MaximsNewsPEOPLE JAPAN RADIATION UPDATE W.H.O. -- 18 MARCH

MaximsNewsPEOPLE 18 March 2011 -- WHO: World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland - The World Health Organization (WHO) provided an update today (18 March) of its recommendations regarding health concerns related to the nuclear crisis in Japan.

WHO Spokesman Gregory Hartl told journalists in Geneva that potassium iodide "should only be taken when there is a clear public health recommendation to do so" and that its indiscriminate use "can cause side effects such as inflammation of the salivary glands, nausea, rashes, intestinal upset and possible severe allergic reactions."

It is also dangerous to take large amounts of iodized salt in order to increase the amount of stable iodine in the body. This salt does not contain enough iodine to be effective and eating excessive amounts of salt can have toxic effects.

Regarding travel to Japan, Hartl explained that WHO is not advising any restrictions at the moment. He also pointed out that "in general, travellers returning from Japan do not represent a health hazard."

WHO's guidelines indicate that, if warranted, steps such as restricting the consumption of vegetables and dairy products produced in the vicinity of the power plant can reduce exposure to radioactivity.

However, the WHO Spokesman pointed out that "food that was dispatched before the emergency situation from the zone in question would not be affected" and that "concern about radiation and food would be restricted to food from the affected zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, produced after the leakage of radioactivity began."

In this respect, he said that "given the reported winter conditions in the area, and given that there are no crops being grown in outside fields or food animals being raised or grazing outside, it would be unlikely that substantial food production or harvesting intended for export is taking place."

WHO continues to provide updates and answers to the general public's frequently asked questions concerning exposure, food, shelter and individual protective measures on the radiation incident in Japan.

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