A run on potassium iodide pills, and more

West Coast residents fearing radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors bought up all available supplies of potassium iodide pills.

A run on potassium iodide pills

West Coast residents fearing radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors bought up all available supplies of potassium iodide pills. The pills—which officials say are utterly unnecessary for Americans 5,000 miles from the nuclear accident—protect against the absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland. “Those who don’t get it are crying,” said the owner of one company, which sold 10,000 boxes of pills in a single day.

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