Defending from Within - Potassium Iodide

Radiation permeates the spaces in which we live and work.  It bounces off our skin, enters our bodies in food and drink, and even collects in our bones. Usually these ambient radiation levels are low enough to make little difference to our overall health. But in extreme cases of high radiation levels in the environment, steps must be taken to stop radiation from getting inside us. Interestingly enough, there some things we can take into our bodies that can protect ourselves from radiation.  

Potassium Iodide (KI) is a salt that has been used as a tool for radiation protection since the FDA approved it in 1982. The iodine in KI is stable (or nonradioactive) and is an important chemical needed by our bodies to produce hormones. Most of the iodine in our bodies collects in the thyroid, the site of specific hormone production. The danger with this concentration is that radioactive iodine (such as I-131) can be absorbed in place of stable iodine, leading to heightened concentrations of radiation and risk of thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine is a common isotope given off during nuclear reactions.  Last year’s Japanese nuclear crisis released large amounts of I-131 into the environment. This prompted record-setting sales of KI that suppliers could not keep up with.

65 mg Potassium Iodide Tablets. source

Last month KI came into the international spotlight again when the US Defense Logistics Agency ordered 1,050,000 doses of the pill to bulk up its stockpile¹. The reason for the order is probably due in part to increased nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran. In any case, the solicitation prompted massive orders for potassium iodide from spooked civilians. 

Although KI is a useful tool for dealing with exposure emergencies, it isn’t a complete remedy. The compound only lessens health hazards from radioactive iodine, not other radioactive isotopes. Correct dosage is very important as well, as young children need far less KI than adults in emergency situations. For other details, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great page on potassium iodide here.

Perhaps the biggest misunderstanding with potassium iodide is that it doesn’t keep radiation from entering the body, it only reduces the possibility of radioactive iodine being absorbed. That’s why other measures need to be in place to issue advance warnings about radiation threats. Radiation detectors such as the MiniRad-D and Rad-ID as currently used by military, public safety, and homeland security personnel to find and identify radioactive threats. 

 ____________________________________________________________________________

D-tect Systems is a supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.

1: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/potassium-iodide-sales-surge-on-heels-of-large-government-order-147297175.html

Fukushima: Long Term Impact

The gripping drama that unfolded during this month last year filled headlines and news hours all across the world.  On March 11th last year, a huge earthquake and tsunami left more than 20,000 people dead or missing in eastern Japan.  Amidst widespread destruction, the tsunami slammed into the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, disabling cooling systems and leading to fuel meltdowns in three of the six nuclear units.  As invariably occurs, after a few months the media coverage moved on, even though countless problems remain unresolved.  

So why hasn’t the radiation washed away or faded into neutrality?  This same query has plagued eastern Europeans for over 25 years as they continue to deal with heightened radiation levels stemming from the Chernobyl disaster. The answer is that radioactive materials released into the environment in both of these catastrophes are extremely finely dispersed and will last for decades.  In fact, just controlling the spread of radiation has become higher priority than cleaning up the mess in many cases.

In a nutshell, radioactive elements are unstable atoms. They seek stability by giving off particles and energy—ionizing radiation—until the radioisotope becomes stable. This process occurs within the nucleus of the radioisotope, and the shedding of these particles and energy is commonly referred to as ‘‘nuclear disintegration.’’  During their disintegration, most radioactive elements morph into yet other radioactive elements on their journey to becoming lighter, stable atoms. Some of the morphed-into elements are much more dangerous than the original radioisotope, and the decay chain can take a very long time¹. This is the reason that radioactive contamination has a variable lifespan, depending on the composition of the radioactive material. For more information on this topic, see this post on radioactive lifespans.

The most common contamination radionuclides in the Japanese crisis are cesium-134 (with a half-life of 2 years) and cesium-137 (with a half-life of 30 years).  Radiological risk assessment expert John Till, president of the U.S.-based Risk Assessment Corporation, says the fallout will probably be gone from the surface of plants within a few years, but attach strongly, through ion exchange, to soil — in particular to the clay soils common throughout Fukushima². From there, the rate and risk level at which cesium will move into plants is still unclear.  And the oceans are a different matter: sediment levels and changing currents make radioactive duration almost impossible to estimate.

Japanese soldiers collect contaminated leaves near the Fukushima nuclear power plant in December. source

 

All of this information adds up to the need for sustained radiation observation.  In particular, on-going dose rate measurements are essential to avoid overexposure to people, animals, and crops.  Since much of the radiation is mobile, weather changes can cause radiation levels to rapidly fluctuate.  This is a common occurrence in Japan, where after a rain storm brings down radioactive particles, the sun and wind can produce radioactive dust clouds that travel in unpredictable ways.  The mobility of these radioactive particles requires constant monitoring to warn people and keep them indoors on increased risk days.

