ML20125C284
| ML20125C284 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/14/1979 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Van Hippel F PRINCETON UNIV., PRINCETON, NJ |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20125C287 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001080304 | |
| Download: ML20125C284 (2) | |
Text
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_ t, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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mMAN gD Professor Fran' von Hippel Princeton University Center for Environmental Studies The Engineering Quadrangle Princeton, Ne Jersey 08540 Dear Dr.
on Hippel:
Thank you for your letter of June 11, 1979 with a copy of your recent letter to Science, regarding the distribution of potassium iodide (KI) to tne public in a radiological emergency.
Because there have been almost weekly changes in the information I could give you, I have delayed our reply until
-1 now.
The NRC Staff has been aware for some time that potassium iodide can be an effective defense against excessive thyroid dose due to radiciodine intake.
The FDA issued a Federal Register notice (43 FR 58790) in December 1978.
This notice has tne practical effect, as we see it, of removing certain previous restrictions to the non-prescription distribution of KI in an emergency.
In the Federal Register notice, FDA also invited new dru; appli-cations for the mass procuction of KI tablets for over-the-counter districution in an emergency.
Recently, the FDA approved an application for the manufacture of potassium iodide for use during emergencies.
These actions by the FDA remove the legal impediments to the provisions for mass distribution and stockpiling of KI by State and Federal agencies.
Some concerns have been expressed by some members of our staff with respect to provisions for the broadcast distribution of KI to the general public.
The enclosed staff memoranda on the subject provide some perspective on these. concerns.
The staff is concerned that potassium iodice is only effec-tive if taken shortly before or af ter radiciodine intake and protects only the thyroid, whereas other protective actions could provide protection for all organs.
In many instances, these other protective actions could be consumated before, and possibly more easily than, the broadcast distribution of KI.
Of course, where institutional controls can be maintained for lengthy periods (e.g., in hospitals, prisons or reactor control rooms), KI has a greater potential for use in an emergency.
90009260 80010803f+
I Dr. Frank von Hippel
_2 -
However, you will note in paragraph 2 of the enclosed August 15, 1979 memorandum for Co sissioner Ahearne from Harold Denton that the majority of the NRC staff believe that the use of KI as a thyroid blocking agent is an appropriate part of a complete emergency preparedness program.
As part of our program for im: roving emergency planning activities, we will determine how XI can best be integrated into a total protective action preparedness program.
Such a determination will include an evaluation of the effectiveness and reasonableness of KI distribution at large distances where post-accident evacuation might not be feasible and sheltering might not be effective.
I have also enclosed a copy of a recent study by Sandia Laboratories, Examination of Offsite Radiological Emergency Protective Measures For Nuclear L
Reactor Acciaents Involving Core-Melt _, which addresses the relative efficacies of evacuation, sheltering and iodine prophylactics as protective measures.
As you can see from examination of the study, these protective actions could provide benefits during radiological emergencies.
I am pleased that your letter has prompted the staff to bring these insights
-l to my attention, and I am glad to share them with you.
-l Si ncerel,y, 1
J John F. Ahearne
Enclosures:
1.
Internal Staff Memos 2.
Sandia Study 90009261 i
.