Iodine for Radioactive Fallout
Fallout from a nuclear bomb explosion or a nuclear power plant meltdown is full of radioactive iodine-131 (I-131). Nuclear fission splits the nuclei of uranium-235 and plutonium-239, producing I-131. The stable, natural isotope of iodine is iodine-127. Iodine is the largest and heaviest element of the 25 elements that make up the human body.
Iodine plays a number of important roles in the body. The thyroid gland uses it to make thyroxine, with 4 iodine atoms, and triiodothyronine (T3), with three. The active form, T3, regulates metabolism, thermogenesis, and protein synthesis. Other tissues and glands require iodine to function normally, including stomach mucosa, mammary glands, ovaries, salivary glands, prostrate, and the thymus gland. Iodine functions as an antioxidant, strengthens the immune system, and suppresses autoimmunity. And it triggers apoptosis, destroying cells that become cancerous and cells infected with viruses. Iodine also removes toxic chemicals from the body – fluoride, bromide, lead, aluminum, and mercury. Iodine is essential for health. (For more on iodine’s health benefits see HERE.)
And now… the rest of the story. …..
Harold
Obama’s proposed U.S. Nuclear energy expansion won’t save taxpayers money.
In most cases nuclear reactors have to be subsidized by taxpayers. When nuclear reactors leak as shown in Japan, it can be expensive; consider Japan’s current estimates at $200 Billion; more if one of the damaged reactors melts down. Too many nuclear reactors are too close to large U.S. populations e.g., there is one 37 miles away from Manhattan near 21 million people. Should that reactor ever have a serious radiation leak or meltdown, it is foreseeable winds could blow radiation fallout into Manhattan. Imagine the potential health costs; what would contaminated Manhattan real estate be worth? How long would contaminated real estate and industries be contaminated by radiation, perhaps decades; or centuries? The potential risks of developing more nuclear reactors in the U.S. does not pan out. From a military standpoint, U.S. enemies would only have to blowup U.S. nuclear reactors near populated areas, perhaps within a couple hundred miles, to spread lethal radiation. Nuclear reactors are a losing bet when you consider their downside.