Newswise — Responding to a crisis involving radioactive materials requires a cool head and rational evaluation of the situation. There are many ways to minimize or mitigate damage caused by radioactive materials, such as the ones being released by Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Although the situation in Japan is dangerous and uncertain, there’s no need to panic. People need to follow expert advice.
There are three ways to minimize acute exposure to radioactive materials emitting high amounts of radiation: time, distance, and shielding. Damage from radiation exposure is cumulative, so the less time you are exposed to the materials, the lesser the effect. Distance is critical because intensity of exposure decreases as you move further away from the source. Simply stated, if you double the distance from a radioactive source, the exposure decreases four times. If you increase the distance from the source 10-fold, the exposure decreases 100 times. The use of shielding means placing a physical barrier between yourself and the radioactive source. Dense materials such as lead provide the best barrier, but concrete and wood also absorb ionizing radiation. That is why staying indoors is important. Respirators and gas masks along with protective clothing also provide shielding because they decrease the amount of airborne or fallout radioactive material that could get into your lungs or touch your skin. Another way to minimize radiation damage is to avoid consuming food that becomes radioactive. Iodine-131, a radioactive element, can easily enter milk, so it’s critical to make sure any milk that’s consumed is not contaminated for at least three months after the end of the incident. Cesium-137, another radioactive element, and iodine-131 can enter the food chain by contaminating soil and leafy plants such as spinach and lettuce. Consumption of such foods from contaminated regions should be avoided. There are several pharmaceutical measures for minimizing or mitigating damage from radiation exposure. However, these should only be taken when there is compelling evidence of dangerously high accumulation of radioactive materials in the body. Potassium iodide pills can be taken to minimize damage to the thyroid gland by flooding the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine to prevent iodine-131 from entering the gland.
These pills should not be used unless needed because they can interfere with normal thyroid function and injure people who are allergic to iodine. Consumers should avoid dietary supplements which claim to have potassium iodide, but are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Cesium-137 is of concern both for inhalation and ingestion of contaminated food. The elimination of cesium-137 from the body can be accelerated by taking Prussian blue capsules, which trap cesium in the digestive tract and can reduce its half-life in the body from 80 days to 25 days. Both potassium iodide and Prussian blue capsules are stockpiled by the U.S. government.
On the horizon are promising new pharmaceuticals, including novel antioxidants, that can reduce radiation damage by neutralizing the toxic free radicals produced by ionizing radiation. However, such drugs should only be used in accord with instructions of emergency medical personnel.
Whether living in Japan or abroad, people should closely monitor the situation at Fukushima. Take necessary precautions to protect yourself, but don’t rush to take any medication that’s unnecessary. Although radiation exposure can be a deadly thing, there are many ways to protect yourself and preserve your health.
Robert C. Speth, Ph.D., is a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Pharmacy.
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