Hello all

I have purchased potassium iodide for all members of my family. The expiry date is Nov./01. Would it be possible to extend that expiry date by putting the medicine in the freezer. I seem to recall that this stuff lasts a long time. I just don't want to harm it in any way. Would the fridge be better?

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), January 11, 2000

Answers

Potassium iodide is a salt. I don't see how a salt can expire. I've never seen an expiration date on sodium chloride(table salt), but then I've never looked for one. I assume you have the KI is in some sort of pill form? Perhaps the binders or capsule can degrade over time? If it is in an airtight bottle, put it in the freezer if you are concerned.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), January 11, 2000.

Hi, Personally, while this isn't a direct answer to your post, I wouldn't worry too much about it. In the event of a nuclear accident, you will likely receive whole body radiation, not just radioactive iodine to your thyroid.

"The dose causing 50% mortality within 60 days of radiation is known as the LD50/60 and is about 4Gy in humans. Individuals who receive over 8Gy almost always causing death regardless of subsequent treatment." Reference: Introduction to Clinical Radiation Oncology by L. Coia MD.

This is death by the hematopoietic syndrome or loss of the body's ability to make new blood cells. The next two radiation syndromes are the GI and CNS syndromes, requiring about 20Gy and 100Gy respectively, but remember once 8Gy is reached one is likely to die from hematologic failure regardless of whether the next cutoffs are reached.

The three things to reduce *exposure* to radiation are time, distance, and shielding.

Also, it's important to remember that after a nuclear blast, many people who otherwise might not have died from radiation are killed from *flying debris* such as wood or glass as in any other explosion. My first inclination would be to get a *good* first aid kit rather than worry about the KI. Preparation is only good if it's really useful. OTOH, if it makes you feel secure, it couldn't hurt either.

Nuclear regards,

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.com), January 11, 2000.

Here is a site all about nuclear survival if it helps.

-- cityboy (am@the.com), January 12, 2000.

Potassium Iodide Info
Link
Frank, A lot of people will be downwind of any potential "event".
They are the ones that PI will be useful for, the folks at ground zero will need to be wearing "Real Thick Tin Foil Hats"(grin).

-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), January 12, 2000.