The take away is that the plume has produced many thyroid cancer cases. These were avoidable, since you have to ingest dairy products, which could have been tested. But this is a poverty stricken area. The Russian victims said they fear starvation more than radiation. They still die from stroke primarily, as they have in the past.
These cancers can be avoided even if the dairy products are consumed. Taking iodine pills immediately can saturate the thyroid so that radioactive iodine won’t accumulate; the nuke plants around here maintain a stockpile for that purpose.
Partly, but not entirely correct.
Radioiodine is concentrated and ingested through dairy products (and to a lesser degree in other foods). However, it can also be inhaled, especially in the midst of the release from the reactor. It is a gas and inhalation uptake is a big concern during a General Emergency. It is why prophylactic KI is distributed.