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A population of about 2.3 million children living in
southern Belarus, northern Ukraine and the most easterly
regions of the Russian federation was exposed to
significant amounts of radioactive iodine during the
Chernobyl accident. The result, less than fifteen years
after the accident, is more than 1,000 cases of thyroid
cancer, most probably solely attributable to this single
release of radioactivity to the environment.
The sensitivity of the child’s thyroid to the
carcinogenic effects of radiation represents a
significant public health risk in the event of exposure
to radioactive iodine. This has been well established.
In the most affected area in Belarus, the yearly
incidence has risen close to 100 cases per million children,
which is more than 100 times the incidence in the general
population. It is now generally accepted that
this excess has resulted from exposure to the
radioactive iodine released in the accident. The
Chernobyl accident has demonstrated that significant
levels of radioactive iodine can drift hundreds of miles
from the site. Another important insight gained from the
Chernobyl accident concerns the side effects of stable
iodine. In Poland, potassium iodide, as single doses,
was given to 10 million children. No serious side
effects were seen. The incidence of severe side effects
from a single dose of iodine was less than 1 in 10
million in children and less than 1 in a million in
adults.
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Thyroid Cancer Incidences In
Ukrainian Young Children (Birth - 14yrs)*. The Ukraine
was unprotected by potassium iodide.
FDA Recommended Dose
Age 18+ –
130mg daily (2 tablets)
Age 3-18 –
65mg daily (1 tablet)**
1 month to 3 yrs. –
32mg daily (½ tablet)
Birth to 1 month –
16mg daily (¼ tablet)
For more information on treating infants, visit the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration’s discussion of the topic
at: www.fda.gov/cder/drugprepare/
kiprep65mg.htm.
**Adolescents approaching adult size (approx.100+ lbs.)
should receive the full adult dose (130 mg-two 65 mg tablets). |
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