Croatian doctors sounded the alarm on Thursday (March 4th) over the dangers of the uncontrolled intake of iodine pills, demand for which is skyrocketing amid fears that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to war nuclear.
Read alsoWesterns wonder after Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats
Croats have been rushing to pharmacies since Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped up the alert of his nuclear forces a few days ago.
Iodine tablets, taken according to certain strict protocols, are useful in preventing thyroid cancer in the event of exposure to radioactivity.
But “
they can cause serious side effects
,” the Croatian Medical Council said in a statement.
Potassium iodide pills
According to WHO recommendations, cited by the press release, potassium iodide pills can be distributed to children, pregnant women and those under 40, within a radius of 15 to 20 kilometers from the site of a nuclear incident. .
Similarly, swallowing small amounts of over-the-counter iodine supplements from pharmacies is “
completely useless and meaningless
”.
In the troubled region of the Balkans, Russia's invasion of Ukraine brings back painful memories of the bloody conflicts that led to the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.
Russia is the power equipped with the largest number of nuclear warheads in the world.
Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia has been met with sanctions from all sides and is increasingly isolated on the international scene.
