Protecting yourself from ionizing radiation
There are a few methods that can be utilized to protect yourself from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Time, distance and shielding are the three most important parameters to remember:
| Time: |
Minimizing the duration of exposure will reduce your risk. |
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| Distance: |
The farther away you are from the radiation source the lower your exposure will be. |
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| Shielding: |
Having a shield or barrier between yourself and the radioactive material can significantly reduce the amount of radiation absorbed, thus decreasing your exposure. |
Potassium Iodine (KI)
One type of potentially harmful radiation emission is from radioactive iodine. If a person is internally contaminated with large amounts of radioactive iodine, he or she may have a higher likelihood of developing thyroid cancer later in life, as the absorption of iodine is one of the normal functions of the thyroid gland.
To help minimize the amount of radioactive iodine that can be absorbed, health officials may advise at-risk persons to take stable potassium iodide (KI) which can help protect the body by saturating the thyroid with stable iodine, thereby reducing the amount of harmful iodine that can be absorbed.
It is important to note that KI only protects the thyroid and does not offer protection to other parts of the body from radiation. It is important to follow the advice of health officials to ensure KI is not taken unnecessarily as it can cause allergic reactions in some people and may have adverse health effects if not taken appropriately.
Last Updated: November 21, 2011