Thai Cancer Agency Issues Travel Advisory

[webfact]

DEVASTATED JAPAN

Thai Cancer Agency issues travel advisory

By THE NATION

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) yesterday warned people against travelling to Japan in the wake of nuclear-plant explosions.

"Exposure to radiation over a long time or in large amounts can cause cancer," NCI director Dr Thiravud Khuhaprema said.

Meanwhile Dr Piboon Issaraphan, a senior official at the Public Health Ministry's Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, said Thais living near the nuclear plants would be given medication to help protect them from thyroid cancer.

Two doctors and a nurse from Thailand who are helping with the relief operations are also armed with equipment to check for radiation exposure.

The Thai Embassy in Japan has advised Thais living in risky zones to stay indoors and keep all their windows closed to reduce risks.

Though the nuclear-plant |explosions have caused alarm across the world, the Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary |Dr Paijit Warachit said that so far there were no reports about the leak affecting Thailand's air quality.

"But we are taking necessary measures to ensure that all Thais are safe," he said.

The Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) is constantly monitoring the level of radiation in Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Songkhla.

"We have monitoring devices there. If there's any risk, we will alert the public," OAP secretary-general Dr Chaivat Toskulkao said.

He added that a nuclear-emergency response plan would be implemented should radiation levels rise to a dangerous point. He explained that people would be asked to stay indoors and keep all doors and windows closed if the air were found to be carrying more than 1 microsievert per hour of radioactive material.

Chaivat also promised that his agency would alert the public in time if the situation looked worrying.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said he would take a team of officials to Japan to assist Thais stranded there.

"We will focus on risky areas such as Miyagi prefecture," he said, adding that food and warm clothes were badly needed.

Meanwhile, Kasit said a C-130 plane would tomorrow transport relief items from the Friends in Need Volunteers' Foundation to Japan.

"The items will be distributed to Thais and Japanese alike," he said.

The Royal Thai Air Force, whic h has provided the C-130, said those who wished to return to Thailand could board the aircraft on its way back.

Kasit said the embassy was in the process of checking which Thais wanted to return home.

The Navy's HTMS Similan is now ready to deliver up to 15,000 tonnes of rice and other items worth Bt200 million to the disaster victims in Japan. The Cabinet approved the project on Monday. The Public Health Ministry has also put 21 medical teams on standby should Japan need more medical assistance. Of the teams, three are psychiatric units.

-- The Nation 2011-03-16

[TechnikaIII]

And what about contaminated rain in Thailand? Can the department of meteorology shed light on this? I was aware of this being discussed in Malaysia within hours of the explosion.

[jsflynn603]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

[TechnikaIII]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

Some comfort your advice, thank you. I am one who needs to keep my thyroxine levels up ( a life-long issue ), because I was told years ago, when heading to Norway a year or two after the Chernobyl disaster, that the radioactive iodine isotopes, as though opportunistic, seek out underactive thyroids such as mine. Still now, Norwegians are advised to limit the amount of reindeer meat they consume, the far North of the country being so heavily contaminated. (Not something you read on their glossy tourist brochures.)

[route8]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

Good Post....many thanks,however let,s hope that that the relevant Thai agency continues to update all foreigners living here with accurate,ongoing information.

[ryladie99]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

Awesome information and you won't believe many people in America are lining up to buy prescription drug in order...to protect them from the Japan nuclear meltdown. ( not my family ) You are right that we will know within 3-4 days. I feel so bad for the victims and I will urge everyone to donate money through Red Cross in any amount ..make sure you know where your money is going to??? ( many fraud internet sites will divert funds, the crooks are working ) I will drive to my Red Cross office nearby because, I do not trust the internet. It is the worst disaster case I never seen in my life time. Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear melt down............my take.

[JoKaew]

I agree to jsflynn603. Thailand should not be in danger. And than there is the distance between Japan and Thailand. If we take the Chornobyl accident in 1986, Bangkok is about 4.600 km away from Japan. This is about the same distance that Portugal is away from Ukraine. And the blast in Chornobyl was until now much heavier.

So I guess in Thailand we are pretty safe. The Thai governement already react in different ways.

