Nutrition Facts
Iodine and Nuclear Emergencies - Part 1
Iodine is absorbed mostly and most quickly by the thyroid. I-131 is a radioactive form of iodine that is usually present in nuclear emergencies. We want to avoid absorbing I-131 as much as possible by saturating our iodine-absorbing tissues with molecular iodine and/or some form of iodide. Taking a high dose (60-130 mg) of iodide will flood the thyroid with iodine causing the I-131 to pass by without being taken up.