Not only do these detectors need to consistently and accurately make measurements, they also need to efficiently relay information to analysis locations.  A self-healing mesh network is ideal for this kind of seamless measurement and communication.  This kind of network routes around disabled detectors and can incorporate new detectors at any location in the network.  The Rad-DX, D-tect’s newest addition, operates on the D-tect SensorNet – a mesh network with these capabilities.  To learn more about the SensorNet, visit this page. 

Although the cleanup in Japan may take decades, conditions are steadily improving.  With careful and constant radiation monitoring and improvements to safety standards, future risks may be mitigated.

1: http://www.oecd-nea.org/press/press-kits/fukushima-faq.html

2: http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-01-09/fukushima-cleanup-begins-long-term-impacts-are-weighed

 ____________________________________________________________________________

D-tect Systems is a supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com. 

D-tect Systems Featured on KSL News!

Check out this great article that KSL News published over the weekend! It talks about local homeland security companies and reports on our recent trips to Japan and has some great information and photos of D-tect products in the field.

____________________________________________________________________________

D-tect Systems is a supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.

  

Radiation Challenges Continue in Fukushima

Even though media coverage of the Japanese nuclear crisis has decline rapidly following the first few weeks of the disaster, there is still a steady stream of cleanup updates and survivor stories hitting international media outlets. Many of these have to do with the residents of the Fukushima Prefecture, whose proximity to the stricken nuclear complex has made life extremely difficult. Changing government regulations, delayed cleanup efforts, and a lack of scientific understanding of the whole situation has added to the chaos of the situation.

A common theme in many of these recent stories is the risk of radiation exposure to children living in or near the prefecture. Although the 20 kilometer evacuation zone set by the Japanese government has helped limit the radiation exposure to many people, there is no guarantee of safety even outside this radius. The problem is that radiation given off by the nuclear plant is extremely hard to track: wind- and water-borne radioactive particles have settled in unpredictable hotpots across the prefecture. This is a major concern for the more than 300,000 residents living in Fukushima city, parts of which lie inside the evacuation zone.

A local Japanese man checking the exterior of a church with the MiniRad-D.

A recent article by the International Herald Tribune reports that more than 70 elementary and secondary schools are located within the city where radiation levels have been measured above the safe dose level for nuclear plant workers – which is much higher than what is safe for children. Many of these schools have no way to monitor changing radiation levels and have received no help from the government to decontaminate school grounds. This has many parents worried and angry at the Japanese government, and a few have already taken the problem into their own hands. One day care center measured a drop in radiation levels from 30 times to two times the background level after volunteers scraped off the top layer of dirt on the playground. Efforts are underway at other schools to remove contaminated soil and plants from school property.

A MiniRad-D showing the radiation reading in a Japanese courtyard.

We are also committed to help out these children. In two separate trips to Japan since the crisis began, we’ve been able to see for ourselves what the situation is like. Members of our team have been working with charitable organizations to scan schools and churches for radiation and we’ve donated ten MiniRad-D units (pager-sized radiation detectors) to help school district officials determine safe and unsafe levels of radiation so parents feel comfortable about sending kids to school. These units are also used to help churches determine radiation levels at their buildings. Check out this post for details of the first trip.

Although the media coverage has mostly moved on to newer stories, the Japanese nuclear crisis is far from over. A tremendous amount of work remains before the Japanese confidence, economy, and environment completely stabilizes. 

 

D-tect Systems is supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.

My Trip to Japan

While in Japan, I was paired with a group that was sent to check on the structural integrity of several church buildings in several cities. My role was to show them how to use the equipment and gauge the levels of radiation at each site. To check on these levels I went armed with two different radiation detectors: the MiniRad-D (a small, pager-sized detector) and the Rad-ID (a portable radiation identifier).

In my visits to cities from Tokyo to Iwaki I checked radiation levels and talked with the local church officials about what those levels meant. Radiation levels in downtown Tokyo were near natural background levels but the closer I got to Fukushima, the higher the radiation levels rose. The cities I visited showed readings of anywhere from 0.35 µSv/hr to 2 µSv/hr above background radiation, which are elevated levels, but definitely not dangerous. Using the Rad-ID, I found out that most of the radiation came from the radioactive isotopes Co-60, I-131, I-132, and Cs-137, which are commonly given off in nuclear processes.


