TRIBUNE — France confirmed this Sunday the shipment of iodine tablets to Ukraine, following the capture by the Russian army of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, in Zaporijia, on the night of March 3 to 4. If the fire caused by the fighting has been brought under control, the fear of a nuclear accident remains present. In France, many patients have spontaneously contacted their pharmacist to find out if it was possible for them to obtain iodine tablets. Should we and can we stock up on iodine?
Why is taking iodine recommended in the event of a nuclear accident?
In the event of an accident linked to a civil nuclear installation, taking iodine is recommended. This gesture constitutes a means of effectively protecting the thyroid against the effects of radioactive iodine. If breathed in or ingested, it can attach to the thyroid and increase the risk of cancer. To counter this, taking stable iodine can saturate the thyroid. Thus, it will no longer be able to assimilate the radioactive iodine, which would possibly be inhaled or ingested.
Distribution campaigns since 1997
Potassium iodide (iodine) tablet distribution campaigns have been implemented since 1997. They are intended for people residing within a radius of between 500 meters and 20 kilometers around facilities presenting a risk of radioactive iodine emissions. .
In September 2019, a new campaign was launched to make iodine tablets available to the population. Thus, 2.2 million people and more than 200,000 establishments, companies, schools and administrations could obtain these tablets from partner pharmacies. For the 600,000 households identified as not having collected these tablets from pharmacies, the tablets were sent to them by post.
Can I take iodine tablets for prevention?
Potassium iodide tablets are neither a kind of “radiation protective” vaccine, nor a permanent treatment. They must be absorbed at the right time, when a nuclear accident has been declared and threatens to cause a release of radioactive iodine. It is the prefect of the department, responsible for the protection of the populations around the nuclear site concerned, who gives the instructions for taking iodine. This instruction is relayed by all available means of information. Taking a single tablet, swallowed with a glass of water or dissolved in a drink, is enough to effectively protect an adult or adolescent for one to two days.
Do pharmacies have enough iodine?
French pharmacies are not authorized to sell these tablets. However, in the event of an accident, all pharmacies in the country can be mobilized by the prefects to deliver the State stock of iodine tablets. This stock is mainly found at wholesaler-distributors. It is distributed according to a territorial network making it possible to keep the stocks in good conditions and to make them available to the population in a very short time if necessary.