Re: Meltdown in Japan: Is Potassium Iodide Enough?

[Guest guest]

It could be I am wrong, but I think this radiation scare is currently blown

out of proportion. Its possible there may be a sudden change for the worse

or that conditions are under reported at this time, but did you know there

are actually studies out there where higher then normal radiated people

actually had less cancer and even less risk of death?

http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller12.html

http://www.radonmine.com/forbes.pdf

<http://www.radonmine.com/forbes.pdf>

http://web.me.com/stewartbrand/DISCIPLINE_footnotes/Hormesis.html

<http://web.me.com/stewartbrand/DISCIPLINE_footnotes/Hormesis.html>Granted I

am not advocating everyone get more radiation exposure, and their are

various forms of radiation and they could all be different in their overall

impacts, but I am just saying sometimes we make up our minds about things

before we really know the details enough to do so. Chernobyl killed

workers, and a lot of the initial animals after the blast that were left

behind, yet animal populations are now thriving even though the area is

still highly radioactive (and will be for a long time) and considered

unsafe:

http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20060417/chernobyl.html

Just something to think about.

BR//Matt

On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 9:15 AM, pmgamer18 <pmgamer18@...> wrote:

>

>

> Update Dr C Lowe LLC

> Metabolic Research and Informational Consulting

> March 16, 2011

> www.drlowe.com Tammy@...

>

> Yesterday evening, Tuesday, March 15, 2011, the Chicago Tribune and the

> Associated Press[1] released interesting consumer news related to the

> nuclear crisis in Japan. They noted that potassium iodide supplements can

> protect the thyroid gland if taken before or shortly after a radiation

> exposure. This is well-known enough that as of Tuesday, stores were selling

> the supplement rapidly or were already completely sold out.

>

> A reporter interviewed Troy , President of nukepills.com in

> sville, N.C. He told them that in a normal four-day period, he'd sell

> only 100 packages of potassium iodide. But in the last four days, he's sold

> 6,500 orders. Most of the orders have come from US West Coast states,

> including Washington, Oregon, and California.

>

>

> But even on the US East Coast, health department personnel have reported

> rising public interest in nearby nuclear power plants. " A Pennsylvania

> hotline that normally gets five to 10 calls a week about storing the

> [potassium iodide] pills has fielded 85 such inquiries in the past two

> days. " [1]

>

> The news report stated the obvious: These US customers are people " who want

> to protect themselves from any Japanese radiation. " [1]

>

> But concerns about radiation exposure aren't limited to the US consumers. A

> reporter quoted Raphael Karunditu, President of California-based

> Gamma-Scout: " The phone has been ringing off the hook, " he said. " We have

> hundreds-upon-hundreds of orders, and our partner in Germany is talking

> about thousands of orders at his site. " [1]

>

> Authors of the news report point out that Russians have a vivid memory of

> the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago. And concern over the ongoing nuclear

> crisis in Japan is reflected in sales of potassium iodide products.

> " Pharmacies in Vladivostok, a major port just west of Japan, had run out of

> the pills, " [1] the report said.

>

> The Information Below Reaches Far Beyond the Crisis in Japan. People in

> Japan (many of whom read drlowe.com) can use the information I provide

> below. Also, if winds carry radioactive elements from Japan to other

> countries, the information can benefit people in those countries.

>

> However, even if radiation from Japan doesn't reach the US, we have 104

> nuclear power plants of our own. Recent climatic and other crises make one

> or more human-harming nuclear disasters in the US far from unlikely. A close

> nuclear disaster not only threatens us with soon-occurring thyroid cancer;

> it also poses other serious health risks literally for decades to come. I

> explain after mentioning the immediate value of potassium iodide.

>

> Radioactive Iodide Released

> in a Nuclear Plant Meltdown

>

> Many people are obviously aware that iodine-131 is a radioactive element

> released into the environment during nuclear meltdowns. Most people are

> probably also aware that potassium iodide can block the entry of radioactive

> iodide into the thyroid gland. If taken quickly enough, the potassium iodide

> can prevent thyroid cancer. Lots of folks fear that radiation-induced

> thyroid cancer is fatal, but hold on; information below may assuage the fear

> (see A positive note below). If consumers weren't aware of these issues, of

> course, sales of potassium iodide wouldn't have skyrocketed in the last

> several days.

