Hi, I am interested in good source(s) for potassium iodide tablets, meaning a reasonably priced and quality product (are manufacturers FDA approved?). Does anyone know how long the KI remains in the thyroid after ingestion? (my understanding that taking 130 mg once a day for 10 days protects the thyroid for considerably longer but could find no info on how long). Also have seen potassium iodate but don't know if it is an 'approved' substitute. I would appreciate any enlightenment or advice. I have spent a few hours circling around the archives, etc in pursuit of the reactor meltdown/KI scenario and feel a lot of uncertainty....It'll be great to hear from those of you with more research time under your belts! Thanks!

-- Deb (deb@needhelp.com), July 31, 1999

Answers

Addendum to question--anyone have info on how long radioactive iodine, once released, presents a threat? I understand that the half-life is 8 days, but at what percentage (50%, 25%, 0%) does it cease to be a health threat?

-- Deb (deb@needhelp.com), July 31, 1999.

Someone recently mentioned to me that children, in particular, are at greatest risk, and that they would benefit from the potassium iodate tabs in a radioactive fallout scenario.

I'm curious -- who is preparing (and how) for this scenario? We would be about 200 miles from the nearest probably target, and the winds generally blow away the other way, but it is still a nagging concern.

Am I going Mad Max? It suddenly does not seem such a preposterous concept.

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), July 31, 1999.

Forgot to respond to the initial request... there is a company called "Medical Corps" at

http://medicalcorps.org/

that sells the potassium iodate tabs. Don't have personal experience with them, though. Perhaps, a starting point for you?

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), July 31, 1999.

Emergency Essentials- www.beprepared.com sells thyroblock-

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), July 31, 1999.

MEDICAL CORPS listed above - place to go!

-- Tommy Rogers (Just a thought@Been there.com), July 31, 1999.

Also try TACDA.org (The American Civil Defense Association).

I received their Potassiun Iodate tabltes (they sell Medical Corp tablets) 6 days from order. They also explain what is needed and address most of your other questions.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 31, 1999.

"POTASSIUM IODATE
"150 mg Tablets

"Potassium Iodate is a superior form of KI (buffered Iodine) and carried only by Medical Corps. Each factory sealed bottle contains 100 fresh tablets of Potassium Iodate 150mg.

"The shelf life of Potassium Iodate is exceptional and should last a generation. Because of the extra molecule of oxygen in Iodate, Medical Corps can guarantee Iodate's stability without adding stabilizers.

"Medical Corps recommends that each family member should have at least one bottle in their emergency kit. KI is the only known chemical available on the market which will shield (or block) the Thyroid and prevent it from absorbinb radioactive Iodine.

"Unlike other blockers, Medical Corps' stock is NOT government surplus 130 mg tablets. It is also chewable and especially recommended for children because our youngsters are extremely susceptible to thyroid cancer after exposure to radioactive contamination.

"Remember, be it a spill, accident, war or terrorism, Potassium Iodate is the only chemical which will protect you and your children. For those who are interested, it can be used for your pets also.

"1 Bottle = 100 150mg pills.
"Use during a Nuclear Emergency ONLY
* For the first 14 days take 1 tablet twice a day. This is a total of 2 tablets per day.
* For the next 76 days take 1 tablet per day.

"Potassium Iodate 150mg is a superior form of "KI" because of its extended shelf life and lack of bitter taste. The extra molecule of oxygen in Potassium Iodate 150mg (actually K103), can guarantee the Iodate's continued freshness without adding stabilizers. Keep the bottle sealed, dry, and out of sunlight. It should remain stable for a generation.

"Why should it be used?
"During a Nuclear Disaster, such as War, Terrorism, a MeltDown or Spill, great amounts of Radioactive Iodine-131 are often released. Even though I-131 is radioactive, it is still Iodine ... and Iodine is what the Thyroid requires to operate correctly. The Thyroid does not know the difference between "good" iodine and "bad" iodine and will readily absorb Radioactive 131 if allowed to. What must be done in case of a nuclear accident is to SATURATE the Thyroid with the good Iodine so that the bad iodine cannot do irreparable damage. The blocking must be done on a daily basis at least 12 hours BEFORE the nuclear emergency starts and it must be continued for at least 80 days. [???]

