Iodine Prophylaxis following nuclear accidents – a concept how to distribute potassium-iodide tablets out of the central stocks in the event of an accident

Abstract

Abstract With its recommendation “Iodine prophylaxis following nuclear accidents” (1996) and its reports of 1997 and 2001 the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) followed the recommendations of the WHO “Guidelines for iodine prophylaxis following nuclear accidents” of 1989. The intervention levels were lowered (50 mSv for children/adolescents (up to the age of 18 years) and pregnant women, 250 mSv for adults), the iodine prophylaxis was restricted to persons up to the age of 45 years and the recommended dosage of stable iodine was changed. Due to the lowered reference levels the radius of 25 km around a nuclear power plant that had been the planning radius for the distribution of iodine tablets so far was extended to 100 km. Based on these recommendations the German authorities began to set up new strategies for the provision and distribution of potassium-iodide tablets (iodine tablets). Since 2004, within the radius of 25 km the iodine tablets are pre-distributed to households and/or stored at several points in the municipality for persons up to the age of 45 years. For the new planning radius of 25 – 100 km iodine tablets are stored in 8 central stocks in Germany for children/adolescents (up to the age of 18 years) and pregnant women. A working group with representatives from federal and Länder authorities has developed a distribution strategy for the distribution out of these central stocks in the event of an accident. It describes a possibility of organising and implementing the distribution of the iodine tablets within the radius of 25 – 100 km in a nationwide standardised way.