>

> It is entirely proper to focus on protecting one's thyroid gland as the

> initial effort before or upon radiation exposure. Consider a 2004 report in

> Indopedia about the " acute effects " of radiation exposure following the 1986

> Chernobyl accident:

>

> " Some children in the contaminated areas were exposed to high thyroid doses

> . . . because of an intake of radioactive iodine, a relatively short-lived

> isotope, from contaminated local milk. Several studies have found that the

> incidence of thyroid cancer among children in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia

> has risen sharply. " [7] (Italics mine.)

>

> A positive note. The Indopedia report[7] contains a note that may temper

> some people's fears: " The childhood thyroid cancers that have appeared [in

> and near Chernobyl] are of a large and aggressive type, and if detected

> early, can be treated. Treatment entails surgery followed by iodine-131

> therapy for any metastases. " The authors continue, " To date, such treatment

> appears to have been successful in all diagnosed cases. "

>

> This note indicates that if potassium iodide fails us, rapid diagnosis and

> effective treatment of the thyroid cancer can prevent a lethal outcome. To

> avoid well-known potential problems in consulting endocrinologists, I

> recommend that patients consult ear-nose-and-throat specialists, who in

> general have a more collaborative and friendly toward their patients.

>

> This note indicates that if potassium iodide fails us, rapid diagnosis and

> effective treatment of the thyroid cancer can prevent a lethal outcome. Of

> course, many people would anticipate well-known potential problems in with

> consulting endocrinologists. Because of this, I recommend that patients

> consult ear-nose-and-throat doctors who specialize in thyroid surgery. They

> generally are friendlier and more collaborative with their patients.

>

> When and when not to take potassium iodide. As I said above, if taken in

> time, potassium iodide blocks the thyroid gland's uptake of radioactive

> iodine. It's important, though, to take potassium iodide only during acute

> radiation exposure.

>

> Severe acute radiation exposure usually kills people through systemic

> infections.[10] This is due to impairment of the immune system and damage to

> the lining of the GI tract and lungs. It's possible that potassium iodide

> can provide some protection of the GI and respiratory tract linings. The

> protection would come from the potassium iodide blocking some secretion of

> radioactive iodine in the mucous membrane linings of the GI and respiratory

> tracts.

>

> However, it's not likely that potassium iodide would protect us in any

> other ways. And, then, we still have strontium-90, xenon-135, and other

> radioactive elements to protect ourselves from. Our concern shouldn't be

> restricted to the time of acute exposure during a meltdown; it should extend

> many years into the future.

>

> When strontium-90 enters the body, it's taken up mainly by bone and

> teeth.[4,5] It's mainly in bone where the radioactive element does damage.

> Xenon-135 disperses throughout and damages the whole body.

>

> During a meltdown, we can reduce the amounts of strontium-90 and xenon-135

> that enter our bodies. We can do so by confining ourselves to a structure

> such as a house that impedes the flow of radioactivity. We can also reduce

> our intake by bathing and either washing or disposing of contaminated

> clothes. It's also possible that taking small amounts of calcium at frequent

> intervals will reduce the strontium-90 entry through the GI tract. This is

> possible because calcium in the GI tract competitively reduces strontium

> absorption into the blood.[3.p.447]

>

> The CDC's[8] recommended dose schedule is as follows:

>

> Adults: one 130 mg tablet, two 65 mg tablets, or 2 mL of solution.

>

> Breastfeeding women: one 130 mg tablet.

>

> Children 3 to 18 years old: one 65 mg tablet or 1 mL of solution.

>

> Children who are adult size (150 pounds or more): one 130 mg tablet,

> despite age.

>

> Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years old: 32 mg (½ of a 65 mg

> tablet, or ½ mL of solution). The dose is recommended for nursing and

> non-nursing infants and children.

>

> Newborns from birth to 1 month of age: 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg tablet or ¼ mL

> of solution). The dose is recommended for both nursing and non-nursing

> newborn infants.

