Why offer KI to people just within 10 or 20 miles of a plant? Can radiation be harmful farther away?
KI distribution should not be limited to 10 or 20 miles. No one can predict how far a radioactive iodine cloud might spread. After Chornobyl, higher than expected rates of thyroid cancer were found more than 200 miles away from the nuclear plant. Thus, no one can predict how far from a nuclear plant the U.S. should distribute KI if it is to protect every person who might be exposed to radioactive iodine.
Related Questions
- Sometimes people complain that there is a lot of contamination inside the plant. Do we have data on the health status of radiation workers in the plant to convince the public?
- Why offer KI to people just within 10 or 20 miles of a plant? Can radiation be harmful farther away?
- Can people take potassium iodine (KI) or other drugs to protect themselves from radiation?
