The case for generalized iodine prophylaxis

Professor at the Free University of Brussels H6pital Saint Pierre 

Department of Nuclear Medicine - B - 1000 Brussels - Belgium INTRODUCTION 

Accidents of nuclear plants are responsible for the release of lai e amounts of radioactive material in the environment and for the contamination of air, water, foodstuffs and of a significant segment of population. Several European countries were affected by the large radioactive contamination which has occurred after the Chernobyl accident of 1986 (1). As in all previous nuclear accidents, the pattern of deposition of the fallout was extremely complex and unpredictable. 

One of the m or fission products released by the accidents of nuclear plants is iodine l lj Contamination of the population by Ij occurs either after inhalation or after ingestion of the radioiodine which is incorporated in the food chain. 

The severity of induced irradiation is related to the efficiency of the iodide trapping mechanism in the thyroid gland. Subsequent deleterious effects of thyroidal irradiation are the development of thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism (1-2). Radiobiological aspects of the problem have been reviewed by Dr. Malone. The present paper deals with the conditions which are responsable for the irradiation level of the thyroid gland by 1311 jn a given population. 

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DIETARY IODINE SUPPLY AND RADIOIODINE UPTAKE THE CASE FOR GENERALIZED IODINE PROPHYLAXIS... 

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