Surgeon General: Stock Up On Iodide


I  blogged on Saturday that folks along America's west coast were likely to be affected by radiation fallout released into the air from the nuclear power plant in Japan crippled by last week's earthquake and tsunami and suggested people take potassium iodide as a precaution to protect against thyroid cancer from exposure to radiation. Today, the U.S. Surgeon General concurred with that recommendation NBC is reporting. "U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin is in the Bay Area touring a peninsula hospital. NBC Bay Area reporter Damian Trujillo asked her about the run on tablets and Dr. Benjamin said although she wasn't aware of people stocking up, she did not think that would be an overreaction. She said it was right to be prepared." People didn't need to hear from the Surgeon General as reports indicate there has already been a run on the sale of potassium iodide pills, particularly on the west coast. Meanwhile, local health officials in California contradicted the Surgeon General's recommendation.