Residents Within 10 Miles Of Limerick Nuclear Plant To Receive Potassium Iodide

LIMERICK, PA — As part of continued emergency preparedness efforts, all individuals who live, work, or attend school within ten miles of the Limerick Generation Station are eligible to receive free potassium iodide tablets, the Montgomery County Health Department announced Tuesday.

Residents can pick up free tablets at the Pottstown Health Center on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center is located on 365 King Street in Pottstown.

Distribution will also take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at the Kimberton Fire Company in Phoenixville (corner of Pike Springs Road and Firehouse Lane) and the Keystone Fire Company (240 N. Walnut Lane in Boyertown).

Potassium iodide is distributed each year to residents. In the event of a radiological emergency at the Limerick Station, the tablets would protect the thyroid gland against harmful radioactive iodine, officials said.

Tablets should only be taken when state officials say to do so.

Since potassium iodide contains non-radioactive iodine, it helps to stop radioactive iodine, which could be released into the air during a radioactive emergency, from being absorbed into the body by the thyroid gland, officials said.

That's because once the thyroid gland is full with nonradioactive iodine, it will not absorb any more, per the CDC.

“Potassium iodide is an important part of emergency preparedness for residents who live or work within 10 miles of a nuclear facility in the case of an radiological emergency,” Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement. “It can help protect the thyroid gland against harmful radioactive iodine and is safe for pregnant women, children and infants. It’s important to remember potassium iodide should only be taken when told to do so by state health officials or the governor, and is not a substitute for evacuation in the case of an emergency at our nuclear facilities.”

Residents will receive a two day supply of tablets, and businesses will receive a one-day supply.

Anyone can take the tablets as long as they are not allergic to iodine.

Nuclear regulatory committees have consistently deemed Limerick to be operating safely, though some environmental groups continue to question the impact of the plant on the area's residents, even barring any serious accidents. The Limerick plant employs an environmental monitoring program to "ensure the continued health" of the Schuylkill River and communities it serves, spokespersons for Exelon, which owns the plant, told Patch.

Image via Commons courtesy Arturo Ramos