Netizens stock up on iodine to protect against possible radiation. That's why you shouldn't rely on it

Against the backdrop of reports of possible accidents at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and bringing the Russian deterrence forces on alert, messages began to circulate on the Web about the need to stock up on iodine.

Users seriously write that in the event of a nuclear explosion and a deterioration in the background radiation, it is iodine that will help protect the body. But this is just one of the popular ones. myths about radiation.

Iodine as such, it cannot counteract ionizing radiation, although it is sometimes given to victims of disasters associated with radiation contamination.

This is done in cases where the radioactive isotope iodine-131 has entered the air. The latter will begin to accumulate in the human thyroid gland, leading to the risk of oncological diseases of this organ. If fillProtect Yourself from Radiation / EPA thyroid gland with ordinary, safe for the body potassium iodide, an unstable isotope will not be absorbed.

But it should be understood that this element protects only the thyroid gland and only from iodine-131 poisoning. If the threat of infection with this particular substance is not foreseen, iodine will not save from anything and will not eliminate the consequences for already damaged organs.

Moreover, the safe potassium iodide itself is harmful to health in large quantities, so you should not take it without the direction of a doctor.