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Expert recommends antiradiation pills
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer CRYSTAL RIVER -- A top nuclear official on Thursday urged the state to accept radiation-blocking pills that could be used in a disaster. Nils J. Diaz, one of five directors of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said the use of potassium iodide is a "prudent measure." He scoffed at criticism that the tablets would make some residents hesitant to evacuate in the case of a terrorist attack on a nuclear plant or the accidental release of radiation. "What, do you think people are dumb?" Diaz said, addressing a packed crowd at Crystal River City Hall, a few miles from Florida Power's nuclear plant on U.S. 19. Two of the region's legislative representatives pledged to fight for the pills, which have proved effective in preventing thyroid cancer. "My constituents want the right to have the choice," said state Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River. "They are not going to hold up the bottle of pills and say, "Now let's go watch the meltdown.' " State officials long have resisted the idea of distributing the pills, also known as KI, to the general public, opting instead to maintain small stockpiles for emergency workers. That position seemed firm earlier this week, with several officials saying the state would likely pass on the NRC's offer to provide pills to people living near nuclear plants. But in recent days, the state said it would not rush into a decision, leaving open the possibility that KI would be made available to the estimated 230,000 people who live within 10 miles of Florida's three nuclear plants. Potassium iodide is a proven but controversial substance. It was effective against thyroid cancer after the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and is widely available in Europe today. KI works by saturating the thyroid and blocking radioactive iodine. But KI protects against only one of many radioactive isotopes that could be released in an accident, and some critics say it would provide a false sense of security and complicate efforts to evacuate the area. Opponents say there are logistical concerns as well, such as whether the pills would be stored in homes or in a central location. If the state rejects the offer, people may turn to the Internet, where the pills can be bought for a quarter or less each. Harvey Roberts, 65, a retired engineer who lives in nearby Lecanto, said he logged on this week to find one supplier was sold out. "It minimizes the risk," Roberts said. Diaz's statements on KI came during a larger discussion on the safety of nuclear power plants. About 70 people, many of them associated with local government and Florida Power, packed the meeting room. Diaz, a former University of Florida professor, called the plants the strongest industrial facilities in the world. "There have been no credible threats -- not even small threats -- to a nuclear facility," he said, saying many of the fears are overstated. He drew on the Chernobyl accident to illustrate his point. In the immediate aftermath, 31 people died, many of them emergency workers. The following year there were no deaths. All told, he said, about 1,800 children became sick. But that could have been avoided. Officials did not evacuate parts of the region until days after the accident and did not prevent people from eating and drinking contaminated food, Diaz said, adding that the United States knows better. Florida Power faced significant criticism for turning down National Guard protection offered by the state in November. The utility said existing security, backed by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard, was adequate. Several residents at Thursday's forum questioned that assurance, but Diaz and other officials backed the utility. "It was the right decision for this plant," said Steve Lauer, director of statewide antiterrorism measures.
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