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Radiation fears spark run on West Coast pharmacies, health food stores
cnn ^ | March 16, 2011 | Ed Payne

Posted on 03/16/2011 2:39:54 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Many West Coast residents came up empty handed in their search of potassium iodide this week as fears over radiation spreading from Japan took hold.

The rush on the supplement came even as emergency management officials said there is no need to take the pills believed to prevent the thyroid from absorbing radiation.

"I didn't see too many people concerned about it. But when it was sold out, it made me think that I should be concerned," said Hameed Hemmat, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Hemmat, who struggled to find potassium iodide online when he couldn't find it in his area, said he ended up placing an order with a New Jersey company. He also has friends in New York looking for it.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ki; potassiumiodide; radiation

1 posted on 03/16/2011 2:39:58 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper

We have some idiots pushing that crap here too.


2 posted on 03/16/2011 2:43:37 AM PDT by palmer (Cooperating with Obama = helping him extend the depression and implement socialism.)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I saw someone here in Maryland looking for it when I visited my pharmacy yesterday. Still on the shelves here. The pharmacist said few have been buying yet.

I don’t need to bother, myself. I have a hyperactive thyroid, full-on Graves Disease. The medication for hyperactive thyroid limits the thyroid uptake of iodine. All I need do is increase my dose.


3 posted on 03/16/2011 2:49:05 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Same sorts that sought to get a UN ban on dihydrogen monoxide.....

http://www.dhmo.org/

Run away ....run away....


4 posted on 03/16/2011 3:42:07 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Those on the West Coast who are truly concerned about disasters would be well advised to purchase life vests, in case the planetary axis shifts, sending them all into the drink. Or, better yet, move to a cave in the Himalayas.


5 posted on 03/16/2011 3:44:56 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Bah, potassium iodide is worthless. Much better to take nitrogen triiodide, in chewable tablets of course.


6 posted on 03/16/2011 4:30:00 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: palmer
On FR we had west coast chicken littles downing their potassium iodide doses over the weekend. The "Radiation fears" are induced by the media hype machine and an abysmal education system in this country.

I saw a story about the Surgeon General suggestion stocking up on potassium iodide while in she was in SF yesterday. While it was with an eye to being "prepared" and not specific to the Japanese situation, the news ran it with their full-throated PANIC.

7 posted on 03/16/2011 5:16:25 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Obama, recreating-in-chief until Fri, Jan. 20, 2017.)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

Apparently you wouldn’t have to chew very long before you didn’t have to worry about radiation... : 0


8 posted on 03/16/2011 5:23:29 AM PDT by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: newzjunkey

It all serves the end of the “coming soon” NO NUKES campaign to be thrust upon us shortly.


9 posted on 03/16/2011 5:24:40 AM PDT by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Our local Seattle area news last night reported on the same story, and added that on-line purchases will cost you $300, $400, or more for just one bottle, and showed the Amazon.com web site to prove it. Just Crazy
10 posted on 03/16/2011 5:38:43 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: newzjunkey

Back in the 50’s, the US routinely tested nukes in the Nevada desert. As kids, the only thing they warned was not to eat snow due to the radioactive isotopes. That, and you could never be sure where the dog had done his business. Somehow we survived.


11 posted on 03/16/2011 5:45:50 AM PDT by 6SJ7 (atlasShruggedInd = TRUE)
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To: NavyCanDo

Look at Ebay. Some 14-day doses asking $600. There are also Russian sellers with raw bulk potassium iodide for sale. Looks like a powder. I suppose so people can compound their own pills? IIRC, people need to be careful handling the raw chemical as it is an irritant.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Potassium-Iodide-210-g-99-0-/270719039796?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f081cb934

There are also side effects to ingestion of potassium iodide and some people cannot tolerate it. Why are folks taking it so early? You are right; this is just hysteria.


12 posted on 03/16/2011 5:57:45 AM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Remember that West Coasties are kooks and nuts, including the reporter who actually saw a piece of sky falling.

The big’un is coming and will solve the problem


13 posted on 03/16/2011 7:31:19 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 ....( History is a process, not an event ))
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Hint: Don’t buy emergency supplies after the emergency.

On ebay, civil defense and Russian cheapo ones are going for 6x what they did before.

Stock up before..


14 posted on 03/16/2011 7:35:48 AM PDT by Tolsti2
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To: reformedliberal
Carpetbaggers taking advantage of peoples fear. Sickening aint it?
15 posted on 03/16/2011 7:57:00 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: reformedliberal
Here's one on eBay for $1000 14 day supply of tabs. I bought mine a while back for $11.


16 posted on 03/16/2011 8:06:43 AM PDT by domeika
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