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Got KI?

Protect you and your family during a nuclear emergency with potassium iodide (KI).

Beyond Nuclear is campaigning to have state and federal authorities adopt the recommendations of the American Thyroid Association’s (ATA) “Scientific Statement on the Use of Postasium Iodide Ingestion in a Nuclear Emergency" (2017) calling for the pre-distribution and stockpiling of KI within Emergency Planning Zones at all U.S. nuclear power plants:

  • 0 to 10 miles          Pre-distribution by direct delivery of KI to all residents
  • 10 to 50 miles        Strategic stockpiling KI in schools, hospitals, police and fire stations 

Potassium iodide (KI) is stable, non-radioactive iodine, commonly used to iodize tablet salt. When administered in FDA approved doses, KI will saturate the human thyroid gland to prevent the absorption of cancer-causing radioactive iodine (I-131) that can be released during a severe nuclear accident. In order for KI to effectively protect the thyroid---particularly in infants, children and pregnant women---it needs to be ingestioned before or immediately during the passage of the radioactive release. There is a medical consensus that KI ingestion is a safe and proven  "essential adjunct" with prompt evacuation and/or sheltering-in-place when ordered by emergency officials. Consequently, public health and emergency management  officials are urging State and Federal emergency preparedness to require the predistribution and strategically stockpiling of  KI in advance of need so that it is on hand for the prompt treatment of downwind populations during evacuation and sheltering.

Read more on why KI needs to be incorporated more effectively into emergency planning around U.S. nuclear power plants. 

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Tuesday
Jun132017

Canadian emergency planning zone for Michigan reactor to receive direct delivery of KI 

DateJune 13, 2017

The City of Amherstberg, Ontario is just across Lake Erie from the Fermi-2 nuclear power station in Monroe, Michigan. Citizens in the city after petitioning their local officials passed a resolution asking the Provincial government to provide citizens within the Fermi 2 emergency planning zone that extends into Amherstberg with the direct delivery of potassium iodide (KI). Amherstberg, Ont. Canadian health officials have responded with the direct delivery program.   Officials are looking for help to cover the cost of the expansion of emergency planning services for a potential accident at the US-based reactor.  The citizens' group has been joined by Greenpeace Canada and The Canadian Environmental Law Association to complete the task. The Provincial government currently provides free direct delivery of KI to every resident within 16 kilometers of a Canadian nuclear power station but not US-based reactors. Greenpeace Canada has been campaigning to expand the KI distribution area around Canadian reactors as well as advocate for Canadians at risk from a nuclear accident at the Fermi reactor in Michigan and the Davis-Besse reactor in Ohio on Lake Erie.

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Monday
Aug222016

Community forum brings activists and medical professionals together to support direct delivery of KI around US nuclear power plants

DateAugust 22, 2016

Beyond Nuclear and The Alliance To Halt Fermi-3 held their first community forum in Monroe, Michigan in support of the American Thyroid Association's (ATA) call for the pre-distribution of potassium iodide (KI) by direct delivery to all residents within 50-miles of US  nuclear power stations which includes the Fermi-2 nuclear power plant in southeastern Michigan. The ATA further recommends that KI be stockpiled out to 200 miles from atomic reactors. The program featured Paul Gunter with Beyond Nuclear, Kim Lindquist with Monroe Community College Dean of Health Services and Director of Nursing and Dr. Bushra Kazmi, who currently oversees the Infection Prevention program at Garden City Hospital and works on emergency planning with the State of Michigan. The forum provided the community an opportunity to address many of the (frequently asked questions (FAQ) about KI and the need to expand emergency planning.

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Friday
Aug192016

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about KI and emergency planning for nuclear disaster

DateAugust 19, 2016

Beyond Nuclear provides some answers to the Frequently Asked Questions on the benefits of the pre-distribution by direct delivery of potassium iodide (KI) tablets to residents in the emergency planning zone for nuclear power stations.

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Friday
Jun032016

Belgium government moving to predistribute KI by 2018 with focus on pregnant women, infants and young children around nuclear power plants

DateJune 3, 2016

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Belgium government is moving to predistribute potassium iodide to populations around their nuclear power plants with a particular focus on protecting pregnant women, infants and young children from potential exposure to radioactive iodine released by nuclear accident or an act of sabotage.

 

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Monday
Oct262015

Canada begins direct delivery of KI to residents around Darlington and Pickering

DateOctober 26, 2015

In September 2015, the Canadaian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) began delivering KI directly to the homes of every resident within 10 kilometers of nuclear power plants like Darlington nuclear generating station. Greenpeace Canada wants direct delivery to extend farther beyond this six mile radius. The American Thyroid Association is calling for direct delivery of KI to every resident within 50 miles of U.S. reactors.

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