Iodine tablets

Stable (non-radioactive) iodine tablets are an established countermeasure to accidents at nuclear installations that result in the release of radioactive iodine.

The tablets saturate the thyroid gland with stable iodine in order to prevent it from accumulating radioactive iodine, hence reducing the risk of thyroid cancer.

To be efficient, they need to be taken before the arrival of the radioactive cloud or within a few hours of the arrival of the cloud.

Iodine tablets may be especially beneficial to infants and young children whose thyroid glands are still growing, but are of limited benefit to adults.

Source: GreenFacts

Chernobyl

Fukushima accident