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Usps iodide pills { December 3 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1919-2002Dec3.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1919-2002Dec3.html USPS Workers Get Potassium Iodide Pills By Siobhan McDonough Associated Press Writer Tuesday, December 3, 2002; 3:22 AM WASHINGTON –– U.S. postal workers are being given potassium iodide pills to protect against thyroid cancer in the event of a radiological emergency. "Employees are out there in all of these communities nationwide and we wanted to err on the side of caution," Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan said. The USPS said Monday it was buying nearly 1.6 million pills from Tampa-based Anbex, Inc. for distribution to workers who want to have the tablets if a radiological emergency occurs. Potassium iodide is the only medication for internal radiation exposure. It has just one use – to prevent thyroid cancer by shielding the thyroid from radioactive iodine, and it would help only if a dirty bomb used radioactive iodine instead of other radioactive substances, and then only for people close to the explosion. The Food and Drug Administration-approved tablets are being offered to all 750,000 postal workers nationwide. Any employee who wants the pills in case of emergency will get two tablets. "It's a proactive approach regarding the safety, health and well-being of employees nationwide," Brennan said. Brennan said the pills are being offered much like free flu shots were offered in the wake of the anthrax scares after the Sept. 11 attacks. The recommendation came up in meetings of the mail security task force, comprised of representatives of postal unions, management associations and the Office of the Inspector General, along with safety and medical specialists and members of the mailing industry. In January, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced it would provide free potassium iodide to 33 states that had residents living within a 10-mile radius of each of the nation's 102 nuclear reactors. Like any medication, overdoses of potassium iodide can be dangerous. Some people may experience allergic reactions, including nausea or rashes. Phone calls to the American Postal Workers Union and National Association of Letter Carriers were not immediately returned. ––– On the Net: U.S. Postal Service: http://www.usps.com Nuclear Regulatory Commission: http://www.nrc.gov Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov © 2002 The Associated Press

afghanistan africa alqaeda asia china cuba eastern-europe haiti iran iraq israel kashmir latin-america mideast-misc muslim-empire north-korea pakistan russia saudi-arabia syria turkey united-states venezuela Anand questions support war on terrorism { September 9 2003 } Belfast police station bombed { June 6 2002 } Bush goes offensive european critics aids { May 21 2003 } Canada liberals defeated in elections { June 29 2004 } Canadian liberals face loss after 12 years { December 2006 } Canadians elect fragile conservative government { January 23 2006 } Children increasing used as soldiers Fake macedonia terror tale and deaths { May 17 2004 } Food prices causing world social unrest { March 2008 } Fueling terrorism { November 21 2002 } Global apartheid africa iraq { December 23 2002 } Global military spending hits over trillion Global military spending tops one trillion { June 7 2005 } Ira accused of betraying dublin { February 22 2005 } Irish group designated terrorists Italian prime minister silvio berusconi media mogul Japan missing plutonium { January 28 2003 } Journalists killed by military at high rate No evidence for victories in terror war Pakistanis blame america for sectarian violence { May 31 2005 } Serbian prime minister shot { March 13 2003 } Study says conflicts genocide are in decline { October 18 2005 } Terrorism kills tiny number compared to war This war on terror is bogus { September 6 2003 } Top general says war on terror will last generations { December 13 2006 } Usps iodide pills { December 3 2002 } War on terror breeds terrorism { March 11 2004 } Widening violence in poor nations { September 17 2004 } Files Listed: 28

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