Potassium Iodide Runs Low as Americans Seek It Out (It's over! Dig that hole and pack it up)

wall street journal ^ | 3/14/2011 | JONATHAN D. ROCKOFF

[tobyhill]

Supplies of potassium iodide, a preventive against radiation poisoning of the thyroid gland, are running low at some manufacturers, as Americans seek protection amid fears that radiation from Japan could head to the U.S., according to the companies.

One leading supplier, Anbex Inc., quickly sold out of its supply of more than 10,000 14-tablet packages on Saturday, said Alan Morris, president of the Williamsburg, Va., company.

He said the closely held firm was getting about three orders a minute for $10 packages of its Iosat pills, up from as few as three a week normally.

"Those who don't get it are crying. They're terrified," said Mr. Morris. The company tells callers that the likelihood of dangerous levels of radiation reaching the U.S. is low, but some callers, particularly on the West Coast, remain afraid, Mr. Morris said.

Interest is also high at Fleming Pharmaceuticals, a St. Louis County company that makes potassium iodide in liquid form. "It actually has been insanity here," said Deborah Fleming Wurdack, a co-owner.

The company hasn't accounted for all the recent orders, but Ms. Wurdack estimates the firm is getting dozens of calls an hour, along with emails, requesting the 45-milliliter ThyroShield bottles, which sell for $13.25 each.

[paul51]

>>I hear that the best preventive is beer, served cold.<< Dark or Light? Bottled, canned or on tap.

yes

[cva66snipe]

In the early 1950’s not even government realized the full dangers of radioactivity so how could the Freeper? Places like Oak Ridge {I'm about 15 miles downwind} are still cleaning up the mess.

[AGreatPer]

"Shelf life is 6-7 years"

I don't know when I got them. Someone delivered them to my door during the TMI thing. Looking at it as I type. It is about 11-12 miles away.

It says IOSAT, Expiration 8/2007.

Not sure but I don't think they go bad, just lose their strength. Not sure.

[giotto]

Kelp is better than the potassium iodide, as I understand it. It’s a natural form of iodine.

[PA Engineer]

And if some enterprising person cashes in on that.....good for them.



Yep. This man was a "Profit".

[djf]

Years ago, you could actually walk into a pharmacy and buy iodine crystals themselves.

Them, plus the ammonia, make a heck of a BANG!!!

[Cementjungle]

So if you have no thyroid what do they suggest?

Jack Daniels.

[Charles Martel]

Jack Daniels

Pshaw. No disrespect to Mr. Jack, or Lem Motlow, or any of the boys in Lynchburg... but if it's TEOTWAWKI, I'm reaching for the stuff on a higher shelf:

Note the proof rating... a bottle of this stuff will put you away as effectively as those little pills in On The Beach, and taste a lot better too (at least until your tongue goes numb).

[Cementjungle]

Sounds good... never had the opportunity to try the stuff... will have to keep my eyes peeled for it.

[JouleZ]

You admit the radio announced the snow was radioactive and you ignored your mother’s directions.

That’s the very thought process which created the Nanny State!!

**********************

Oh grow up! She said she was a kid. What are you, the Nanny?

[A Navy Vet]

"I prefer beer as my anti radiation medicine.....

You DO know that beer has Ch3Ch2OH in it? That chemical kills brain sells...er...sails...or is it cells-u-lite, according to brand?

what was I talking about again?

[A Navy Vet]

"Strong pretzels are required. Probably a meat pizza, too."

Damn, I forgot about pretzels. Other than the crust, pizza will do you no good unless you eat in mass quantities to forget your worries. I'm thinking what's called a "heart stopper" pizza with pepperoni, sausage, and hamburger toppings. Thanks for the advice. I'll order tomorrow from "Pizza Man" just to be safe.

[goat granny]

Bourbon, tobacco and Pepsi, the staples of life. I'm old someone else can have my iodine...:O)

[super7man]

I used to get my chemicals from the army surplus store back when it was really army surplus.

We also discovered what potassium chlorate and powered sugar could do too.

[super7man]

Makes me smile.

I am amazed that I still have all my fingers and two eyes.

[GOPJ]

This is third hand from another forum. People there are saying they are already taking it every six or twelve hours. Some people are idiots and then there are the ones who really are.

LOL - must have been a liberal site ...

[ProudFossil]

This is third hand from another forum. People there are saying they are already taking it every six or twelve hours. Some people are idiots and then there are the ones who really are.

LOL - must have been a liberal site .

Not really. It is one of the conspiracy forums. I go there to laugh at what some people think. Like going to DU for fun and entertainment (and wondering how these people even function).

[Scythian]

No honey, the guys on the FreeRepublic said there's no danger, they're making fun of folks who are concerned even as people in Tokyo are fleeing for some strange reason? Ya, these guys on the FreeRepublic are real experts of the arm chair variety. One of them even had a "Fischer Price Nuclear Set" as a child, I'll put my faith in them.

You know, I don't feel so good, I sure hope these guys are right ...

[centurion316]

I was in Germany when Chernobyl exploded. That event generated wind borne contamination that was detectable in Germany. It required some simple, but effective measures that reduced risk to the negligible level. 30 years on and long term health effects for the German population don’t show any uptick. Ukraine is much closer to Germany than Japan is to the U.S. and this incident is no Chernobyl. If you want to go bury yourself in a hole for the next three months, be my guest.

[JoeFromSidney]

I had forgotten about ammonium iodide. That was lots of fun.