>

> The CDC emphasizes that no additional protection is provided by larger

> doses of potassium iodide. Also, taking potassium iodide for long times

> risks harm to oneself setting off the Wolff-Chaitoff buffering effect. This

> effect leaves some people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

>

> Also, some people with severe cortisol deficiencies may have low body

> sodium but high potassium levels.[12] In using potassium iodide properly

> (usually only over several days), the potassium intake would be small.

> Nonetheless, in extreme case, a cortisol deficient person may already have

> high potassium. This person might be harmed by taking additional potassium

> as potassium-iodide.

>

> Radioactive Elements Other than Iodine-131

>

> Many people, then, are aware of the potential of radiation-induced thyroid

> cancer and the protection given by potassium iodide. Fewer people, though,

> seem to be aware that radioactive forms (isotopes) of other elements are

> also released into the environment during a nuclear meltdown. Two elements

> of major concern are strontium-90 and xenon-135. Poisoning by xenon-135 was

> a major source of harm to people during and after the Chernobyl

> disaster.[2,p.421] But other radioactive elements are also long-lived.

> Noteworthy examples are xenon-133 and caesium-137.[7]

>

> Long-term avoidance of radioactive elements from a meltdown. Keeping

> potassium iodide on hand is important during early exposure to radiation.

> However, our efforts to reduce harm from radiation should also be long-term.

>

>

> Strontium-90, for example, is an abundant by-product of nuclear fission. If

> it escapes into the air during a meltdown, wind currents can carry it to far

> distances. Eventually, gravity, rain, or snow causes the wind to drop the

> strontium-90 from the air onto the earth.

>

> On the ground, the strontium-90 contaminates the grass in cow pastures and

> plants grown for food, such as corn and wheat. When animals such as cows

> consume the strontium-90, and humans consume parts of the cows and drink

> their milk, the strontium-90 ends up in many of our tissues. (Of the total

> body content of humans, however, 99% is in bones and teeth.[4,5]) Of course,

> seafood and birds may also take in the radioactive element, and it can

> contaminate water.[4,5]

>

> The importance of avoiding the intake of strontium-90 by any route was

> highlighted in a 2011 health policy report.[6] The report was based on

> measurements of the strontium-90 levels in 85,000 teeth. Researchers

> collected the teeth from Americans born during the nuclear bomb-testing

> years.

>

> The researchers reported an eye-opening finding: Compared to teeth from

> people who didn't die of cancer, the average strontium-90 content of teeth

> from people who died of cancer was significantly higher. They concluded,

> " This discovery suggests that many thousands have died or will die of cancer

> due to exposure to [nuclear] fallout, far more than previously

> believed. " [6,p.1] (Italics mine.) This may apply to people exposed to

> radiation from nuclear plant meltdowns.

>

> A 2004 Indopedia report about the Chernobyl accident is important to a

> proper perspective on the priorities of different radioactive elements. The

> authors wrote: " Right after the accident, the main health concern involved

> radioactive iodine, with a half-life of eight days. Today, there is concern

> about contamination of the soil with strontium-90 and caesium-137, which

> have half-lives of about 30 years. The highest levels of caesium-137 are

> found in the surface layers of the soil, where they are absorbed by plants

> and mushrooms and enter the local food supply. Recent tests have shown that

> caesium-137 levels in trees of the [Chernobyl] area are continuing to rise. "

> (Italics mine.)

>

> The point, of course, is the matter of extreme differences in the half

> lives of different radioactive elements. The lesson is, focus first on

> radioactive iodine, but don't forget to avoid long-term the more long-lived

> radioactive elements. The long-term avoidance involves abstaining from

> ingesting potentially-contaminated plant and animal foods.

>

> Does Taking Thyroid Hormone Protect

> Against Radioactive Iodine?

>

> Many people take enough thyroid hormone to lower their TSH levels below the

> lower limit of the reference range. A low TSH level usually reduces the size

> of the thyroid gland. The gland also takes up less iodide and produces less

> thyroid hormone, although it still produces some. Perhaps an atrophied gland

> also takes up less radioactive iodine.

