Marshfield Board of Health to Provide Potassium Iodide to Marshfield residents
The Marshfield Board of Health is currently working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Center for Environmental Health’s, Radiation Control Program to enhance preparedness efforts for communities within the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. The Board of Health has recently received potassium iodide (KI) pills from MDPH and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that will protect residents from certain types of radiation should a nuclear power plant emergency occur.
KI is an iodide salt that ensures that the thyroid gland has adequate iodine to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine, a substance that might be released during a nuclear power plant emergency, thereby preventing health impacts to the thyroid. In the unlikely event of a significant emergency at this plant, residents including children would be advised to take KI. Distribution to EPZ communities is required under a statute passed in 2002 (M.G.L. c. 111, Sec.5K(F).
KI tablets provided to EPZ communities by MDPH in 2002 will have an extended shelf life until 2009. Local Boards of Health have worked with MDPH to develop a KI distribution plan and to provide a supply of KI directly to the communities, consistent with the state statute. The distribution plan ensures that communities have KI available should an emergency occur. In previous years, KI was distributed to residents by MDPH directly, and KI supplies were maintained in a central stockpile. The new distribution process will facilitate more rapid, pre-event distribution not only to the general community but also to special populations, visitors, and all permanent residents more effectively. The Town of Marshfield will make KI available to Marshfield residents via distribution through the Board of
Health Office during business hours 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday – Friday beginning on September 24, 2007.
For more information on KI tablet distribution, contact the Marshfield Board of Health at Town Hall, 870 Moraine St., Marshfield, phone 781 834-5558.
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