Iodine pills in hot demand

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Across the country, potassium iodine pills are flying off the shelves. The pills are used to protect the thyroid from the effects of radiation.

The U.S. Surgeon General says it a good idea to be prepared, but doctors say they can be dangerous if taken unnecessarily.

Frank Welte, a radiologist at Holyoke Medical Center said, “In the US there is no reason to be taking them now, they've distributed them in Japan to have them ready in case there were an accident because if there were a bigger release of iodine then you wouldn't want to be trying to distribute tablets."

Welte said it's unlikely any measurable amount of radioactive material from Japan will reach the U.S.

Radiation is measured in rems and every year the average person is exposed to about 360 millirems.

X-rays and other imaging technology increase that number.

Terry LaFrance, who is in charge of radiation safety at Baystate Medical Center, said, “When I say we have about 300 millirems per year exposure, 200 is from radon because our houses are very sealed up that's from the rocks, we get about 2milirem from a transatlantic flight, we get about 40 millirem from our bodies and the food we eat, the potassium or by sleeping next to somebody."

Experts say even those living near the stricken reactors in Japan are getting less radiation than they would in a normal chest x-ray.

However, this disaster could have long term effects for those who live in that area.

Welte said, "That material basically gets absorbed into the soil and water and then plants pick it up and concentrate it, the animals pick up the plants and then the food supply is contaminated."

Local stores told 22News they have been getting calls about the pills, but so far there have been few sales.