April 17, 2003
As we're inundated with images of the war in Iraq, it's hard not to wonder how we can best protect our children from potential attacks right in our proverbial backyard, beyond stocking up on a 3-day supply of water, perishable foods, and battery-operated radios.
One precaution parents, school officials, and caregivers can take to shield children from some of the effects of radiation is purchasing potassium iodide tablets (also known as KI). You've probably heard or read about KI, but you may wonder what these tablets really are and what they do in the event of a radiation incident.
In a recent statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says KI could help save you and your kids from radiation-induced thyroid effects, including thyroid cancer, caused by the accidental or intentional release of radioactive iodines ("radiodines") into the environment. Radioiodines could be released through an incident at a nuclear power plant, the detonation of a nuclear weapon, the use of radioactive "dirty bombs," or by transport vehicles carrying radioactive materials.
What Is Potassium Iodide?
KI prevents damage to the thyroid by blocking, or filling, it with non-radioactive iodine that stops the absorption of the radioactive molecules. If administered right before exposure, KI can be 100% effective in preventing radiation-induced thyroid effects, the AAP says.
However, it's important to remember that KI is not a magic bullet for radiation. Although it does protect the thyroid, it does not prevent other long-term radiation effects such as leukemia and breast cancer, or acute radiation effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, and hair loss.
The AAP recommends that both parents and pediatricians be aware of the benefits of KI and be prepared to administer the agent right before or as soon after exposure as possible. The AAP also recommends that KI be available in homes, schools, and child-care facilities within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant, and that parents and caregivers within a larger radius keep KI on hand due to the potential for more distant wind-borne fallout, as occurred in the 1986 meltdown of the power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine.
How Does Radiation Affect Children?
Kids are much more vulnerable to the effects of radiation than adults, as became evident after A-bomb exposure in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and fallout from Chernobyl. Children are also much closer to the ground, where radioactive fallout would settle, and are more likely to be affected by cancer over their lifetime because of their still-developing organs and because they absorb and metabolize substances differently than adults.
How Do I Find and Use Potassium Iodide?
Sold without a prescription through a few pharmacies, KI is most readily available on the Internet. But only three KI products are approved by the Food and Drug Administration: Thyro-Block, Iosat, and ThyroSafe, although other products may be sold illegally on the Internet.
The FDA also offers dosing information and instructions for diluting KI. Young children can take KI, but it's crucial to dilute the agent to its exact dosage using raspberry syrup, low-fat chocolate milk, orange juice, or flat soda to mask its salty taste. In some cases, repeated dosing may be advised by public health authorities.
Because radioiodines can be passed to infants through breastmilk, nursing mothers are cautioned to stop breastfeeding in the event of a radiation incident - until public health authorities declare it safe again - unless no other alternative is available. Health officials will also advise the public about the safe consumption of produce and milk after a radiation disaster.
Although KI is readily available, the AAP emphasizes that the tablets should only be taken in the event of a radiation incident after consulting a doctor or getting the OK from public health officials and the emergency broadcast system.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2003
