Potassium Iodide Importation into Australia for Personal Use, Regulations?

Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 13:58

Given the worsening situation in Europe and out of an abundance of caution in the event of nuclear disaster (not quite as unthinkable as it was a few weeks ago), I'm interested to know if anyone has info on the importation of Potassium iodide into Australia for personal use or alternatively a product already in Australia that is comparable to US pricing and dose suitable for prevention of radiation effects.

Is there an application process involved or can it come straight through customs?

I've done some searching at https://www.odc.gov.au and the TGA but nothing really jumps out at me with regards to this product.

Health & Beauty

Comments

    • GG57 on 03/03/2022 - 14:04

      With an Afterpay option as well.

      • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:09

        Yeah I saw this site yesterday but no stock.

      • Cluster on 03/03/2022 - 14:35
        +3

        AfterPay? Nice.

        The way Ukraine/Russia is going there will be only one installment paid.

      • brendanm on 03/03/2022 - 18:01
        +1

        Works out well of nuclear war happens fairly soon after you place your order, will only have to make the first payment.

    • snooksy on 04/03/2022 - 09:02
      +1

      I saw a report on the BBC that suggests not purchasing these tablets and taking them yourself because you can get Iodine poisoning. There have been cases where the amount of Iodine was vastly different to what was advertised as being in the tablet. Do you know where these are made and by who? The article suggested speaking to your doctor instead.

  • GG57 on 03/03/2022 - 14:03
    +3

    If you think you need some:
    - why would you be worried about price?
    - why would you want to wait for an import to arrive?

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:12
      +2

      Both good questions… I always look at pricing of anything I buy, its the whole reason this site exists after all.

      The import wait and uncertainty is indeed a concern I've already considered though and ideally would prefer something to arrive faster if I can get in Australia.

    • AndyC1 on 03/03/2022 - 14:57

      Because people can use google to find anything and they then become hypnotized believers and will try anything.

    • djones145 on 03/03/2022 - 19:07

      he's got standards
      even though it's a nuclear fall out, I refuse to use single use batteries. eneloops forever. and drink voss water

      never compromise, even during an apocalypse

  • Xistn on 03/03/2022 - 14:03
    +5

    Surprised you got internet down in your bunker…

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:18

      Ha… I wish.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:17
      +2

      Not a bad design but if you haven't noticed what has been happening the last few weeks in Europe, it might be a good time to check. We haven't been this close to nuclear disaster since the Cuban missile crisis in the 60's.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 03/03/2022 - 14:21
        +1

        Chernobyl?
        Fukashima?

        • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:24
          +1

          True… but without downplaying those too much, I meant on a global scale.

        • Krankite on 03/03/2022 - 15:25

          Sure, but I'm not overly worried about a nuclear power plant relocating itself from France to the Brisbane CBD any time soon.

      • brendanm on 03/03/2022 - 18:02

        You honestly think some potassium iodide is going to help you, if there is a nuclear war? There will be far bigger problems.

        • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 20:25

          Obviously there would be many problems, this just addresses one of them.

      • jrvb42 on 04/03/2022 - 09:33
        +1

        Ironically, it was Russia wanting nukes near the USA that caused that crisis, this time it is the USA wanting missiles near Russia that caused this crisis. If countries just kept their damn military in their own country we wouldn't have these issues.

  • Cluster on 03/03/2022 - 14:34
    +4

    Potassium Iodide is only useful against one short lived (but dangerous) isotope released by nuclear fission: Iodine-131. It has a half life of 8.1 days, so after ~80 days it's basically all decayed into something else.

    Nice to have, but it won't protect you from all the other fallout nasties like Cesium-137 and Strontium-90.

    In case of nuclear war in the northern hemisphere, we're all screwed.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:43

      Yeah I have read that and I'd probably agree with you on the last point as well. Probably best to have some protection than none though and might give you time to get to shelter. Likely not going to be much of a life though.

      • WT on 04/03/2022 - 07:29
        +1

        freezing to death would fkn suck i would rather get bombed

    • AndyC1 on 03/03/2022 - 15:00
      +2

      Short lived as in dead due to the radiation!!!!!

  • Catullus on 03/03/2022 - 14:38

    Any Lab suppply house will sell you some.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:43

      Likely as a powder?

      • Catullus on 03/03/2022 - 14:48

        So, make up a solution and add x mls to your coffee.

        • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:58

          Probably not ideal given the need for quite exact weights/dosages. Would be an option though.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2022 - 14:43
    +1

    Lugol's?

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 14:47

      Recommended dosage in event of radiation exposure is 130mg every 24 hours as far as Im aware, would this product suffice?

  • Catullus on 03/03/2022 - 14:55

    Iodised salt any good for you?

