4 ms·

Some people have suggested (I have not personally researched it enough to take a position) that a solicitation by the Department of Health and Human Services fo

Some people have suggested (I have not personally researched it enough to take a position) that a solicitation by the Department of Health and Human Services for 14 million Potassium Iodide pills to be delivered by February 1 is proof that the government believes that radiation is reaching the West Coast at harmful levels. http://1.usa.gov/1eVKiQT http://1.usa.gov/1eVKiQT I'm guessing it's not happening and this solicitation is unrelated, although the time from the solicitation (December 6) to the delivery date is very compressed for it to be a normal US government order. It reflects an urgent desire to stock the pills for some reason.

icambron 13y ago
Contaminated water is expected to reach the US west coast this year; it's just not dangerous. (So I agree the pill solicitation is likely incidental.) Here's a good writeup of the whole thing: http://deepseanews.com/2013/11/true-facts-about-ocean-radiation-and-the-fukushima-disaster/ http://deepseanews.com/2013/11/true-facts-about-ocean-radiat...
mpyne 13y ago
Any KI pills that would be delivered are about 2-3 years too late to help with the Fukushima disaster anyways. The radioiodine released by Fukushima during the event has a relatively short half-life (which means it's no longer a thyroid risk now) and is no longer being produced since the reactors are shutdown (which means the Fukushima won't be a thyroid risk in the future, at least due to iodine).
qwerta 13y ago
If you run the numbers, it is at the same level as some 9/11 theories.
mikeash 13y ago
I can sort of respect not taking a position if you haven't researched it... but on the other hand, why even mention it if you haven't researched it enough to take a position? The claim smells like Grade A Bullshit, and while that's not necessarily enough to dismiss it outright, it does mean that you should check into it before spreading it around. Some brief research indicates that there is a national stockpile of potassium iodide maintained for emergency response to domestic nuclear disasters. The tablets in this stockpile don't last forever, and have to be replenished. This is probably just a stockpile replenishment. More info here: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-preparedness/potassium-iodide.html http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-...
- clockworkelf 13y ago
  "This is probably just a stockpile replenishment" That doesn't sound researched .. why did you mention that if you haven't researched it enough to take a position?
- downandout 13y ago
  I mentioned it because the solicitation is a fact that may have a place in the discussion. Even if ultimately proven unrelated, I don't think it's irresponsible to bring up hard facts that can add to the discussion.

icambron 13y ago

Contaminated water is expected to reach the US west coast this year; it's just not dangerous. (So I agree the pill solicitation is likely incidental.) Here's a good writeup of the whole thing: http://deepseanews.com/2013/11/true-facts-about-ocean-radiation-and-the-fukushima-disaster/ http://deepseanews.com/2013/11/true-facts-about-ocean-radiat...

mpyne 13y ago

Any KI pills that would be delivered are about 2-3 years too late to help with the Fukushima disaster anyways. The radioiodine released by Fukushima during the event has a relatively short half-life (which means it's no longer a thyroid risk now) and is no longer being produced since the reactors are shutdown (which means the Fukushima won't be a thyroid risk in the future, at least due to iodine).

qwerta 13y ago

If you run the numbers, it is at the same level as some 9/11 theories.

mikeash 13y ago

I can sort of respect not taking a position if you haven't researched it... but on the other hand, why even mention it if you haven't researched it enough to take a position? The claim smells like Grade A Bullshit, and while that's not necessarily enough to dismiss it outright, it does mean that you should check into it before spreading it around. Some brief research indicates that there is a national stockpile of potassium iodide maintained for emergency response to domestic nuclear disasters. The tablets in this stockpile don't last forever, and have to be replenished. This is probably just a stockpile replenishment. More info here: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-preparedness/potassium-iodide.html http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-...

clockworkelf 13y ago
"This is probably just a stockpile replenishment" That doesn't sound researched .. why did you mention that if you haven't researched it enough to take a position?
downandout 13y ago
I mentioned it because the solicitation is a fact that may have a place in the discussion. Even if ultimately proven unrelated, I don't think it's irresponsible to bring up hard facts that can add to the discussion.