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All Belgians To Be Given Iodine Pills In Case Of Nuclear Accident (phys.org)

Posted by BeauHD on from the preventative-care dept.

mdsolar quotes a report from Phys.Org: Belgium is to provide iodine pills to its entire population of around 11 million people to protect against radioactivity in case of a nuclear accident, the health minister was quoted as saying Thursday. The move comes as Belgium faces growing pressure from neighboring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear power plants near their border due to concerns over their safety. Iodine pills, which help reduce radiation build-up in the human thyroid gland, had previously only been given to people living within 20 kilometres (14 miles) of the Tihange and Doel nuclear plants. Health Minister Maggie De Block was quoted by La Libre Belgique newspaper as telling parliament that the range had now been expanded to 100 kilometers, effectively covering the whole country. The health ministry did not immediately respond to AFP when asked to comment. The head of Belgium's French-speaking Green party, Jean-Marc Nollet, backed the measures but added that "just because everyone will get these pills doesn't mean there is no longer any nuclear risk," La Libre reported. Belgium's creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. Yesterday, a nuclear plant in Germany was reportedly infected with a computer virus.

4 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid leftist commies by ded666 · · Score: -1, Troll

    First they invite thousands of terrorists, let them create ISIS ghetto within country capital.
    Now what? Pills?

    Is that all you got?

  2. mdsolar is a tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    The fossil fuel industry must be paying mdsolar a lot for him to post this much anti-nuclear bs propaganda.

  3. Re:Do not push this button by dbIII · · Score: -1, Troll

    Unless the pills come with a warning less than two sentences long in large print explaining WHY the instructions should be followed*, this will hurt more people than it will save

    You missed the headline - it's not in the USA :)

    They didn't get the same "no child left behind" or "ebonics" cut-price education that would require what you suggest.

  4. Re:cost effective solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    The reactor is fine & safe. Its cheaper to hand out the pills than to educate the public on the relative safety of the plant, and to quell the demand of those who want the pills because of the FUD they have been fed for way too long.