"Medical Corp"

"Medical Corps is an organization of retired United States Armed Forces personnel united to bring to the citizenry of the nation education and training in survival and emergency medical techniques.

"Ralph Charles "Chuck" Fenwick is the founder and chief administrator of Medical Corp.

Address label on bottle:
"Medical Corps
45161 State Route 821
Caldwell, OH 43724

"New Important Information
[ the guy said for the last year, and the military is switching over to Postassium Iodate. He told us some info that we KNOW is not true, so we're being cautious ]

"New Thyroid Blocking Power
Did anyone besides Medical Corps understand what it means to have 100 suitcase Atomic Bombs unaccounted for by the former Soviet Union? Or maybe it is just a coincidence, but the US Government has instituted an NBC crash training program for emergency medical personnel in 120 cities nation wide! Medical Corps is involved with just that sort of training and has been for two years. One of the emergency procedures being taught is the use of the Thyroid Blocker called KI. This is the only chemical which will protect a human from absorbinb Radioactive Iodine 131. Iodine 131 is deadly and is especially toxic to children.

"Medical Corps now carries a superior form of KI. In the past we have marketed Potassium Iodide 150mg. Now we can offer a new product called Potassium Iodate 150mg.

"Medical Corps carries this superior form of KI. Potassium Iodate has an extra molecule of Oxygen which makes it more shelf stable than Iodide or Iodine. It is not as bitter as Potassium Iodide and can be chewed. Unlike the government surplus 130mg Iodide, Medical Corps chose the 150mg strength, as this will extend the thyroid blocking.

The store is called "American Family Network," and their website is at
http://www.americanfamilynetwork.com

Helps if your browser can see/use frames.

Medical Corp:
http://www.medicalcorp.org

xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), August 01, 1999.

The blocking must be done on a daily basis at least 12 hours BEFORE the nuclear emergency starts and it must be continued for at least 80 days. [???]

Does anyone (besides me) wonder how exactly we will know to start taking these tablets 12 hours before the emergency?

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), August 01, 1999.

Mumsie, we've read different views on how long afterward K103 must be taken. We're going to also buy ThyroBlock from Emergency Essentials. If there's a nuclear hit or meltdown we may start with the ThyroBlock -- still have more research to do on which is faster-acting. Studies show that even days after, taking KI definitely helps prevent thyroid cancer.

No way we'd take it for 80 days. A month max per kaboom is our thinking now, but we don't know as much as we need to yet ...

3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0 3~0

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), August 01, 1999.

http://www.anbex.com/index.htm http://www.americanfamilynetwork.com/special1.htm Info & Product http://www.xmg.com/nuclear.htm Info Only

-- skalkaho (anon@yahoo.com), August 01, 1999.

Mumsie asks.."Does anyone (besides me) wonder how exactly we will know to start taking these tablets 12 hours before the emergency?"

From my reading KI is very safe (except for the rare individual who is allergic to iodine or seafood. So it seems that a reasonable plan is to assume if the power goes out at your house, any nuke plant nearby MAY have lost its offsite power. It would take at least 2 hours before a "bad thing" would be likely due to lack of core cooling.. plus however long it takes for the wind to blow your direction. So either start if/when the power goes out.. or if you are really cautions, take a first dose even earlier in the evening.. just as a precaution. Other possibilities.. sprinkling kelp power on salads and soups in the days or weeks leading up to Y2K to hopefully get your thyroid more or less saturated with iodine. "Paint" skin with betadine or tincture of iodine (I have heard back of knees recommended). Also, the 12 hours is longer than I read about in the NRC's KI core group meeting minutes. They mentioned that it is most effective taken before exposure or within the firest 6 hours after exposure.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), August 06, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I've stocked KI for everyone in my own and my husband's families, and will send it to them as soon as some piece of national news makes it seem not paranoid to have this. If no news qualifies, I'll send it mid-November, at the latest. I'm assuming my dad won't need any since he's had his thyroid surgically removed. Is this correct?

Someone, please e-mail me if this post screws up the formatting of this thread. I'm experimenting.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 06, 1999.