"Let's make a happy tree."
Posted on 11/27/2004 2:55:41 PM PST by naturalman1975
THE Federal Government has begun distributing thousands of doses of drugs to combat the effects of a terrorist "dirty bomb" attack on Australian soil.
A stockpile of nuclear antidote pharmaceuticals and drugs such as Prussian Blue are being distributed to the states along with equipment to detect radioactive contamination.
In the event of a dirty bomb attack, the states would be responsible for first response treatment of victims, including the administration of Prussian Blue, in pill form, to combat the effects of radiation.
The Federal Government is also boosting stocks of antidotes, vaccines and prophylactics in preparation for an attack involving bio-terror agents such as smallpox and anthrax.
Specialist equipment, to deal with chemical, biological and radiological incidents, includes chemical protection suits, specialist breathing systems, equipment to detect chemicals and radiation, and units to detect bio-terrorism agents through DNA analysis.
A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said yesterday that measures were in place to handle the aftermath of a dirty bomb attack.
A so-called dirty bomb involves exploding a conventional bomb wrapped in radioactive material that can kill victims in the immediate area and spread highly toxic material to humans, causing mass death and injury.
Prussian Blue, the chemical agent which binds with radioactive particles and expels them from the body, would be the first therapy available to decrease radiation exposure.
The build-up of the stockpile follows claims by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer that terrorists were more likely to have access to a dirty bomb than an enriched nuclear device.
Mr Downer said more had to be done throughout the Asia-Pacific to safeguard the region from the threat of a dirty bomb.
"The effect of this is that it would likely contaminate a large area and cause mass panic and concern," Mr Downer said.
Chief of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei said preventing a terrorist-led nuclear attack was a "race against time".
"We need to take preventive measures before a nuclear or radiological emergency," he said.
"We should not wait to see the kind of situation like 9/11 or Chernobyl."
Dr ElBaradei said there were now many regimes in possession of enriched plutonium, which was used to make high-grade nuclear weapons.
He said the agency's work had revealed an extensive black market for radioactive materials, with 630 confirmed incidents of trafficking in radioactive materials since 1993.
The US Food and Drug Administration said Prussian Blue "has been shown to be safe and effective in treating people exposed to radioactive elements".
Is that the same stuff that's a pigment for paint?
The only respite from radiation is ethanol.
"Let's make a happy tree."
And it's a pigment, too :)
Prussian blue works using a mechanism known as ion exchange. Cesium or thallium that have been absorbed into the body are removed by the liver and passed into the intestine and are then re-absorbed into the body (entero-hepatic circulation). Prussian blue works by trapping thallium and cesium in the intestine, so that they can be passed out of the body in the stool rather than be re-absorbed. If persons are exposed to radioactive cesium, radioactive thallium, or non-radioactive thallium, taking Prussian blue may reduce the risk of death and major illness from radiation or poisoning.
Didn't he pass away recently?
Prussian blue works using a mechanism known as ion exchange. Cesium or thallium that have been absorbed into the body are removed by the liver and passed into the intestine and are then re-absorbed into the body (entero-hepatic circulation). Prussian blue works by trapping thallium and cesium in the intestine, so that they can be passed out of the body in the stool rather than be re-absorbed. If persons are exposed to radioactive cesium, radioactive thallium, or non-radioactive thallium, taking Prussian blue may reduce the risk of death and major illness from radiation or poisoning.
A few years ago, of cancer.
An unavoidable side affect of taking Prussian Blue.
Let's see, if a bomb goes off here, I have to go to Austrailia for some "Blue" stuff; or do I go to Austrailia and wait for a bomb to go off there?
Im not a scientist nor do I play one on TV, but I think all this does is help prevent thyroid cancers, a dirty bomb will kill you so many other ways .... I guess the govt. just wants to appear it is doing something.
Potassium iodide should be administered to prevent the thyroid gland from concentrating radioactive iodide, but this is the first I've heard of prussian blue being used.
" Prussian blue works by trapping thallium and cesium in the intestine, so that they can be passed out of the body in the stool ..."
That's GOT to hurt!
BTTT
Well, I'll just have to go to my paint tubes - got lots of Prussian Blue - my favorite blue - for darks. Also got some real iodine - so guess I'm set...
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