Protection from harmful radioactive iodine in the mail for those living near Ontario nuclear plants

With potassium pills distributed to residents living in the shadow of one of Durham Region’s two nuclear plants in 2015 set to expire, a batch of replacement pills will be sent to all those living within 10 kilometres of either Pickering or Darlington nuclear generating stations.

The initiative, a partnership between Ontario Power Generation, the Durham Health Department and Toronto Emergency Management, will provide residents living near the nuclear stations with replacement potassium iodide (KI) pills. These pills will replace those sent out in 2015, which are set to expire in 2027.

KI pills help protect the thyroid gland by blocking the uptake of radioactive iodine, reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency. This protection is especially important for newborns, children, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. KI should only be taken when instructed by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health during a nuclear emergency.

Residents within the 10-kilometre zone will automatically receive a KI package by mail at their home address. Residents living within 10 to 50 kilometres of the nuclear generating stations should check the expiry date on their current KI supply and order replacements through preparetobesafe.ca before their pills expire.

Each pill contains 65 mg of potassium iodide, also referred to as KI, though not all boxes look the same as each manufacturer uses its own branding and packaging.

Residents are asked to take expired blister packs to your local pharmacy for safe disposal and recycle the exterior box at home. Never flush KI pills or any medication down the toilet, said Anthony Di Pietro, the Director of Health Protection for the region, as this can harm water systems and the environment.

“The health department is committed to ensuring community preparedness by promoting the availability of potassium iodide tablets,” Di Pietro said. “We encourage residents to replace expired pills and dispose of them responsibly.”

A limited supply of KI pills is also available free of charge at select local pharmacies:

• Bay Ridges Pharmacy: 1794 Liverpool Road, Pickering
• Pickering Medical Pharmacy: 1885 Glenanna Road, Pickering
• Liverpool Pharmacy: 725 Krosno Boulevard, Pickering
• Global Drug Mart Remedy’s Rx: 130 Waverly Road, Bowmanville
• Courtice Pharmasave: 2727 Courtice Road, Courtice

For more information or to order a free supply of KI pills online, visit preparetobesafe.ca or call the Durham Health Connection Line at (905) 668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.