2011-03-17 07:29 5213 0 發表評論

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Does potassium iodide (KI) protect me from all potential problems that could result in the event of a nuclear accident?

NO. Potassium iodide (KI) is not a magic pill. It only provides protection for the thyroid gland against one type of radioactive material. It does not provide protection against whole body irradiation or other radioactive elements that would also be present in a nuclear power plant release. It is imperative that you protect your entire body from damaging radiation. KI will only protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine. IF THERE IS A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EMERGENCY NEAR YOU, YOU MUST PROTECT YOUR WHOLE BODY FROM PENETRATING RADIATION AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS BESIDES RADIOACTIVE IODINE.

 

How does KI work?

The thyroid gland cannot tell the difference between stable and radioactive iodine and will absorb both. KI works by blocking radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid. When a person takes KI, the stable iodine in the medicine gets absorbed by the thyroid. Because KI contains so much stable iodine, the thyroid gland becomes “full” and cannot absorb any more iodine—either stable or radioactive—for the next 24 hours.

Iodized table salt also contains iodine; iodized table salt contains enough iodine to keep most people healthy under normal conditions. However, table salt does not contain enough iodine to block radioactive iodine from getting into your thyroid gland. You should not use table salt as a substitute for KI.

 

When does potassium iodide have to be taken in order to prevent uptake of radioactive iodine and reduce the risk of thyroid cancer?

For best results, potassium iodide should be taken prior to or at the time of exposure to radioactive iodine. However, taking potassium iodide within three or four hours after exposure could still block the uptake of some radioactive iodine and lower one’s risk of thyroid cancer.

 

How will I know if and when I should take potassium iodide?

If there is risk of exposure to radioactive iodine from inhalation of contaminated air or ingestion of contaminated food or drink that cannot be prevented by evacuation, sheltering, or food and milk control, then North Carolina public health officials will issue an advisory to take KI.

If there is a serious emergency at one of the nuclear power plants, emergency management officials will notify the public through sirens near the plants and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). After receiving the notification, you should stay tuned to the Emergency Alert System and local broadcasting stations for information on what actions you should take, including instructions related to evacuation and whether you and your family should take potassium iodide.

 

How long will KI protect my thyroid?

One dose of KI protects the thyroid for 24 hours. In a situation where evacuation is delayed beyond 24 hours, a second dose may be necessary if a significant risk of exposure to radioactive iodine is still present.

 

What is the recommended dose?

Potassium iodide pills come in 130-milligram (mg) tablets and will have to be divided for children and adolescents.

 

The FDA recommends the following doses of KI for different risk groups:

Age Group	KI dose (mg)	# of 130 mg tablets	# of 65 mg tablets
Adults over 18	130	1	2
Children over 3 yrs through 18 yrs*	65	1/2	1
Over 1 month through 3 years	32	1/4	1/2
Birth through 1 month	16	1/8	1/4

*   Adolescents approaching adult size (> 70 kg) should receive the full adult dose (130 mg).

 

* Pregnant Women: Because all forms of iodine cross the placenta, pregnant women should take KI to protect the growing fetus. However, pregnant women should take only one dose of KI following internal contamination with (or likely internal contamination with) radioactive iodine.

* Breastfeeding Women: Women who are breastfeeding should take only one dose of KI if they have been internally contaminated with (or are likely to be internally contaminated with) radioactive iodine. Because radioactive iodine quickly gets into breast milk, CDC recommends that women internally contaminated with (or are likely to be internally contaminated with) radioactive iodine stop breastfeeding and feed their child baby formula or other food if it is available. If breast milk is the only food available for an infant, nursing should continue.

 

What are the possible risks and side effects of KI?

When public health or emergency management officials tell the public to take KI following a radiologic or nuclear event, the benefits of taking this drug outweigh the risks. This is true for all age groups. Some general side effects caused by KI may include intestinal upset, allergic reactions (possibly severe), rashes, and inflammation of the salivary glands.

When taken as recommended, KI causes only rare adverse health effects that specifically involve the thyroid gland. In general, you are more likely to have an adverse health effect involving the thyroid gland if you

• take a higher than recommended dose of KI,
• take the drug for several days, or
• have pre-existing thyroid disease.

Newborn infants (less than 1 month old) who receive more than one dose of KI are at particular risk for developing a condition known as hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone levels that are too low). If not treated, hypothyroidism can cause brain damage. Infants who receive KI should have their thyroid hormone levels checked and monitored by a doctor. Avoid repeat dosing of KI to newborns.

 

Are there some people who should NOT take potassium iodide?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that short-term administration of potassium iodide is safe for most individuals. There are some exceptions, however.

You should not take potassium iodide if you are allergic to iodine or have dermatitis herpetiformis or hypocomplementemic vasculitis. (Both are extremely rare conditions associated with hypersensitivity to iodine.)

If you have multinodular goiter, Graves’ disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, or if you are taking any thyroid medication, you should consult with your doctor to determine if taking potassium iodide to prevent absorption of radioactive iodine would be potentially harmful. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that KI should be used with caution in individuals with these conditions, especially if dosing extends beyond a few days.

Pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, and newborns up to one month old should not receive more than one dose of KI.

 

When do the pills expire?

The tablets have a five-year shelf life. As with all medicine, you should check the expiration date yearly. If your tablets are expired, contact your local health department to see if your tablet’s expiration date has been extended or to obtain new tablets.

 

How do I store the pills?

You should store potassium iodide tablets in a place where they are safe and out of the reach of children, but also readily accessible if you should need them. They should be stored at room temperature (59-86 degrees F). Do not store them in your car. Keep the package dry and foil packets intact.

原文轉貼：日本8.9震災教我們的事 眾神護台灣─南投鯉魚潭樟公