During the Ukraine war, Russian troops captured the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The radioactivity has increased. Do we have to make provisions for a new radiation catastrophe?
After capturing the destroyed nuclear facility from Chernobyl by the Russian army are there according to the Ukraine increased radiation levels have been measured. An “increase in the indicators above the control levels” was detected in the exclusion zone on Friday morning, Alexander Grigorach from the Ukrainian nuclear supervisory authority told the AFP news agency.
Dark memories are awakened. Reactor block 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded on April 26, 1986, contaminating large parts of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The radioactive cloud also moved over Central Europe and thus Germany. Concern is growing: Can Germany be contaminated again? Do we need to take precautions?
What is known about the current increase?
On Friday, the Ukrainian parliament declared that increased gamma radiation had been registered at several measuring points in the exclusion zone, but without naming exact values. Due to the occupation of the facility by the Russian army, it is currently not possible to determine the reasons for the change.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) However, more precise data are now available. She classifies these radiation values of up to 9.46 microsieverts per hour as low. The values are within the range of previous measurements in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl, it said. “Therefore they pose no danger to the public,” wrote the IAEA in Vienna.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the increased radiation could have been kicked up by military vehicles from the ground, which is still polluted decades after the nuclear disaster.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reported on the general situation that the operational safety of the 15 active nuclear power plants in Ukraine is guaranteed. However, he remains deeply concerned about the situation in the country.
Concern on social media: Do we need iodine tablets now?
Nevertheless, a discussion broke out on Twitter and other social networks as to whether everyone should buy iodine tablets as a precaution. You can avert radiation damage.
That explains how it works Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS): “In the event of an accident in a nuclear power plant, radioactive substances – including radioactive iodine – can be released. If radioactive iodine is inhaled or gets into the body through food or drinks, it can build up in the thyroid enrich and the development of thyroid cancer promote.”
If those affected took non-radioactive iodine in the form of high-dose iodine tablets (also: “potassium iodide tablets”) at the right time, they could prevent radioactive iodine from accumulating in their thyroid gland. The BfS continues: “The thyroid gland is saturated with non-radioactive iodine with the help of the tablets, so that radioactive iodine can no longer be absorbed by the thyroid gland at a later point in time. This is referred to as an iodine blockade.”
Currently, however, the authority strongly advises against taking these tablets. “Here and there it just pops up that you should now take iodine tablets. That’s wrong.”
What tablets can help with radioactive radiation?
So that the iodine tablets can lead to an iodine blockade, there are clear instructions on the dosage. The Radiation Protection Commission states that in order for the iodine blockade to be complete, “a high plasma concentration of stable iodide must be produced”.
In adults, this is achieved with a dose of 130 mg of potassium iodide; there are lower requirements for children and adolescents. Important: “Reducing the dose does not reduce possible side effects, increasing it does not bring any further significant reduction in radiation exposure.” The iodine tablets, which can help with radiation exposure, are in such high doses.
There are also iodine tablets that are used to prevent iodine deficiency diseases. These have a low iodine content of 0.1 to 0.2 mg and are therefore completely unsuitable for an iodine blockade of the thyroid gland.
Take iodine tablets only when expressly requested
Information on the BfS website states: “Iodine tablets should only be taken when expressly requested by the civil protection authorities – and only in the dose specified by the authorities. Since taking the (high-dose) iodine tablets side effects self-medication is strongly discouraged.”
The point in time at which the medicine is administered is also crucial in order to have any effect at all. And this is announced after an emergency via the civil protection authorities.
What happens if you take high-dose iodine tablets?
Healthy people should not simply take iodine tablets on their own to protect themselves from possible radiation damage. People over the age of 45 are even discouraged from taking it, as the risk of side effects could outweigh the benefits. Side effects include “in rare cases” allergic reactions. This includes:
- skin rash
- itching and burning of the eyes
- sniffles
- Reizhusten
- diarrhea
- headache
- fever or similar symptoms
In addition, taking it on an empty stomach can irritate the gastric mucosa.
Taking iodine tablets entails additional health risks, particularly in the case of thyroid diseases such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
According to the BfS, there are many people in Germany who are not even aware of their illness. “This latent hyperthyroidism can turn into hyperthyroidism with symptoms when high doses of potassium iodide are taken. The symptoms can extend to acute cardiovascular failure.”
Signs of this are, for example, an increased heart rate, sweating, insomnia, tremors, diarrhea or weight loss. Even if you are officially instructed to take iodine tablets, those affected should always consult their doctor.
Important NOTE: The information in no way replaces professional advice or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of t-online cannot and must not be used to independently make diagnoses or start treatments.