Radiating Fear

Continued from Yesterday

While iodine-131 appears to pose little threat, given its half life and miniscule levels, cesium-137 has a much longer half-life of 30 years and will stick around longer. However, this isotope appears to have been released only in a very small quantity, and is below safety standards/minimum dangerous levels for even the area around the plant. As Per Peterson, chairman of the nuclear engineering department at the University of California, Berkeley, told NPR, if things continue on this track (low levels released) this isotope, along with the others, will pose no long-term threat.

Radiation Risk

When it comes to radiation crises, it is all about risk and protection. According to all credible reports, the risk for Americans, even on the west coast, is extremely low. When it comes to potassium iodine consumption, a little extra won’t hurt you, but there is no need to go overboard. In fact, too much of this nutrient can cause severe health problems and even death. Check out the SupplySide Linkedin forum (may require registration) for interesting discussions on this topic and some insights on why microgram doses in supplements aren’t enough for true radiation emergencies, yet milligram doses used for such emergencies aren’t suitable for dietary supplements; also covered is the possible need to take the iodine and iodide forms concurrently, especially in high-dose scenarios.

Additionally, potassium iodine addresses only the potentially acute situation of the thyroid, but radiation can penetrate into other parts of the body, such as bone marrow and the digestive tract; acute radiation sickness requires a more extensive therapy of blood transfusions (for loss of blood cells common in radiation sickness) and antibiotics (for associated high infection risks).

Continued Tomorrow

http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/2011/03/radiating-fears.aspx

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com/

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/