War in Ukraine: what is the point of taking iodine?

Iodine is a natural trace element from the marine environment. It participates in the functioning of the brain, that of the nervous system and in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. In regions far from the sea, iodine deficiency could once cause mental retardation, called cretinism.

Why is France sending iodine to Ukraine?

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on March 6 that France had sent “different medical products” to Ukraine. Among these products are “2.5 million doses of iodine“. France reacted following the bombardment and the fire that broke out in the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye, the largest in Europe, on March 4. It should be remembered that Ukraine has 4 nuclear power plants in operation.

These potassium iodide pellets are recommended in case of irradiation. The objective is to saturate the thyroid in order to prevent it from fixing radioactive substances and causing it problems by radiation.

When should you take stable iodine for prevention?

In France, 2.2 million people receive iodine tablets as a preventive measure, distributions organized by the State and EDF. This concerns people living near a nuclear power plant, less than 20 km in the surrounding area. These 2.2 million people regularly receive iodine tablets to keep at home and take them as needed.

In the event of a nuclear accident, iodine must be taken within 3 to 4 hours of exposure.”The effectiveness is optimal if the catch is carried out in the 2 hours before the beginning of the releases of radioactive iodine; it is 50% if the catch is carried out 6 hours after the beginning of the rejections” according to the Nuclear Safety Authority in France.

If the need to take iodine becomes real, the population will be warned by:

• Public service media which will provide information and keep the population informed of developments;
• Vehicles with loudspeaker, which will give instructions to the nearest populations.

The whole population will have to take iodine, by swallowing the tablets or by dissolving them in a drink, at the rate of:

• Two iodine tablets for adults and children over 12 years old (including pregnant women);
• One iodine tablet for children aged 3 to 12;
• Half an iodine tablet for babies from 1 month to 3 years old;
• A quarter of a tablet in newborns up to 30 days.

Finally, remember that the trace element is more recommended for pregnant women, babies and the youngest.

Apart from this specific case,we almost never need to take iodine, because we have sufficient intake through food and especially sea salt” explains Yves Dour, pharmacist in Le Mans. “EIndeed, in the event of an accident, the first measure is containment: we close doors and windows and we do not expose ourselves. For pharmacies that have these tablets, they must distribute them free of charge to the population only on the orders of the authorities. But iodine will unfortunately not be the miracle element in the event of a nuclear attack. Other radioactive elements, such as Cesium, may be in the atmosphere depending on the origin of the attack”.

Why taking iodine for prevention can be dangerous?

According to the National Order of Pharmacists, “the acquisition and taking of stable iodine as a precaution by the French, outside an instruction by the authorities, is not necessary”. So there’s no need to rush to the pharmacy to rob their stock of tablets, including “free sale is not allowed“ recalls Yves Dour.

Moreover, since iodine is only effective for 24 hours, no preventive intake is of interest. On the contrary, it can have serious side effects, by overloading the thyroid, the heart or the kidneys unnecessarily. Finally, the pharmacist recalls that “iodine binds and saturates the thyroid to protect it but it will not protect your other organs even if they are not “sponges” like the thyroid is”.