What is potassium iodide and how can it be used against radiation

Potassium iodide is a salt that is used clinically to aid in radiation treatment and also has use in the field of photography. It is commonly known as the “iodine pill” or “anti-radiation pill”.

The chemical formula of potassium iodide is KI. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a clear warning about potassium iodide: it is a drug that should not be taken for mild reasons.

“Individuals should only take KI on the recommendation of public health or emergency management authorities. There are health risks associated with the use of KI,” it states on its website.

What is potassium iodide?

The CDC explains that it is a “non-radioactive salt that can help prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine, thus protecting the thyroid gland from radiation injury.”

This endocrine gland has very important functions for people’s metabolic functioning, and is also “the part of the body most sensitive to radioactive iodine”, adds the CDC.

Do pills work against radiation?

Potassium iodide can help protect a person’s thyroid against radioactive iodine and thus also prevent thyroid cancer in the event of a nuclear accident or other radiation exposure.

The substance only protects the thyroid and protects only from radioactive iodine.

However, potassium iodide “does not stop radioactive iodine from entering the body” and does not reverse the effects already caused by radiation, the CDC says.

care

If radioactive iodine is not present in a person’s body, taking potassium iodide can be harmful, explains the CDC.

In 2011, when the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in Japan, in the United States, there was concern about the possible effects of radiation and the demand for iodine pills increased, although health officials explained that there was no need to take them or store potassium iodide.

Also in 2018, after a tweet by then-President Donald Trump, in which he said he had a “bigger and more powerful” nuclear button than Kim Jong Un, sales soared, the report said. CNN at the time based on reports from companies that sell the chemical compound.

Of these scenarios, experts have several warnings.

Pills have limited effectiveness. As Diane D’Arrigo of the Nuclear Information and Resources Service in Washington explained to CNN in an interview when the Fukushima incident occurred, while it protects the thyroid, “there are other radionuclides that go to other organs that it doesn’t help with.”

People should not panic to buy potassium iodide. The Doctor. Stewart Weiss, an endocrinologist and clinical professor of medicine at New York University Medical Center told CNN that unless there is a real threat from radiation exposure, it should not be taken.

“Many people are allergic to iodine,” he said, also explaining that taking iodide can worsen existing thyroid problems or have side effects, including skin problems. For children, it can be harmful in excessive doses, he added.

How does potassium iodide work?

According to the CDC, “KI (potassium iodide) blocks radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid. When a person takes KI, the thyroid absorbs the stable iodine from the drug.”

Protection may not be complete, they warn, as it depends on factors such as the time elapsed since contamination, the amount of iodine absorbed in the blood and the dose of radioactive iodine to which the person was exposed.

In the event of a radiation emergency involving radioactive iodine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of potassium iodide in two forms: pills and liquid. There are specific dosages for age groups and other conditions.

Potassium iodide is sold without a prescription, so health officials reiterate that it should only be taken if instructed to do so by health or emergency agencies. Side effects of iodine pills include gastrointestinal problems, allergic reactions, rashes, and swollen salivary glands.