Some info on iodine i thought i share...
Iodine tablets are an great product to have in your emergency preparedness kit, though many people are probably unaware of their use. This is because iodine tablets are only used during a nuclear fallout (such as when a nuclear power plant experiences a radiation leak.) A good example is the Chernobyl accident some years back, which drove up demand for iodine tablets from the concerned public.
Iodine tablets function this way - every iodine tablet contains a certain amount of Potassium Iodide, a compound which supplies your thyroid gland with the stabilized iodine that can counter the presence of radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine is produced during a nuclear fallout, enters our atmosphere, and may eventually be absorbed through our skin and wind up in our thyroid gland. With adequate Potassium Iodide in your thyroid, you may be able to withstand up to 99% of potential damage wrought by absorbed radioactive iodine.
Granted, many of us don't live near nuclear power plants, but we all live with the threat of nuclear war - especially in countries like the US where nuclear weapons are pretty standard weapons for defense. This means we all may need to be prepared for nuclear radiation that may invade our homes, offices, schools, and public buildings - nuclear fallout respects no one, so everyone is at risk.
Iodine tablets should not be consumed carelessly. You must only consume them orally about 30 minutes before you expect to be exposed to nuclear fallout, or when public authorities state they should be taken. Also, people who react negatively to iodine should not consume these.
I have to look for a store where i can get them on short notice.