洛杉磯郡官方文件：關於避免食用碘化鉀的健康警告（圖）

HEALTH ADVISORY: LA County Residents Cautioned to AVOID Ingesting Potassium Iodide
Based on current situation, there is NO increased risk of radiation exposure from nuclear power complex situation in Japan

LOS ANGELES - The damage to nuclear reactors in Japan has understandably lead to concerns aboutthe safety of individuals throughout the world, including here in Los Angeles County. The County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, is cautioning residents against ingesting potassium iodide (KI) as a precaution against possible radiation exposure. It is not an effective precautionary measure.

"There is no increased risk of harmful levels of radiation exposure in the United States based on the situation to date at the nuclear power complex in Japan. Residents who ingest potassium iodide out of concern of possible exposure from this situation are doing something which is not only ineffective, but could also cause side effects," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "If a need should arise for residents to start taking potassium iodide to guard against effects of
radiation exposure, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department - along with other local, state and federal agencies - will inform the public. We do not anticipate this need."

However, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health - along with other local, state and federal agencies - is actively monitoring the situation. These agencies utilize a number of redundant monitoring systems capable of detecting any significant elevation in radiation levels. The public is encouraged to check reliable sources for up-to-date information.

Potassium iodide, or KI, is a stable form of iodine. During a nuclear emergency, persons may be exposed to a radioactive form of iodine, which can be harmful to the thyroid gland. In such an event, public health officials may recommend use of KI to offer some protection. KI is not recommended for use as a precautionary medication, unless there is a specific emergency that warrants use as recommended by public health officials.

Although usually benign, it can be harmful to people with allergies to iodine or shellfish, those with certainskin disorders, or those with thyroid problems. Observed but infrequent side effects of ingesting potassium iodide include nausea, intestinal upset, rashes, inflammation of the salivary glands, and possibly severe allergic reactions. KI cannot protect the body from radioactive elements other than radioactive iodine-if radioactive iodine is not present, taking KI is not protective.

All residents are reminded to prepare a basic, emergency kit to prepare for any kind of disaster. While potassium iodide is not a recommended component of such a kit, there are at least 10 Essential Items, as recommended by the Emergency Survival Program in LA County's Office of Emergency Management, which should be included:

1. Water
2. Food
3. Cash and Important Documents
4. Clothes
5. Flashlight
6. First Aid Kit
7. Prescription Medication
8. Radio
9. Toiletries
10. Tools

These essential items will help ensure that people have access to basic essentials when other resources may not be available during an emergency. It is also vital that families put together a Communications Plan, such as a pre- planned place to meet and a designated out-of-state contact, in case family members are separated or at work or school when a disaster strikes.

For more information on earthquake and disaster readiness, call [phone] or the LA County Information Line at 2- 1-1. Additional information can be found on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

For more information on potassium iodide (KI), visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'swebsite at http://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov,
visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth, or follow us on Twitter: LAPublicHealth.

洛縣碘化鉀因防核輻射走俏 大批華人跟風搶購

日本核輻射威脅升高，洛城碘缺貨。連日來洛杉磯許多藥房的碘片（碘化鉀）都被搶購一空。在華人密集的蒙市，人人藥房、安康寧藥房和嘉惠爾藥房的碘片也都出現缺貨現象。

據了解，碘化鉀是一種可以預防甲狀腺疾病的藥物，而放射性碘的低輻射是導致這種疾病的直接罪魁禍首，這種放射性物質會在核輻射中大量產生。

由於擔心日本的核浮塵會飄到美國，洛杉磯許多華人開始跟風搶購抗輻射的碘片。今天上午記者走訪了蒙市的人人藥房、安康寧藥房和嘉惠爾藥房，得到的回答都是缺貨。嘉惠爾藥房華裔工作人員艾米（Amy T.）說：這幾天前來購買碘片的華人很多，尤其是今天。但由於貨架上無貨，這些人隻好空手而歸。

帕沙迪納邁克爾藥房的老板斯奇（Skye）也被突如其來的搶購碘片的人潮所震驚。因為缺貨，她已經打電話聯係了3家供應商，得到的回答都是已被搶購一空，無貨供應。她認為美國政府官員對日本核泄漏的大肆渲染客觀上誤導了西岸的民眾。事實上核浮塵跨越4000英裏太平洋的可能性微乎其微。

蒙市居民劉太太稱她也是前來購買碘片的，“雖然官方說核浮塵飄到美國的可能微乎其微，但這句話本身的意思就是還有那麽一點點的可能，或者說萬分之一的機率吧。所以，我想還是有備無患的好。不怕一萬，就怕萬一嘛。”

洛縣衛生部長費爾丁（Jonathan Fielding）強調：隻有在極少的狀況下碘化鉀才會派上用場，這種東西大量儲藏在靠近核反應堆的美國倉庫中。“洛縣衛生部目前正在和聯邦及加州疾病控製中心取得聯係，以確定碘化鉀的儲量。”

費爾丁指出：日本現在的狀況和當年俄國切爾諾貝利核電站的泄露大不相同，“日本所麵臨的更像是細菌彈的大爆炸”。他轉述世界衛生組織的警告說：“許多亞洲國家因為碘化鉀在藥房買不到，屬於醫院處方藥，所以很多人改用喝碘酒，但這種辦法其實毫無用處。”