The Ministry of Health: Due to the situation in Zaporizhzhia, there is no danger to the health of Lithuania’s residents
The Ministry of Health (SAM), responding to public concern, emphasizes that there is no reason for Lithuania’s residents to worry about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, since even if an incident were to occur there, the distance is too great for it to pose any danger. For this reason, there is also no basis for rushing to acquire potassium iodide tablets, and even more so, they must not be taken at one’s own discretion.
However, this serves as an important reminder for residents living within 100 km of Astravas who have not yet picked up their potassium iodide tablets to do so without delay, as about half still have not collected them.
“We have received information that residents have become concerned and rushed to pharmacies following misleading reports suggesting a possible danger to Lithuania’s population due to the situation in Zaporizhzhia. We want to reassure everyone that there is no and cannot be any radiation threat to our country from this situation, and therefore there is no need to purchase potassium iodide tablets,” says Vice-Minister of Health Daniel Naumovas.
There is no reason to worry
As experts from the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) explained earlier this week, all nuclear facilities in Ukraine are located at a great distance from Lithuania, so even in the event of an incident or nuclear accident, there would be no significant radiological impact on Lithuania’s residents.
Experts from the Radiation Protection Centre share this view, reinforcing the assessment of the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI): due to the large distance, any radioactive materials released into the environment would disperse and decrease in concentration, and accordingly, any potential radioactive contamination of the environment and its impact on residents would be minimal.
As VATESI representatives add, even if an incident were to occur specifically at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, it would be only of a local nature.
The Ministry of Health (SAM) points out that potassium iodide for thyroid protection is only necessary within 100 km of a nuclear incident, and all Ukrainian nuclear facilities are located well beyond that distance.
A chance to pick them up for those who actually need them
The Vice Minister reminds that residents of Lithuania living within a 100 km radius of the nearest nuclear power plant in Belarus have been provided with potassium iodide. However, about half of them have still not collected their tablets: ‘Those who have not yet picked up potassium iodide—do not delay, regardless of recent events. For everyone else, there is no need to have potassium iodide on hand.’ Information on where to collect it and how to use it can be found here.
The Ministry of Health (SAM) draws residents’ attention to the fact that in the event of a nuclear accident, spirit iodine solutions or iodine sprays sold in pharmacies, as well as dietary supplements containing iodine, are not suitable for thyroid protection, as they would not protect the thyroid. Spirit iodine solutions are intended only for external use—applied to the skin—and iodine sprays for the oral mucosa are meant for treating throat conditions. The active ingredient in these products is not potassium iodide, but elemental iodine, which is a strongly oxidizing and toxic substance that can cause chemical burns and poisoning. Therefore, it must never be ingested, even when diluted with water.
Potassium iodide tablets should only be taken following the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, in the event of a nuclear accident at an operating nuclear power plant. Tablets taken too early or too late will not provide the necessary protection for the thyroid, and taking them at a time other than recommended may even be harmful.
Specialists at the Radiation Protection Centre continuously monitor the radiation background in Lithuania 24/7. It remains unchanged.
Residents can monitor background natural ionizing radiation measurements on the RSC website Radiation Early Warning System (RADIS).