Japan Earthquake & Nuclear Fallout

The recent events in the Japan are just overhelming.  First there was this huge 8.9 magnitude earthquake (now 9.0 as re-checked by Japan), then 10-meter high tsunami, then problems in Japan’s nuclear complex.

Last Friday (11 March 2011), the day of the big quake,  I was riveted to the TV switching channels from NHK to BBC and CNN when I got  news from the US that several countries will be affected by the tsunami including the Philippines.  I made frantic calls to Philippines to warn family. Then, prayers, prayers and prayers. Thank God, the waves that reached the Philippines were just barely 1.0 m. high. 

Then came the news that the cooling facility at the Fukushima nuclear complex are failing.  Now, this is the real scary thing.  Earthquakes and tsunamis, they just happen without warning and there is nothing you can do.  But, for nuclear fallouts, you can at least do some protective action.  Thus, I googled and googled and compiled the information below.  I am not an expert thus, I do not vouch for the veracity of the data gathered, but at least it made me understand in simple terms what the risks are and what precautionary measures to do.  

Fallout

The greatest concern from a fallout from Japan carried by the wind to your location overseas would be from ingesting or inhaling radioactive iodine.  Radioactive iodine is a major constituent of nuclear explosions and nuclear power plant mishaps and when inhaled, travels into the body like stable iodine and re-concentrates itself into our thyroid glands. Our body can’t distinguish from radioactive and stable iodine, it takes whatever is ingested.  Whatever gets to the thyroid first gets deposited during normal body functioning.  A build-up of a  high dose of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland gives that gland higher risk of cancer later.

When it is time to take protective action, have everybody to inside the house.  Turn off all utilities and lock and seal up the house to prevent the fallout from drifting inside the house.  Seal edges of  windows and doors with duct tape.  Check your rooms and decide which one would best serve as shelter, preferably basement if you have one.    

Masks, rain coats and Potassium Iodide

When fallout is anticipated, anybody still outside should wear filter masks and rain coats with hood. External contamination can be washed off with soap and water.  Clothing should be discarded.

Everyone should begin taking Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets about half hour or more before exposure and then for the next 7 – 10 days.  KI saturates your thyroid gland with safe stable iodine where if later you inhale or ingest radioactive iodine, your body simply eliminates it.

How  KI works is simple.  The pills contain a huge overdose of iodide which when ingested causes your thyroid to be filled-up with iodine until it can take no more.  If  radioactive iodine gets into your system, your body will get rid of it through urine. It is important that the pills be taken before you get exposed with the radioactive iodine. KI provides nearly 100% protection from radioactive iodine and resulting thyroid cell damage and abnormalities such as thyroid cancer.

Iodine or Betadine

If no table is available, you can apply an iodine solution like Betadine.  For adults, paint 8 ml of a 2 percent tincture of iodine on the abdomen or forearm each day, ideally at least 2 hours prior to possible exposure.  For children 3 to 18 but under 150 pounds, only haft that amount painted on daily or 4 ml. for children under 3 but older than a month, half again or 2 ml.  For newborns to 1 month, half it again or just 1 ml.  (One measuring teaspoon is about 5 ml or use a medicine dropper graduated in ml.).  If your iodine is stronger than 2%, reduce the dosage accordingly. Absorption through the skin is not as reliable a dosing method as using the tablets, but tests show that it will still be very effective for most. More information can be found  here.

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