The distribution campaign has just started. Since Monday, some residents of Finistère have been invited to pick up iodine tablets from pharmacies. Nothing abnormal in short because for almost thirty years, the State has been organizing these preventive and free distribution campaigns of pellets for people living near a nuclear installation. But why exactly?
In the event of a major accident, radioactive elements can be released into the atmosphere, in particular radioactive iodine which increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Hence the need, if the alert is triggered, to swallow these stable iodine tablets which “protect your thyroid gland against the effects of radioactive iodine”, assure the authorities. “They do not, however, protect against releases of other radioactive elements for which sheltering or evacuation are the only protection,” they continue.
Tablets to swallow only in case of alert
At the tip of Brittany, certain residents were already affected by this distribution, living or working less than two kilometers from two highly sensitive sites: the Brest naval base and the ultra-secret Ile-Longue base, which houses the four pennies. -French nuclear missile launchers. But since the end of November, the perimeter has been expanded to a radius of five kilometers. This recent extension follows a strengthening of nuclear safety regulations but is not linked to an increase in the level of danger,” reassures the Finistère prefecture.
Nine municipalities are therefore now concerned with, in order, Brest, Plouzané, Guilers, Bohars and Roscanvel for the Brest naval base and those of Crozon, Camaret-sur-Mer, Lanvéoc and Plougastel-Daoulas for Ile-Longue. The authorities make it clear that these iodine tablets must be taken “only” when instructions are given by the prefect. “Ideally, stable iodine should be taken a few hours before the passage of radioactive particles and gases and at the latest eight hours afterwards,” they detail.
All people are of course affected by this distribution campaign, in particular newborns, children, those under 18 and pregnant and breastfeeding women who are particularly concerned by the risk of thyroid cancer.