|
TRENTON -Health, Environmental Protection and State Police officials
today began distributing a free one-day supply of potassium iodide
pills to people who live or work within 10 miles of the state's
four nuclear generating stations.
The
pills were given out to eligible residents and workers attending
the first of six scheduled public education and distribution sessions
to be held in Ocean, Salem and Cumberland Counties this month. Today's
sessions were held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Manchester High
School in Ocean County and at the Salem County Department of Emergency
Service's office in Woodstown.
Potassium
iodide (referred to chemically as KI) has been shown to be effective
in preventing thyroid cancer in cases of exposure to radioactive
iodine. If taken before or shortly after exposure, KI blocks the
thyroid gland's ability to absorb radioactive iodine.
"However,
KI is not a panacea," said Health and Senior Services Commissioner
Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. "The pills do not protect the body from
other radiation-related injuries due to exposure and are only a
supplement to evacuation and sheltering, the primary modes of protection
in a radiological emergency."
New
Jersey received a supply of 722,000 KI pills from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) in April. The KI is being offered as a preparedness
measure and not in response to any imminent danger or threat.
"We
have made KI an integral part of our comprehensive emergency prevention
and response plan because it has proven health benefits and limited
risk," said Dr. Lacy. "Our hope is that we will never
have to use the pills, but we are now prepared should the need arise."
The
Office of Emergency Management within the Division of State Police,
in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Senior Services
and Environmental Protection and county and local health and emergency
management officials and volunteer agencies, is managing New Jersey's
KI distribution plan.
In
total, 33 states and 1 Native American nation within 10-mile EPZs
around nuclear power plants were offered a free supply of KI by
the NRC. New Jersey was the 11th state to accept the offer.
Individuals
who wish to receive KI at one of the scheduled public education
and distribution sessions are required to show identification (such
as a driver's license, property tax record, utility bill, employee
ID card, paycheck stub or letter from their employer) indicating
they reside or work in one of the towns within the 10-mile Emergency
Planning Zones (EPZs) around the state's nuclear generating stations.
The towns include Greenwich and Stow Creek in Cumberland County;
Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, Quinton, Pennsville
and Salem City in Salem County; and Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Beach
Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Dover, Harvey Cedars, Island Heights,
Lacey, Long Beach, Pine Beach, Ocean, Ocean Gate, Seaside Park,
Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford and Surf City in Ocean County.
An
additional supply of KI will be made available to residents, workers
and visitors within the EPZs at designated evacuation reception
centers in Ocean, Salem and Cumberland counties in the unlikely
event of a radiological release.
In
addition to today's public education and distribution sessions in
Manchester and Woodstown, sessions are also planned as follows:
Ocean
County Area
- 7-17-02
Pinelands Regional High School (Wednesday)
565 Nugentown Road, Little Egg Harbor
Operation Hours (4:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
- 7-27-02
Manchester High School (Saturday)
101 South Colonial Drive, Manchester
Operation Hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm)
Salem/Cumberland
County Area
- 7-24-02
Bridgeton High School (Wednesday)
111 North West Avenue, Bridgeton
Operation Hours (4:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
- 7-27-02
Salem County Department of Emergency Service (Saturday)
135 Cemetery Road, Woodstown
Operation Hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm)
# # #
|