You can read at mojo4you more about it ( Thailand to test food from Japan )

[petermwolk]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

According to Google: 1 microsievert = 0.1 millrems

So 1 microsievert / hour = .1 millirems / hour ==> 0.1 m/h x 24 h/d x 365 d/y = 876 millirems / year! Adding in the amount normally received we get 876+340 = 1216 millirems / year. That's some 3 1/2 times background ... so how is this reasonable?

Edited March 16, 2011 by petermwolk

[David006]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

According to Google: 1 microsievert = 0.1 millrems

So 1 microsievert / hour = .1 millirems / hour ==> 0.1 m/h x 24 h/d x 365 d/y = 876 millirems / year! Adding in the amount normally received we get 876+340 = 1216 millirems / year. That's some 3 1/2 times background ... so how is this reasonable?

Just talked to Mum on West coast Canada..seems government is ready to issue iodine tabs for the population!! This f..g scary ..remembering the old film "On the Beach".

On a lighter note read someplace that red wine is a pretty good to reduce radiation absorption...I guess enough would contribute to " so what and who cares"...syndrome

[meithai]

Predominant winds this time of year are west, thus called the Westerlies. It is unlikely even in the event of a major physical explosion that Thailand would receive any plume or cloud of radioactive materials simply because the wind doesn't blow that way. North America, on the other and certainly might. We'll know in three or four days.

1 microsievert per hour translates to about 144 millirems (sort of like pounds and kilograms). The average human receives about 340-360 millirems every year from various sources, so this would seem reasonable. Though even a one microsievert per hour increase over background would get a part of it's cause by radioactive idodine. Radioactive Iodine with a half-life of 8 days is the real threat here. I'm not sure but hope that the person in charge knows when the benefits of prophylactic potassium iodide use exceeds the risks. (Note: risk of KI usage is very low).

[rich54321]

The Thai cancer agency should discuss all the burning of the rubbish lying around the roads and fields that is readily set on fire - billowing cancer particles in the air

[marquess]

The Thai cancer agency should discuss all the burning of the rubbish lying around the roads and fields that is readily set on fire - billowing cancer particles in the air

Here here to the above!

[TimeBandit2]

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

[Soutpeel]

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

Which I am sure will glow in the dark....

[MeanCatDaddy]

Got mine already!! LOL

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

[hardy1943]

The Thai cancer agency should discuss all the burning of the rubbish lying around the roads and fields that is readily set on fire - billowing cancer particles in the air

They should have some law here but apparently do not and would not hurt to educate the people about the danger of open burning

and was told after I complained that is part of nature. We compose our clippings and also taught my Thai wife to compose the clipping from fruit and vegetable.

Her family always asked what are you doing?

[DP25]

The only reason I would avoid traveling to Japan is if it would get in the way of rescue operations, otherwise go

[hyperdimension]

The Thai cancer agency should discuss all the burning of the rubbish lying around the roads and fields that is readily set on fire - billowing cancer particles in the air

They should also tell people to stop burning tires, as the gases contain carcinogens. I wonder how many people were diagnosed with cancer (or will be in future) due to the tire burning party last year.

[astral]

There is a strange irony here.

Radiation can cause cancer, but it is also an important way of curing it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_therapy

The Iodine pills only help with one kind of cancer.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/potassium-iodide-pills-and-prevention-of-thyroid-cancer-from-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-201103141864

[DP25]

The Iodine pills only help with one kind of cancer.

People think it's a magic radiation elixir though, so it keeps them calm

[bangon04]

""But we are taking necessary measures to ensure that all Thais are safe," he said."

This must be a candidate for quote of the year from the public health ministry....

Tobacco monopoly, road safety, alcohol poisoning, blah blah blah blah....

Of course he meant to say: ...all Thais outside Thailand are safe but it was lost in translation somewhere.

[coconutmonkey]

There is a strange irony here.

Radiation can cause cancer, but it is also an important way of curing it.

http://en.wikipedia....diation_therapy

The Iodine pills only help with one kind of cancer.

http://www.health.ha...nt-201103141864

This is not entirely true. There is much misinformation concerning iodine by industry (for profit). I will list some of these, but the topic is massive.

