The threat of nuclear reactor meltdowns have introduced new terms into the lexicon of regular individuals that many don’t understand. Terms like cesium, radioactive iodine and potassium iodide are being discussed as either dangers or protections in the case of radiation exposure. What is clear is the serious nature of the health risk posed by radiation exposure to people.
What Is Cesium?
The Environmental Protection Agency has on its website a section titled “Cesium” In the Radiation Protection section that discusses cesium: "Cesium (chemical symbol Cs) is a metal that may be stable (nonradioactive) or unstable (radioactive)." Cesium 137 is the radioactive form of cesium that is created from nuclear fission like what takes place in a nuclear power plant reactor. When plutonium and uranium split in nuclear fission, cesium 137 is one of the by products. Cesium 137 is in a near liquid state at room temperature. Cesium 137 can get into soft body tissue, muscle and bone. Cesium 137 can cause cancer. Because cesium can get into the soil, it can contaminate food sources and water.
What Is Radioactive Iodine?
The Environmental Protection Agency has on its website a section titled “Iodine” In the Radiation Protection section that discusses iodine. Iodine (chemical symbol I) is a nonmetallic solid element. There are both radioactive and non-radioactive isotopes of iodine. Radioactive iodine 131 is created by the process of nuclear fission like that in a nuclear power plant reactor.
Radioactive iodine 137 is easily absorbed by the thyroid in the human body. The human thyroid regulates human growth and cell reproduction. Radioactive iodine can settle in the soil, and in grass that can be eaten by cows and then end up in the milk cows produce. This milk will introduce the radioactive iodine into the human body. Radioactive iodine can induce cancer of the thyroid.
What Is Potassium Iodide?
Potassium iodide is a salt. The Center For Disease Control website delves into the uses of potassium iodine in the Emergency and Preparedness Section. One common use is the addition of this to table salt to make iodized salt. Since the Japan nuclear disaster, sales of potassium iodide pills have skyrocketed worldwide. An article titled “Demand for potassium iodide spikes; nukepills.com is there” by JoNel Aleccia March 15, 2011 and published on the MSNBC website goes into the run on potassium iodide pills.
Potassium iodide helps to protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. The thyroid can’t tell the difference between radioactive iodine and non-radioactive iodine and will absorb both. By taking the potassium iodide the thyroid will absorb it and become full so that it won’t adsorb the radioactive iodine from a nuclear radiation exposure. People as far away as the United States are buying potassium iodide.