An interesting observation that I made was that storm drains in the areas I visited showed higher levels of radiation than the surrounding areas. I surmised that rainfall had carried down and collected some of the radioactive dust in the air and deposited the contamination as it flowed down these drains.


Although the Japanese have shown amazing resilience and are working as hard as they can to solve these enormous problems, there is still much uncertainty about health risks and what the future will bring. We’ll be back soon to check on the radiation levels again. If you’d like to brush up on your radiation basics, you can check out this sheet we’ve complied. It has basic conversions, safety levels, and doses to put radiation exposure in perspective. An interesting chart on radiation dose rates can be found here.

Radiation Exposure: What Can I Do?

Experiencing the front line of a crisis is a terrifying experience, especially in the face of uncertainty and fear of the unknown.  This point is especially well illustrated in Japan’s ongoing nuclear crisis.  For over a week now, rescue workers in Japan have dealt with floods, fires, power outages, and infrastructure damage, all compounded with the threat of an escalating nuclear crisis.  Radiation levels are at elevated levels for miles around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex and scientists are scrambling to determine how much radiation has already been released into the environment.  In the interest of providing a little peace of mind to security personnel across the globe whose line of work brings them into contact with critical situations, we have a few basic suggestions on how to avoid radiation risks.

The way the public views radiation has been shaped by some of the most horrific incidents in modern history: Chernobyl and Hiroshima.  These extreme cases have influenced many to assume that radiation is an exotic and deadly phenomenon.  In reality, our environment is steeped in radiation that our bodies absorb without any proven ill effect.  The most important factor in understanding the impact of radiation is quantity – how high radiation levels are and how these levels translate to risk. 

Security personnel are key and assist as the first line of defense against these varying dangers of radiation.  Organization is extremely important in crisis situations, and even just a few informed individuals can drastically change the outcome of a hazardous situation.  Security personnel have to act quickly to mitigate and ascertain the amount of radiation in the environment.  Two tools that are absolutely essential to security personnel in a radiation crisis are the dosimeter and radiation detector. 

A dosimeter is a small badge worn on the body or a small handheld device used to measure how much radiation the person has been subjected to.  Security personnel are often exposed to more radiation in their line of work, and must carefully monitor their dosimeters to tell them when they are approaching risk levels and must leave the danger area.  To give some idea of safe radiation levels, natural background radiation – the radiation that we are exposed to every day from cosmic rays and naturally-occurring radioactive materials – is about 370 millirems per year in the United States.  A coast-to-coast airplane trip will expose you to about 12 millirems, and a year of watching four hours of television per day adds up to about 2 millirems.  These quantities are miniscule compared to a federal occupational limit of exposure at 5000 millirems per year. Children and pregnant women have much lower exposure levels, and very high levels of radiation can cause serious health risks in a short time. 

Radiation detectors are indispensable to security efforts because they allow personnel to find contaminated areas and people quickly.  A common detector that has been used in the past is a Geiger-Mueller detector, or a Geiger counter. A Geiger counter is a very low cost detector, typically less than $500 USD, and provides very basic detection of large levels of radiation. However, they have significant limitations in a radiation crisis including limited to no detection of lower levels of radiation that can still be dangerous, as well as slower response time. One of the best detection technologies on the market is called a scintillation detector.  These detectors, on average, are 100 times more sensitive than Geiger counter and respond more rapidly to radiation, usually within one second, and typically cost around $1,200 USD.  The much greater sensitivity of scintillation detectors is important in situations like the Japanese nuclear crisis because the heightened environmental levels of radiation in the ocean near the complex (which are 127 times normal background levels) would not even show up on a typical Geiger counter.  The information scintillation detectors gather from radiation can even be used to identify different radioactive isotopes.  Devices such as the D-tect Systems MiniRad-D (a personal handheld detector) and Rad-ID (a handheld radiation detector and identifier) and regularly used by security personnel and individuals in such situations to detect and, where necessary, identify the types of radioactive materials a person has been exposed to.

The procedures outlined by government agencies are carefully adapted to each dangerous situation and should be strictly adhered to.  These procedures aim to limit the spread of radiation and minimize risk to exposed areas.  Although the specific instructions given out for each incident vary, here are a few general guidelines that should always be followed. 

First, in case of radiation contamination, get people (including yourself) out of harm’s way as quickly as possible and notify authorities. Radiation spreads easily though blowing dust and smoke, so radiation-free secure zones must be established by sealing off areas from the outside environment by closing and weather-proofing doors and windows and placing food and water in well-insulated areas such as basements.

