Some self-appointed experts claim that instead of taking KI, it’s far more practical and convenient for people at risk from exposure to radioactive iodine to protect themselves simply by taking a dietary supplement product containing kelp.  Well, let’s see how smart these experts really are?

For adults, the FDA recommends a daily dose of 130 milligrams of potassium iodide for radiation protection.  On the other hand, a kelp supplement tablet at GNC contains 150 micrograms of iodine, which is the standard nutritional dose.  That’s micrograms, not milligrams.  Since there are 1,000 micrograms in one milligram, one would have to consume 666 kelp tablets a day to get an equivalent dose.  666 tablets a day as opposed to a single KI pill.  Now that’s practical and convenient.

And don’t forget the warnings on the kelp product.  Consumers are limited to only one tablet a day, and the label cautions against use if you are pregnant, nursing, or are taking a prescribed iodine medication or have a known sensitivity to iodine or hyperthyroidism.  And kelp nutritional products are not approved for pharmaceutical use or manufactured in accordance with FDA standards for pharmaceutical products.

What about cost?  666 kelp supplement tablets would cost roughly $50.  For that amount, you could purchase enough KI to protect a family of four for a month.

When it comes to KI and kelp, be careful about self-appointed experts.  KI remains the most effective, practical, and economical protection against radioactive iodine contamination.  And, it’s FDA approved.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Concerns about the possible threat to plant safety, after it was learned an Al Qaeda sympathizer worked at several nuclear facilities in the United States, were validated in a recently released IG report.  According to the report, Shariff Mobley, who was arrested early this year during a roundup of Al Qaeda sympathizers in Yemen, worked at six nuclear facilities between 2002 and 2008 and had unsupervised access throughout the plants.

This dangerous lapse in plant security was detailed in a report prepared by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Inspector General, following an audit request from Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Congressman William Owens (D-NY).  Unfortunately, several key portions of the report have been withheld from public release because they reveal ongoing security vulnerabilities at nuclear facilities. Acknowledging the Commission’s mistakes, the IG recommended that the agency conduct more frequent screening of employees, improve training to encourage the reporting of suspicious incidents, and allow the NRC access to the nation’s terrorist watch-list.

One has to wonder – why weren’t these steps already being taken?

A copy of the report can be found at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-gen/2010/oig-10-a-21-redacted.pdf.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Al Qaeda may already have detailed information about security at American nuclear power plants.  Sharib Mobley, an American citizen and New Jersey native, worked at six nuclear facilities in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania between 2002 and 2008 before leaving the United States and moving to Yemen.  He was arrested there in a round-up of Al Qaeda suspects.  According to a report by the Inspector General of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mobley had access to the interior of the plants and was able to move around the facilities unescorted. Individuals with his level of clearance are supposed to undergo rigorous background checks, but his vetting failed to reveal his affiliation with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born radical cleric in Yemen who has been linked to several terrorist plots and has called for attacks on the United States. Additionally, Mobley was known to have made comments to fellow workers that all non-Muslims were infidels.  Much of the IG report, which was requested by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), has not been made public because it revealed “security vulnerabilities” at existing nuclear plants, according to the New York Times.  Following his arrest, Mobley allegedly killed a guard and wounded another while trying to escape from the prison hospital.

Popularity: 5% [?]

According to Time Magazine, two nuclear power plants underwent emergency shot down yesterday.  Apparently, a transformer exploded at the Indian River plant, which is only 35 miles from New York City.  Officials claim no radioactive materials leaked.  Minutes later, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shut down after plant employees found radioactive water seeping from a leaky pipe. The NRC, which continues to claim that all nuclear plants in the United States are accident proof, called the emergency shut downs a “complete coincidence.”

Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it’s hardly reassuring news for those who live downwind of nuclear plants.  And it’s not exactly comforting for the millions of Americans who remain at risk because the NRC continues to block the stockpiling of KI.  How many warnings do these people need?

Popularity: 5% [?]