Surprisingly, people in Ukraine are increasingly buying potassium iodide (KI) pills amid the Ukraine war. It is because people are worried that an intentional or accidental attack on their nation’s nuclear plant could trigger radioactive fallout.
In case of an attack, the radioactive iodine will spread in the environment. And, ultimately, it would reach our thyroid glands and lungs while breathing. So, to avoid such a situation, people are demanding KI pills to prevent radioactive compounds from causing severe radiation injuries.
What is KI – Potassium Iodide?
Potassium iodide or KI is a stable iodine salt, which can block the absorption of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland. Hence, this gland will remain protected from unwanted radiation injury.
With a radiation-caused injury, the thyroid gland can get damaged and won’t produce the necessary hormones for normal bodily functions. What’s worse is that radiation injury can even cause cancer.
But the table salt and regular foods that contain iodine are not sufficient to block the undesired radioactive iodine from reaching the thyroid gland. Therefore, it is recommended to intake KI pills to prevent radiation-related health conditions during the nuclear war.
How does KI Help in Preventing Radioactive Contamination?
Radioactive contamination leads to the deposition of radioactive material within an individual’s body or an object. When such harmful materials are present in our atmosphere, it causes contamination within the soil, air, buildings, plants, water, animals, and even humans.
This radioactive material, specifically radioactive iodine, gets into the air generally during a nuclear war. When the contaminated air is inhaled, this damaging material enters the human body and the thyroid gland absorbs it quickly.
Once absorbed, this harmful radioactive iodine causes injury to the gland. Since KI can block the pathway of radioactive iodine, it can protect against thyroid gland injury. However, when taking KI pills, you need to know that these pills can only protect the thyroid gland—NOT other body parts from radioactive elements.
Moreover, potassium iodine cannot protect you from other radioactive materials besides iodine. So, if there is no contamination of radioactive iodine, taking potassium iodine is of no use.
Forthcoming Nuclear Disaster Due to the Russia-Ukraine War
As a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar, Ukraine is in a standoff. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and gives electricity to Ukraine and other European countries. So, people are in fear that a nuclear attack could not only damage this plant but also lead to another crisis of radioactive contamination.
The project reactors are safely in the center of highly durable containment buildings. These buildings can withstand the impact of explosions from outside and inside. These are present with high-strength steel liners along with several meters of concrete. However, there is a fear that certain deliberate weapon attacks could penetrate them.
Another Major Concern
Another major concern is to protect the outdoor pools that help in the cooling of fuel. A direct attack on them may lead to major radioactive material released into the environment. Even after the shutdown of a nuclear power plant, vital safety equipment, like pipes and pumps, are at risk.
Currently, three out of six Zaporizhzhia reactor units are shut down. But the fuel inside these reactors stays extremely hot even after years of shutdown or removal from the reactor. Even if the fuel is constantly cool, it has the potential to overheat while generating highly explosive gases or even catching fire. It is a major concern for radioactive compound release.
To avoid excessive heat, Zaporizhzhia fuel needs constant cooling with a consistent flow of cold water. If this water stops after an attack on the pipes, reactors, pumps, or pools, things turn more dangerous. The claims attached so far have majorly hit radiation monitoring equipment, power lines, and even non-nuclear buildings.
The damage to power lines is highly concerning, as authorities require better access to the offsite power to keep the water pumping active at the plant for fuel cooling. But the power is self-sufficient to generate power of its own during operation and even has some diesel generators as backup. But if any safety system fails, it will be huge trouble.
When one should Take Potassium Iodide?
One must not take potassium iodide unless the health department recommends it during emergencies. If you still want to get potassium iodide pills, it’s best to consult a doctor.
Health practitioners only prescribe KI in case of radioactive iodine release during emergencies. After all, the release of this radioactive material is not good for the environment and humans. So, having potassium iodide pills can reverse the impact of radioactive material on the thyroid gland. Hence, it can even reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer.
But make sure to take this pill only if local public health officials, your doctor, or emergency management officials advise you to do so. You must know that it is not an anti-radioactive material pill. It only helps when radioactive iodine is release, nothing else. So, having it unnecessarily is not recommend by health professionals.