Thai Academic Warns Of Unnecessary Potassium Iodide Intake

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Academic warns of unnecessary potassium iodide intake

BANGKOK, March 18 – An academic warned of unnecessary potassium iodide intakes or application by people who fear of any impact from radiation in Japan as it could pose health risk particularly in pregnant women.

Pinthip Pongpetch, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University said regarding public panic associated with spreading radiation from reactors in Japan that it is unnecessary and inappropriate for people to buy the medication for their own consumption.

Associate Professor Pinthip, in her capacity as a member of a committee regulating consumer health protection, said that chance radiation exposure is from food and the environment.

According to close monitoring of radiation levels, Thailand does not need to apply any measure to use the pills. For food, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are monitoring food imported from Japan.

“According to the situation in Thailand, there is no need to take iodine tablets or applying iodine liquid,” Prof Pinthip said.

“Improper iodine use can negatively effect on health and pregnant women, so people should not panic and pharmacists should advise and educate the public about that. Over-the-counter drugs are not the same dosage that helps fight off radiation,” she said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-18