Gena Pennington: Don’t Take Potassium Iodide – March 18, 2011

The first “cloud”  from the burning cooling ponds at the nuclear reactor in Japan are reaching us today (3/17).  Chances are the radiation in this cloud will be very very light if there is any at all.  Nobody knows yet.  Don’t panic-it’s worse than radiation! 

Do NOT take potassium iodide (yet!  Hopefulluy never).  It is probably a good idea te eat seaweed, iodized salt and ocean fish.  Generally potassium iodide is only indicated for people who are very close to nuclear explosions.  It has a short half-life and if we are lucky here on the North Coast, we won’t need to take it.  The dose protective against radioactive iodide can cause harm. Persons with shellfish allergies should not take it at all!

Because we will be exposed to heavy metals: uranium, cesium, strontium and plutonium (if the reactor with plutonium is not contained), it is a good idea to take calcium citrate (and only the citrate form works) to “chelate” the heavy metals out of the body.  T he heavy metals are hooked onto the citrate and are excreted from the body.

The adult dose is 500 mg. three times a day.  It won’t work to take it all at once as the body can only absorb 500 mg. at a time. Children three to 12 years old:  400 mg two times a day. Infants three years old:  200 mg two times a day.

Thank you,

Gena Pennington, MD
Bayside