Second, since human skin generally acts a good barrier against low-level radiation, the biggest threat is breathing in radioactive materials or somehow ingesting them.  Make sure to wear a face mask in areas that may be contaminated and wash hands regularly.  If you suspect someone has been exposed to radioactive dust, the best solution is usually as simple as discarding contaminated clothing and washing with soap and water, as this will rid the body of radiation before it can cause damage.  As an additional guard against significant amounts of radiation, potassium iodide tablets are sometimes given to protect to the thyroid gland.

Third, preparation is vital when it comes to any kind of disaster, and we recommend everyone keep an emergency kit close at hand so that they can be personally prepared in case of any crises.  This kit should include such things as food and water for a few days, water filtration kit, emergency blanket, rain gear, batteries for radios and detectors, dust mask, extra clothing, flashlight, candles, waterproof matches, cooking utensils, necessary medications, and a first aid kit.  Although we generally take these supplies for granted, shortages can occur quickly in crisis situations.   

Although the current nuclear crisis is fraught with unanswered questions, appropriate preparation will enable you to minimize potential risks and provide you the ability to safely navigate through any crises, including potential radiation exposure.

Japan's Nuclear Crisis

Last week one of the largest earthquakes on record shook Northern Japan and triggered a devastating tsunami.  The damage is extensive: so few roads and runways are open that even humanitarian supplies have been seriously delayed.  But the greatest fear of the country isn’t the washed out roads or flattened villages.  It’s an invisible phenomenon with huge historical significance to the Japanese: the threat of nuclear radiation is rising like a ghost recalled from the past.

Nuclear power doesn’t make many headlines these days.  Until last Friday, nuclear plants have been considered in many parts of the world to be the best economical solution to growing power needs.  Japan has 55 nuclear reactors, providing approximately a quarter of the country’s power.  Advancing nuclear technologies have made power more efficient and seemed to invalidate radiation risks illustrated so horrifically by incidents at Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island.  But it is clear that innate nuclear power risks, however diminished, remain.

Japanese security personnel at the nuclear complex.  Photo credit cnn.com.

 The setting for the nuclear showdown in Japan is the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex.  Although this reactor, as well as two others, ceased operations as soon as the magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit, consequent damage to the structure has destabilized the normal cooling operation of the plant and lead to an atomic crisis.  Three hydrogen gas explosions have already rocked the plant, providing evidence that the fuel rods are at above normal temperatures.  Japanese authorities have already announced that steam from a nuclear cooling pond (used to cool the fuel rods) has been released into the atmosphere, meaning that some radiation has already leaked from the plant.  At this point, quantities of released radiation are unknown, but could rise dramatically if cooling of the reactor core is unsuccessful or a breach in the reactor wall occurs. 

But what is the real danger of nuclear radiation?  Unlike other forms of radioactive materials, such as those used commonly in hospitals and industry, nuclear materials are very heavily controlled throughout the world, and for good reason.  Nuclear materials, such as plutonium and uranium, give off neutrons at extremely high energy levels as their nuclei decay.  This kind of radiation easily passes through most matter, but can affect body tissues enough to cause serious medical problems. Short-term nuclear exposure can cause infections, hair loss, and fevers, and in extreme cases, organ failure and death.  Long-term exposure can cause cancer, tumors, and genetic damage.  Even shielded nuclear radiation sources can emit gamma radiation, which brings other health risks. 

The nature of this nuclear crisis, as well as many related scenarios, requires the use of a combination of radiation detectors all working together to minimize risks.  Our products are designed for just this.  In case of a radiation release, a perimeter could be set up using small, handheld MiniRad-D devices.  These pager-sized radiation detectors can sense radiation from tens of meters away.  The MiniRad-D could also be used to check personnel leaving the nuclear zone to determine if decontamination is needed.

The MiniRad-D is self-calibrating and uses a high-sensitivity scintillation detection system.

 The Rad-D unit is ideal for placement in unmanned locations to monitor ambient changes to radiation levels.  The system requires no maintenance and sophisticated neutron detectors can be configured into the system as well as gamma detectors. 

At the forefront of the crisis, specialized equipment designed for finding and identifying the type of radiation is needed.  The high-energy nature of nuclear radiation tends to saturate detectors and is hard to differentiate from gamma radiation.  Special neutron detector systems, such as the Helium-3 gas-filled tubes used by D-tect Systems in both the Rad-ID and Rad-D systems, sort out gamma rays and detect and identify neutron radiation.  The Rad-ID also contains a combination of detector types to find radiation over a wide range of energies, and from large amounts of radiation to sources emitting just above background radiation.

The Rad-ID can identify over 110 radioactive isotopes.

 We hope for the best in the Japan’s current nuclear crisis and that future wise decisions will mitigate the risks involved with nuclear power.