People in BC fearing radiation exposure seek iodide tablets

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There’s no need to panic and run to a pharmacy for iodide tablets. The top provincial doctor says radiation from Japanese nuclear reactors won’t likely drift into BC.

Dr. Perry Kendall says since the nuclear reactors began exploding and local emergency response teams have been evacuating tens of thousands of people while handing out iodide tablets, there have been worries here in BC that some of that radiation could spread over here.

There have even been people here demanding the same pills. But Kendall says taking them isn’t a good idea.

“I would advise people that really it isn’t necessary to be taking potassium iodide. My advice is don’t take it unless under the supervision of a physician,” he urges. Too much potassium iodide can cause heart problems.

He’s been told the majority of the nuclear fuel has been contained, and even in a worst case scenario it could take nearly a week for the radiation to hit our province and by then it would have been dispersed.

 

Kendall’s sentiments are echoed by Kris Starosta, an associate professor with SFU’s chemistry department. He says three factors would have to align for radiation to reach our shores. First, there would have to be a fracture in the Fukushima containment tank, releasing radioactive gas, water or solids, something that hasn’t happened.

“Depending on how it breaks, you will have certainly a release of gas, and you may or may not have a release of water which would be contaminated.”

Next, Starosta says the weather would have to co-operate.  “The radioactivity which is released would have to be carried through the atmosphere or the water to the atmosphere of BC.”

And the process would also have to happen quickly before isotopes decay.  Overall, Starosta says even in a very bad scenario, the effect on BC will not be significant.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today