Potassium Iodide pills
Date: 17 March 2022 Tags: MiscellaneousIssue
The demand for potassium iodide pills have grown suddenly as the war in Ukraine has picked pace.
Details
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The reason for increase in potassium iodide is radioactive fallout from accidental or intentional attacks on Ukraine's nuclear plants.
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The nuclear fallout incident can release radioactive iodine in the atmosphere, which can be absorbed by lungs or the thyroid glands.
Role of potassium iodide
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The Potassium Iodide (KI) contains a salt of stable iodine that can help block radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland.
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This will prevent thyroid gland from radioactive injury. Thyroid glands produce many hormones for body and its damage can even lead to cancer.
Working of Potassium Iodide
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Thyroid gland absorbs both stable and radioactive iodine as it cannot differentiate. Potassium iodide will block radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid.
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The medicine contains so much iodine that thyroid gland cannot absorb any more iodine for the next 24 hours.
Consumption of pill
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The pill has to be taken only when there is an actual risk of imminent exposure to radiation.
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Over use or stronger dose does not offer more protection and can cause severe illness or death.
Rise in prices
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Since the escalation of war, panic buying is taking place in Europe. New stock has been delivered with increased prices.
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There is 100 time rise in demand for the tablets in Finland since the war. Citizens are stocking the medicine in Belgium as precaution.