Monday, March 14, 2011

Nuclear accident: why do we distribute the iodine tablets?

In the event of major nuclear accident, the risk of being hit by the radiation emitted by radioactive particles are twofold. First, a radiation hazard near the source of radiation, which primarily concerns the staff of nuclear facilities or lifeguards. Second, a risk of contamination of nearby populations or more distant, if the winds are involved, by dust or radioactive gas.

This contamination is external when dust is deposited on the skin. It is internal when the radioactive elements enter the body through respiration, absorption of food or drink contaminated, or a wound. The consequences depend on the dose, which is itself a function of the intensity of the radioactive source, proximity, nature of radiation and exposure time.

When a serious accident occurs, several very harmful radioactive elements (cesium, strontium, rare gases like krypton and xenon) are likely to be released into the atmosphere. All of these products increases the possibility of mutations in the cells they radiate, the main risk in case of contamination of developing cancer.

In this regard, the greatest danger is clearly that of contamination with radioactive iodine. DISTRIBUTION OF PELLETS Issued gaseous, inhaled iodine has the property of binding very quickly on the thyroid, causing it to irradiation. When the population at risk could not be evacuated, except the containment, means of prevention is most effective distribution of iodine tablet primarily for babies, youth and pregnant women.

The Japanese authorities have started the distribution. Indeed, to avoid or limit the radioactive iodine uptake, it must absorb, in the hour before or one hour after the inhalation of iodine stable (nonradioactive). It saturates the thyroid, and prevents subsequent attachment of the radioactive element.

Without this precaution, the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl (Ukraine), which occurred on 26 April 1986, has resulted, since 1990, a significant increase of thyroid cancers among children who had been subjected to radioactive emissions from the plant. Predicted since the accident by many experts but long denied by the Soviet authorities, the cancer epidemic has been officially confirmed by the World Health Organization in 1995.

Article published in the edition of 15.03.11

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