South Korea fears radiation fallout from Japan's nuclear reactors

Radiation Fear Also Rises in Korea
By Se Young Lee

As Japan struggles with the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, fear that radiation leakage will spread across the region is rising in South Korea as well as China and elsewhere. Here, authorities have tried to keep the worries from getting out of hand.

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association issued a statement late Wednesday after pharmacists reported surge in inquiries about iodine tablets, which can be taken to limit the damage that radiation can cause on the thyroid.

The association said such worries were unwarranted at the moment. It noted that high levels of iodine are needed and that there are complications, such as allergic reactions in some people. “Further, it is said that there is no chance of radioactive material reaching Korean soil, so taking high amounts of iodine may end up being harmful,” the association said.

“There is no need to purchase iodine (pills) based on vague fears about radiation from Fukushima; if (citizens are) concerned about exposure to radiation, it would be better to increase the intake of foods with a lot of iodine such as kelp, seaweed and dried laver rather than taking iodine pills,” the pharmaceutical association said.

The Korean group noted that some Koreans were getting information about radiation and iodine through postings on the Internet spread online Tuesday that Korea may get hit with radiation exposure, which some authorities think may have contributed to a drop in stock prices that day.

South Korean government officials have said the country is safe from radiation.
[link to blogs.wsj.com]

German cyclists skip Tour of Taiwan over radiation concerns

Tweet By Agence France Presse
Published Mar 18th 2011

TAIPEI (AFP) – The German national cycling team has dropped out of the Tour de Taiwan this month due to concerns over possible radiation risk caused by the Japanese nuclear crisis, the organizer said Friday.

“The cyclists said they were advised by German authorities to avoid visiting the Asia Pacific, not least Taiwan, which is so close to Japan,” said Sara Chen, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association.
[link to velonews.competitor.com]

Because I have extended family there.
Be safe!

Mass output of protective gear, iodine pills are being planned
2011/03/18

Taipei, March 18 (CNA) Taiwan plans to mass produce anti-radiation protective clothing and iodine pills to be ready in case the island is exposed to radioactive contamination from Japan, Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-shiang said Friday.

"The government still has a stockpile of more than 200,000 anti-radiation suits, but its inventory of iodine tablets might fall short of actual need, " Shih said at a legislative hearing when asked about the country's ability to cope with radioactive fallout.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has been in contact with manufacturers to discuss mass producing the items to meet potential demand in the future, Shih said.

"The ministry will commission local pharmaceutical companies to start mass production of iodine pills when necessary," he noted. "The companies have sufficient materials and could immediately begin production whenever the Department of Health gives the green light."

Shih estimated that Taiwan's pharmaceuticals could produce hundreds of thousands of iodine tablets per day, and said the iodine pills would be more effective in protecting the thyroid gland from radiation than salt.

Shih also brushed aside lawmakers' misgivings that waters off Taiwan could be contaminated as a result of the radiation released from Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, saying the possibility of such a development is extremely low.

Also taking questions on the same occasion, Premier Wu Den-yih pledged that the Executive Yuan would require the MOEA to provide the public with sufficie protective gear in a nuclear crisis as if the country were at war.
[link to focustaiwan.tw]

JAPAN DISASTER: Legislators slam AEC over radiation

JAPAN DISASTER: Legislators slam AEC over radiation
RISKS:Council deputy minister Shieh Der-jhy said dust from Japan will be so diluted there would be no need for protective measures like taking potassium iodide
By Chen Hsiao-yi / Staff Reporter

Legislators from both the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) expressed their displeasure yesterday following a presentation by Atomic Energy Council Deputy Minister Shieh Der-jhy (謝得志) on radiation risks stemming from the leak at a nuclear power plant in Japan.

Iodine pills will reduce 100mSv (millisievert) — a measuring unit for radiation affecting biological matter — in the human body, Shieh said.

“Ingestion of iodine tablets is harmful to the body, so don’t take any unless you have to,” Shieh said.

The council had utilized a sophisticated computer programs to analyze possible scenarios involving the explosion of nuclear reactors at both the Fukushima Dai-ichi and Dai-ni power plants, Shieh said. Analysis showed that by the time radioactive dust traveled the 2,200km between Fukushima and Taiwan, it would have been diluted by a factor of 1 million.

“This would have an effect, yes, but not enough to justify adopting protective measures,” Shieh said.

However, DPP Legislator Pan Men-an (潘孟安) said that Shieh’s answers were inadequate.

Why is it that despite the council’s claims to have distributed iodine tablets to every household near a nuclear power plant, “nobody has them?” he asked.

Shieh said the tablets could be found at the borough warden’s office, county government bureaus or have already been distributed to households.
[link to www.taipeitimes.com]