>

> Question arises, then: Are people who take TSH-lowering doses of a thyroid

> hormone protected to some degree from radioactive iodine-induced thyroid

> cancer? And what about people who don't take thyroid hormone? They are

> dependent on their thyroid glands taking up enough iodide to produce

> sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. Because of this, do they take up more

> radioactive iodine, too, making them more susceptible to thyroid cancer?

>

> I haven't found studies showing that people who take TSH-lowering doses of

> thyroid hormone are better protected from thyroid cancer induced by

> radioactive iodine. However, thyroid cancer patients in general prevent

> recurrences by taking TSH-suppressive doses of thyroid hormone. It may be,

> then, that other people who take TSH-suppressive doses are better protected

> than others from iodine-131 induced thyroid cancer.[9]

>

> Protection by a Strong Immune System

>

> As I wrote above, death from radiation exposure appears to result mainly

> from systemic infections.[10] On principle, the people most susceptible to

> infection are those with weak immune systems.

>

> As I showed in The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia,[11,pp.635-680]

> parts of the immune system are impaired in most people who are hypothyroid

> or thyroid hormone resistant. Effective thyroid hormone therapy (usually not

> T4 replacement!) is essential for these people to recover normal or even

> stronger immune function. In addition, though, they-like everyone else-would

> be prudent to also protect themselves in another way: by taking an array of

> dietary supplements that studies show boost immune efficiency.

>

> A Final Thought

>

>

> I believe another piece of news from the Chicago Tribune and the Associated

> Press[1] is encouraging: In the last several days, " . . . companies that

> sell Geiger counters have been overwhelmed with orders. " This is crucially

> important, as potassium iodide will serve us only during acute radiation

> exposure. A Geiger counter can signal when it's proper to take potassium

> iodide.

>

> The CDC tells us that local emergency management or public health officials

> will let us know when we can safely stop taking potassium iodide.[8] Some of

> us, however, are more trusting of our own judgment and would prefer to

> supplement the advice of public officials with a report by our personal

> Geiger counters. The Geiger counter can let us know when the radiation level

> has safely dropped; it can thus enable us to avoid harm that occasionally

> results from human error of public health officials.

>

> (References below)

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Dr. C. Lowe

>

> Director of Research: Fibromyalgia Research Foundation

>

> Editor-in-Chief: ThyroidScience.com

>

> drlowe@...

> Editor@...

> drlowe@..., tammy@...

>

>

> References

>

> 1. Nuclear crisis spikes sales of anti-radiation iodine pills. The Seattle

> Times. Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 8:32 PM.

> 2. Pfeffer, J.I. and Shlomo, N.: Modern Physics: An Introductory Text.

> Imperial College Press, 2000.

> 3. Underwood, E.J.: Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. NY,

> Academic Press, 1977.

> 4. Schroeder, H.A., Tipton, I.H., and Nason, A.P.: J. Chronic Dis., 25:491,

> 1972.

> 5. Wolf, N., Gedalia, I., Yarilv, S., et al.: Arch. Oral Biol., 18:233,

> 1973.

> 6. Mangano, J.J. and Sherman, J.D.: Elevated in vivo strontium-90 from

> nuclear weapons test fallout among cancer decedents: a case-control study of

> deciduous teeth. Intern. J. Health Services, 41(1):137-158, 2011.

> 7. The Chernobyl Accident. Indopedia. Dec. 2004.

> http://www.indopedia.org/Chernobyl_accident.html.

> 8. Emergency Preparedness and Response: Potassium iodide (KI). Centers for

> Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp.

> 9. Kaplan, E.L.: Recent developments in radiation-induced carcinoma of the

> thyroid. Surg. Clin. North Am., 56(1):199-205, 1976.

> 10. Brook, I., Elliot, T.B., Ledney, G.D., et al.: Management of

> postirradiation infection: lessons learned from animal models. Mil. Med.,

> 169:194-197, 2004.

> 11. Lowe, J.C.: The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Boulder, McDowell

> Publishing Co., 2000.

> 12. , J.L.: Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress

> Syndrome.Petaluma, Smart Publications, 2002.

>

>

>