In such an event, there is a catastrophic risk of large amounts of radioactive iodine (or radioiodine) being released into the atmosphere, which can contaminate water, soil, plants and animals, as well as being inhaled into the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control. According and redressal.
Although potassium iodide itself is not harmful and is an important chemical needed by the human body, the CDC states that radioactive iodide can damage the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck that produces several hormones that regulate Body.
The danger is that if radiation exposure occurs, the thyroid gland cannot differentiate between regular iodine and radioiodine and will absorb both. Overexposure can lead to thyroid cancer.
When used as directed, potassium iodide in liquid or pill form can quickly saturate the thyroid gland and prevent it from absorbing radioactive iodine.
set in pricing
Large manufacturers of potassium iodide approved for sale in the United States have seen their inventory rapidly deplete in recent weeks with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Due to less supply in the market, the prices started falling.
It is also important to know that potassium iodide tablets are not a cure and do not provide 100% protection against radioactive iodine. The CDC warns that a single dose only protects the thyroid gland for 24 hours.
The agency said taking higher doses, or taking it more often than recommended, does not provide much protection and can cause serious illness or death.
The CDC also warns that potassium iodide tablets only protect the thyroid and work best for certain age groups.
out of stock
Anbex, Inc., based in New York, is a leading supplier and manufacture of 65 mg and 130 mg IOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets. Its website currently shows a message saying, “We are currently out of stock of IOSAT Potassium Iodide 130 mg and 65 mg Tablets.”
“We expect to be back in stock in early April, but we’re pushing for the end of March,” said Troy Jones, vice president of sales and marketing for Ambex. Jones also runs a website www.nukepills.com that sells Anbex’s potassium iodide tablets.
Jones said the company saw the start of orders for up to 15 million tablets worldwide in mid-February from a variety of buyers, including individuals, resellers, hospitals, municipalities and governments.
“The big race started from February 23 to February 28. Whatever inventory we had, we sold out,” Jones said. Although supplies are being replenished weekly, they are selling out just as fast. “In the last five days we have sold probably as much as it usually takes us half a year to sell,” he said.
Historically, demand for potassium iodide spikes when there is a real or perceived threat of nuclear collapse, Jones said.
Manufacturers said rising rhetoric from Russia only helped fuel concerns and potassium iodide purchases.
Anbex, which sells its tablets in either 14-day or 20-day foil-sealed packs, depending on the dosage, has ramped up production, Jones said.
London-based BTG Specialty Pharmaceuticals said there is also growing demand for the company’s potassium iodide products in Europe and the US.
“It coincides with the conflict in Ukraine,” said Chris Sampson, a spokesman for London-based BTG, which also has US operations. BTG makes ThyroSafe, an FDA-approved 65 mg over-the-counter potassium iodide tablet. The price for a box of 20 tablets on the company’s website is $12.95.
Sampson said BTG is not completely out of stock, “although we have temporarily stopped accepting orders through our website and some of our partners/distributors have run out of stock.”
“Most of our products are sold to governments, public health agencies and the military that manage the stockpile,” he said. “All those orders are being fulfilled.”
The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on this story.
— CNN’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report