Nukewatch Quarterly Fall 2019
Germany’s federal Office for Radiation Protection said Aug. 22 that it ordered 189.5 million iodine tablets—four times the current stockpile—for use in case of a radiation disaster. Iodine pills can help block the absorption by the thyroid gland of radioactive iodine-131, which is dispersed and spread in huge quantities by damaged reactors, Japan Times reported. Germany plans to phase out all 17 of its nuclear reactors by 2022, but eight remain operating. Health officials noted that neighboring countries Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will continue operating their reactors, even those without valid licenses and with welding defects. There are health risks associated with taking iodine pills and the Center for Disease Control warns that they should only be taken on the advice of public health or emergency management officials.
—Japan Times, Aug. 23; The Hill; The Washington Post; and the Associated Press; Aug. 22, 2019
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