Durham Region Health Department is encouraging all residents living within 10 kilometres of the Pickering or Darlington nuclear generating stations to have a supply of potassium iodide (KI) tablets in their households.
This recommendation is also aimed at pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents of infants, children and adolescents, as KI is both safe and most effective for these individuals, it said in a statement.
KI is a stable iodine salt effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the event of a radioactive iodine release. New-borns, infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding women are at the highest risk of negative health effects to the thyroid from radioactive iodine. These individuals should be the first to receive KI tablets in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear accident. If such an incident were to occur, KI tablets are only to be taken when instructed by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
“The current Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of planning in advance for all emergencies to ensure that we are prepared and able to successfully manage and respond to such events,” said Lisa Fortuna, Director, Health Protection with the Health Department. “As emergency preparedness is at the forefront of our minds, please also check to ensure you have a supply of KI tablets at home for you and your family in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident.”
In 2015, as a requirement of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), an initial pre-distribution of KI tablets took place in Durham Region. This resulted in KI tablets being supplied to all area residents and businesses located within a 10-kilometre radius of both the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations. Currently, residents and businesses, as well as individuals who are new to the Durham Region communities where nuclear generating stations are located, are reminded to confirm that they have an adequate supply of KI tablets readily available.
“Everyone living or working in the area where the two nuclear generating stations are located are encouraged to check that they have a supply of KI tablets on hand,” Ms. Fortuna explained. “KI tablets are available free of charge. In fact, as part of the increased safety standards outlined by the CNSC, anyone living within 50 kilometres of a nuclear generating station is eligible to receive free KI tablets if they want to keep a supply available.”
Precautionary measure
Ontario Power Generation indicates that a serious nuclear accident is extremely unlikely and would take many hours and days to unfold. The Pickering nuclear generating station has operated for over 40 years without a serious accident, while the Darlington nuclear generating station has operated for over 25 years, also without a serious accident. KI tablets are to be used to protect the thyroid from negative effects that can result in the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency involving the release of radioactive iodine.
In addition, a limited supply of KI tablets is also available free of charge at some local pharmacies. The Health Department works in partnership with these pharmacies to help with local distribution:
- Bay Ridges Pharmacy, 1794 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
- Pickering Medical Pharmacy, 1885 Glenanna Rd., Pickering
- Liverpool Pharmacy, 725 Krosno Blvd., Pickering
- Global Drug Mart Remedy’s Rx, 130 Waverly Rd., Bowmanville
- Courtice Pharmasave, 2727 Courtice Rd., Courtice
For more information, or to obtain a supply of KI tablets, visit preparetobesafe.ca, or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.