1) Iodine assists in protection against ALL sex hormone related cancers. This means cancers which occur as a result of progesterone production: not progesterone per se, but cortisol, testosterone and estrogen which are synthesized in the body from progesterone. This includes prostrate cancer, thyroid, breast, cervical, ovarian,etc. This is why, typically, before the mass adoption of western fast food into Japanese culture, Japanese people were low in cancers, particularly sex cancers due to their high intake of seaweed and seafood (which contains high levels of iodine). Iodine regulates endocrine hormone production from progesterone.

2) This will never be supported by mainstream health care/hospitals, and that is why some will say "we never knew iodine can help breast cancer!" Of course, it cannot be patented/copyright, and treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy fleece you of much more money to support the economy/hospitals and pharmaceutical companies than a naturally occurring molecule from seawater/seaweed and marine sources. Hemp again is another classic example of this industry manipulation.

3) radioactive iodine-131 (which means it is an isotope of iodine) does not in fact cure any cancer. That is false; it is used to destroy overactive thyroid glands; the idea that if you are hyperthyroid, then killing part of it will suppress it to regular working levels. Treatment from Iodine-131 will cause greater problems relating to metabolism in the future; the key ingredient for cancer, as metabolism affects oxygen assimilation and necrosis of cells resulting in cancer suppression or growth. This basically means that while it may appear, and be touted (even used) as a cure, those who undergo treatment will find themselves likely to develop sex-hormone related cancers further down the line because of the disruption to metabolism.

4) KI (potassium iodine) is not the same as I2 (elemental iodine). KI is water soluble, meaning it can be excreted, however elemental iodine is fat soluble, meaning it stores in body fat. KI contains I2, and this is the only reason it cannot be taken in excess (huge excess, that is). It is rather quite safe under normal uses. Therefore, it is necessary to ingest iodine regularly.

5) Noting this, the RDI (recommended daily intake) of iodine is far too low than the correct dosage, and the amount added to table salt likewise is inadequate for proper iodine thyroid levels.

6) Not only this, but as iodine is a halogen (group 17) with a higher atomic mass than fluorine (toothpaste, water), bromine (breads, etc) and chlorine (water), then iodine is easily displaced causing a deficiency. Furthermore, phytoestrogens (e.eg., in soy products, etc) bind to iodine molecules disabling proper assimilation by the thyroid, again increasing chances of deficiency. This is the reason for high occurance of goiter and cretinism of inland Chinese who consume soy products and live long distances from coastal iodine rich sources of food.

7) Interestingly, IQ is also affected by iodine.

The other choice is to shell out all your money for toxic cancer treatments (no one fares well with chemo or radiotherapy, and surgery is butchery...), and follow mainstream thinking "beware of every disease and virus!". It just doesn't work, there are too many; the wiser choice is to strengthen your immune system so it doesn't become prone to attack by pathogens. Iodine assists greatly with immune system functioning, as that is a primary role of the thyroid gland.

That's an intro. Hope it helps.

Of course you may ask your doctor and until you mention anything about radioactivity, he will tell you KI cannot be ingested because it is a poison (as it says on the bottle); as it is used to swab infections topically and pre-surgery and used in bacteriology. However, paper is a poison too if you eat too much, and for example, what could be worse than soy or ice-cream? Industry for profit is the criminal.

Cancer is industry (big money IS made!), as are pharmaceutical companies, and all their derivatives; hospitals, doctors and the like who must follow suit.

Disclaimer: Of course! This is not intended to be or replace medical information or advice from your family doctor. :-)

[Payboy]

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

What? You mean the wooden dildo I have on my desk for years is actually useless in this case?

[atyclb]

Seems the Japan Medical Assoxiation should warn travelers about the air contamination in BKK and other cities and its relation to cancer, asthma, etc etc.' a longstanding and constant hazard, not to mentionadded carcinogens from tires.....

[Soutpeel]

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

What? You mean the wooden dildo I have on my desk for years is actually useless in this case?

It may stop anal cancer once inserted...

[Payboy]

This is a great opportunity to sell radiation protection amulets!

What? You mean the wooden dildo I have on my desk for years is actually useless in this case?

It may stop anal cancer once inserted...

Then, I'm going to donate it to NCI.