The recent earthquake in Japan has triggered concern for a possible meltdown of a Japanese nuclear reactor.  Radioactive particles from such a meltdown would be carried towards the West coast of the United States, arriving within approximately a week of such an event.

The Chernobyl meltdown 25 years resulted in an increased rate of cancers over a broad geographical area, particularly thyroid cancers in those who were infants or children at the time.  The disaster also deposited radioactive particles throughout the air, water and soil of southeastern Europe.  The full effects of this radioactivity on the health of regional populations may never be fully quantified.

Our thoughts should first and foremost be for the population of Japan, which would suffer most from such an event.  You may also wish to consider how to protect yourself and your family, should a meltdown come to pass.  Such protection consists of two stages:

a)      Protection at the time of exposure, particularly against radioactive iodine which increases risk of thyroid cancer

b)      Removal of contaminants from the body in the period following exposure

Protection at time of exposure: the goal of real-time protection is to saturate the iodine receptors of the thyroid gland with inorganic iodine molecules, which will eventually be used in the normal manufacture of thyroid hormone.  If iodine receptors are saturated via iodine supplementation for several days prior to and following exposure, radioactive iodine particles will be unable to bind and negatively affect thyroid function.  For advice on doses, timing and sources of appropriate iodine supplements, contact my office at 866.678.8577 or [email protected].**

Removal of contaminants following exposure: once the immediate exposure has passed, it is a good idea to begin a course of detoxification to bind and remove other radioactive contaminants before they accumulate in body tissues and cause long-term harm.   For information about our gentle detoxification program, contact my office at 866.678.8577 or [email protected].

**Iodine supplementation should be supervised by a physician, particularly in those with a history of thyroid disease.