Hundreds of residents living near an Illinois nuclear power plant took advantage of a weekend giveaway of pills that help block radiation.
”The way the world is right now, you never know what’s going to happen,” said Charles Bateson, one of the first to get the potassium iodine pills on Saturday.
The pills can block build-up of one type of radiation in the thyroid gland, but do not guard against other radiation.
Clinton-area residents are the first in Illinois to be offered the pills by the state Department of Nuclear Safety (DNS).
The agency later plans to offer potassium iodide to residents near Illinois’ five other working nuclear plants.
DNS representative Patti Thompson said the giveaway allows the department to address safety and emergency concerns.
Since September 11, federal nuclear regulators have made potassium iodide available to the 33 states with nuclear plants; three other states have distributed pills to those who live in the shadow of nuclear plants.
In those states, officials say, between 10% and 34% of those eligible chose to stockpile the medication. – Sapa-AP