The ASN (Nuclear Safety Authority) organized with the collaboration of the Ministries of the Interior and of Health and with the support of EDF, a campaign targeting homes as well as public establishments located within a perimeter of 10 km around the 19 nuclear power plants in France. This campaign consists of inviting those concerned to withdraw boxes of iodine tablets free of charge.
What are these tablets used for?
In the event of a nuclear accident, inhalation or ingestion by the human body of radioactive iodine released into the air may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer (a small gland located on the front of the neck that produces hormones). The purpose of taking stable iodine tablets is to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine. This preventive treatment must however be accompanied by sheltering in the event of an alert.
For more information, visit the website www.distribution-iode.com
