Current Affairs

Issue

The demand for potassium iodide pills have grown suddenly as the war in Ukraine has picked pace.

 

Details

• The reason for increase in potassium iodide is radioactive fallout from accidental or intentional attacks on Ukraine's nuclear plants.

• 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

• The Potassium Iodide (KI) contains a salt of stable iodine that can help block radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland.

• 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

• Thyroid gland absorbs both stable and radioactive iodine as it cannot differentiate. Potassium iodide will block radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid.  

• The medicine contains so much iodine that thyroid gland cannot absorb any more iodine for the next 24 hours.

 

Consumption of pill

• The pill has to be taken only when there is an actual risk of imminent exposure to radiation.       

• Over use or stronger dose does not offer more protection and can cause severe illness or death.

 

Rise in prices

• Since the escalation of war, panic buying is taking place in Europe. New stock has been delivered with increased prices.

• There is 100 time rise in demand for the tablets in Finland since the war. Citizens are stocking the medicine in Belgium as precaution.