foundation of America.

Potassium Iodide (KI) Information on the ATA Site

American Thyroid Association endorses potassium iodide for radiation emergencies

Editorial: “Say yes to potassium iodide,” by Peter G. Crane, reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
February 14, 2002

Web links for important documents about potassium iodide

Web links for state information about potassium iodide

The post Questions and Answers about Potassium Iodide (KI) American Thyroid Association appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

Download Statement (PDF File, 197 KB)

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