But the pills are not a cure for radiation sickness. And they work only if the radioactive iodine has been taken into the body through food or drink.
The World Health Organization is warning the public not to use potassium iodide unless health officials advise them to. WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says the pills have their own risks.
GREGORY HARTL: "Indiscriminate use of the product can cause side effects such as inflammation of the salivary glands, nausea, rashes, intestinal upset and possible severe allergic reactions. It can also interact with other medications, especially certain types of cardiovascular medications such as ACE inhibitors, receptor blockers and potassium-sparing diuretics."
The crisis in Japan is the result of damage from the March eleventh earthquake and tsunami.
In the United States, the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute is looking for more-effective treatments for radiation exposure. The institute is working with a company called Onconova on one possible treatment known as Ex-Rad. Onconova officials say Ex-Rad has shown promise in tests on animals, but several more years of research are needed.
And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. To read and hear more health news, go to voaspecialenglish.com from your computer or mobile device. I’m Steve Ember.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
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2013-11-25