For radiation poisoning

Alkali AletalIodides. Potassium iodide [7681-11-0] KI, mol wt 166.02, mp 686°C, 76.45% I, forms colorless cubic crystals, which are soluble in water, ethanol, methanol, and acetone. KI is used in animal feeds, catalysts, photographic chemicals, for sanitation, and for radiation treatment of radiation poisoning resulting from nuclear accidents. Potassium iodide is prepared by reaction of potassium hydroxide and iodine, from HI and KHCO, or by electrolytic processes (107,108). The product is purified by crystallization from water (see also Feeds and feed additives Photography). 

The hazards of technetium are the same as for all radioactive elements. Excessive exposure to radiation can cause many kinds of tissue damage—from sunburn to radiation poisoning to death. 

All compounds as well as metallic uranium are radioactive—some more so than others. The main hazard from radioactive isotopes is radiation poisoning. Of course, another potential hazard is using fissionable isotopes of uranium and plutonium for other than peaceful purposes, but such purposes involve pohtical decisions, not science. 

Californium s greatest danger is as a biological bone-seeking radioactive element, which can be both a radiation hazard and a useful treatment for bone cancer. If mishandled, all of californium s isotopes and compounds can be a potential radiation poison. 

Although the use of ionizing radiation has contributed to a definite picture of certain chemisorptions and catalyses, in other cases it has run into difficulties that have not yet been resolved. With several oxides, for example, water or some other poison is required for radiation sensitivity, and the role of the poison has not been clarified. Because this behavior seems to be fairly widespread, it is important to understand it more fully, and considerable attention could well be given to irradiation of such oxides in a high state of purity and with varying degrees of surface coverage. 

Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, 0X11 ORQ, UK... 

With such a history, it is not surprising that even medical x-rays and radiotherapy generate fears, sometimes hysteria, about radiation poisoning. No nuclear power stations have been built in the United States since the late 1970s. The existence of a safe radiation dose has been debated for decades without consensus. As one expert puts it, the most practical approach is to limit human exposure to ionizing radiation and hope for the best. 

Routes of entry for radioactive materials are much the same as for poisons. However, the radioactive source or material does not have to be directly contacted for radiation exposure to occur. Exposure occurs from the radiation being emitted from the radioactive source. Once a particulate radioactive material enters the body, it is dangerous because the source now becomes an internal source rather than an external one. You cannot protect yourself by time, distance, or shielding from a source that is inside your body. Contact with or ingestion of a radioactive material does not make you radioactive. Contamination occurs with radioactive particles, but with proper decontamination, these can be successfully removed. After they are removed, they cannot cause any further damage to the body. 

---