Skip to main content

Residents Encouraged to Replace Potassium Iodide (KI) Stockpile, Expires in October

For Immediate Release: September 3, 2014

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is reminding those who live or work within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant and who have obtained free potassium iodide (KI) for their emergency stockpiles, to check the expiration date on their KI boxes. Much of the potassium iodide (KI) that has been dispensed in the past few years is due to expire this October. Replacement KI is now available at participating pharmacies at no cost.

MDCH is mailing information to anyone who has obtained KI with the October 2014 expiration date. The mailing includes a voucher that should be completed and taken to a participating pharmacy to be redeemed for an updated potassium iodide supply.

Vouchers and a list of participating pharmacies are also posted online at www.michigan.gov/KI and are listed in the annual mailings from the nuclear power plants to residents and businesses within 10 miles of each plant. Persons who have not already obtained KI are also encouraged to obtain it now.

Evacuation and sheltering in-place are the primary modes of protection during a nuclear power plant emergency. In the event of a plant emergency, officials will instruct residents and businesses on the primary protective measures to take. KI is recommended as an additional health protective measure, and should not replace or interfere with primary protective measures.

In the unlikely event of a serious accident at a nuclear power plant, radioactive iodine could be released into the air. Like regular iodine, radioactive iodine can be stored in the thyroid gland. This can cause thyroid cancer or other thyroid problems over time. Children are most at risk of thyroid injury from exposure to radioactive iodine. KI protects the thyroid by filling it up with a safe form of iodine so that it can't take in radioactive iodine.

The risk of an accident at a nuclear power plant has not increased. In fact, nuclear plants have undertaken increased security measures and are safer than ever. The KI distribution program is an additional measure of protection for those who choose to use it. More information about this program can be found at www.michigan.gov/KI or by calling (517) 335-8350.

# # #