Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis

The recent nuclear disaster at Japan has raised global concerns about effects of radioactive leakage in the environment, associated hazards, and how they can be prevented. In this article, we have tried to explain about the guidelines laid down by World Health Organization for a potassium iodide pro...

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Main Author: Viroj Wiwanitkit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2011-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2011;volume=15;issue=2;spage=96;epage=98;aulast=Wiwanitkit
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author Viroj Wiwanitkit
author_facet Viroj Wiwanitkit
author_sort Viroj Wiwanitkit
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description The recent nuclear disaster at Japan has raised global concerns about effects of radioactive leakage in the environment, associated hazards, and how they can be prevented. In this article, we have tried to explain about the guidelines laid down by World Health Organization for a potassium iodide prophylaxis following a nuclear disaster, and its mechanism of action in preventing thyroid cancer. Data was collected mainly from the studies carried out during the Chernobyl disaster of Russia in 1986 and the hazardous effects especially on the thyroid gland were studied. It was seen that radioactive iodine leakage from the nuclear plants mainly affected the thyroid gland, and especially children were at a higher risk at developing the cancers. Potassium Iodide prophylaxis can be administered in order to prevent an increase in the incidence of thyroid cancers in the population of an area affected by a nuclear disaster. However, one has to be cautious while giving it, as using it without indication has its own risks.
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spelling doaj.art-3f6c7433ab004139b06eebc28e0b60a62022-12-22T02:17:45ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism2230-82102230-95002011-01-01152969810.4103/2230-8210.81937Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxisViroj WiwanitkitThe recent nuclear disaster at Japan has raised global concerns about effects of radioactive leakage in the environment, associated hazards, and how they can be prevented. In this article, we have tried to explain about the guidelines laid down by World Health Organization for a potassium iodide prophylaxis following a nuclear disaster, and its mechanism of action in preventing thyroid cancer. Data was collected mainly from the studies carried out during the Chernobyl disaster of Russia in 1986 and the hazardous effects especially on the thyroid gland were studied. It was seen that radioactive iodine leakage from the nuclear plants mainly affected the thyroid gland, and especially children were at a higher risk at developing the cancers. Potassium Iodide prophylaxis can be administered in order to prevent an increase in the incidence of thyroid cancers in the population of an area affected by a nuclear disaster. However, one has to be cautious while giving it, as using it without indication has its own risks.http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2011;volume=15;issue=2;spage=96;epage=98;aulast=WiwanitkitChernobyl disasterpotassium iodide prophylaxisnuclear detonation and crisisthyroid cancerradioactive iodine world health organization guidelines
spellingShingle Viroj Wiwanitkit
Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Chernobyl disaster
potassium iodide prophylaxis
nuclear detonation and crisis
thyroid cancer
radioactive iodine
world health organization guidelines
title Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
title_full Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
title_fullStr Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
title_full_unstemmed Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
title_short Nuclear detonation, thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
title_sort nuclear detonation thyroid cancer and potassium iodide prophylaxis
topic Chernobyl disaster
potassium iodide prophylaxis
nuclear detonation and crisis
thyroid cancer
radioactive iodine
world health organization guidelines
url http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2011;volume=15;issue=2;spage=96;epage=98;aulast=Wiwanitkit
work_keys_str_mv AT virojwiwanitkit nucleardetonationthyroidcancerandpotassiumiodideprophylaxis