Iodine Pills to Be Hand Out To Belgians In Case Of Nuclear Accidents

The Belgian government has recently announced a widescale distribution of iodine pills to its citizens as part of its revision of the nuclear emergency plan. Currently, the emergency iodine-pills have already been given to residents living close to the country's nuclear facilities.

As per Gizmodo, iodine pills help reduce radiation build-up in a person's thyroid gland- the part most susceptible to radiation as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The pills are pre-emptive measures to fill the thyroid will safe and stable iodine before radioactive iodine takes over.

Belgian health authorities think that it would be wiser to extend the coverage of iodine pill distribution from the current 12 miles (20km) to 62 miles (100km) in areas surrounding the country's nuclear facilities with added emphasis to the most vulnerable citizens like children, teenagers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The government, however, noted that pill distribution is restricted only to certain parts of the population that need it.

"We do not intend to give all Belgians iodine pills. No way," said health ministry spokesperson Els Cleemput as quoted by CNN.

Belgium has a total of seven nuclear plants that produce half of its electricity needs. The timing of the nuclear policy revision comes at a critical time when Europe is saddled with a number of crises such as the ongoing refugee problem and, more recently, terrorism that already killed scores of people in Paris and Brussels. But the government maintained that the move is not linked to any response to terrorism.

While government officials repeatedly say that the country is trying to learn important lessons from Chernobyl nuclear accident during the Soviet era and the Fukushima nuclear crisis, many citizens seem deeply concerned possible terror attacks on the country's nuclear facilities.

As reported by the Telegraph, there were reports of an ISIL plot to abduct a nuclear expert to help the terrorist organization construct a crude nuke bomb. Also, the government has revoked nuclear passes for eleven individuals working in the nuclear facilities. To add fuel to the suspicion, a Belgian official linked to the country's nuclear sector was reportedly being monitored by ISIL operatives in the country.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands is apparently doing a similar pre-emptive measure by ordering a distribution of 15 million iodine pills to Dutch citizens living close to the nuclear plants along the country's border with Belgium.