    • AndyC1 on 03/03/2022 - 15:01

      Only in huge quantities if you do not want to see the after effects of nuclear clouds…

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 15:03

      Yeah not a viable option.

  • mskeggs on 03/03/2022 - 15:12
    +4

    It’s common to feel powerless in the face of global events, but this is at the level of banning straws to protect turtles - not actively bad, but tilting at windmills in the scheme of things.

    Consider the sequence of events that would have to occur for this to be useful. You would need to be in the immediate fallout zone of a blast, but not impacted by the blast itself, yet unable to move outside of the impacted area in a timely way.

    If you need some reassurance in the face of possible disaster, better to buy an extra jerry can and fill it, some rice and pasta, and an extra repeat of any prescription medicines.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 18:18
      +2

      A better analogy might be assuming the brace position during an emergency crash landing but I do hear what you are saying.

      However, anyone outside of capital cities or other key target areas could fit this description. It would be a bummer to survive initially only to succumb to cancer a few years down the track because you missed out on a vital prevention method.

      Feels pretty bizarre to even be discussing the possibility.

  • Seraphin7 on 03/03/2022 - 15:50
    +4

    If the Russians (or anyone else) decide to lob an ICBM/SLBM into Australia, respectfully, I think you'll have more than enough to deal with before worrying about your exposure to radioactive iodine.

    By all means, load up on it if it makes you feel better, but the odds of you (1) never seeing nuclear war, (2) instant death should nuclear war eventuate, or (3) its use being totally ineffective in any practical way in the event of nuclear war, are far higher than this being your saviour in the case of those events.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 18:21

      Yep, it's only one brick in the wall. Better to be at least a little prepared if its not too difficult to do so though.

      They also seem well on their way to developing/developed these lovely new underwater stealth nukes now which are designed to be set off underwater off the coast and create radioactive tsunamis (likely with zero warning).

  • pharkurnell on 03/03/2022 - 16:04
    +1

    Why delay the inevitable if the big shit goes down..
    Take some P Iodide for few days/weeks or are you going to have 10000 tons of it hidden?
    Then you run out, then what as you gradually get sicker and weaker, and imagine the chaos - humans panicked with siht tickets with Covid, imagine what they will be like with nuke shit falling from teh sky?
    Looking at the radiation sickness on the Chernobyl miniseries - I'll pass thanks get it over and done with. its not like all will be crystal clear in a few weeks.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 19:09

      That's certainly one way to look at it, but I think that humans generally have a survival instinct even if it it not something that comes naturally initially.

      Potassium iodide is perhaps only useful for the first few days/weeks unless there are fresh nuclear attacks occurring over a period of weeks/months/years (which is probably unlikely as it would probably be all or nothing).

  • Gratt on 03/03/2022 - 17:41
    +1

    I share your concern having lived through the first cold war. We now find ourselves in the second cold war. We all need to face the reality of cold war tactics like first strike initiative (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-emptive_nuclear_strike). If one side is convinced nuclear weapons are going to be used the idea is to wipe out as much of the other sides launch capacity as possible. Given that Putin is readying his nuclear arsenal there will be military strategists recommending first strike initiative in the west. If this happens I don't believe potassium iodide will make your life worth living in the aftermath of a nuclear war. The idea that one side will let the other use nuclear weapons without retaliation is whimsical.

    Welcome to the madness of cold war anxiety.

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 19:33

      Crazy times eh. :(

  • George Washington on 03/03/2022 - 19:15

    Potassium vitamins - Natures own from chemist warehouse
    Iodide - Natures own deep sea vitamins with iodine

    Have two tablets daily?

    Please also seek medical advice before taking supplements

    • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 19:39

      Two different things unfortunately http://www.differencebetween.net/science/chemistry-science/d…).

      • George Washington on 03/03/2022 - 21:46

        Sorry not too sure what you are after but goodluck for finding the supplements

        • Gravy on 03/03/2022 - 22:19

          No need to apologise, at least you are trying to think of solutions.

          FYI:

          "Potassium iodide (KI) is a chemical compound that can be used to protect the thyroid gland from possible radiation injury caused by radioactive iodine (radioiodine). Some radiological emergencies may release large amounts of radioiodine to the environment. Since iodine concentrates in the thyroid gland, inhalation or ingestion of food contaminated with the radioiodine can lead to radiation injury to the thyroid. This includes increased risk of thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases. Thyroid cancer is curable in most cases, but taking measures that reduce the chance of developing cancer are still preferable."

          https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radiological/potassi…

          It only offers limited protection as others have stated, but worth investigating.

  • deme on 03/03/2022 - 20:03

    lmao!

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 04/03/2022 - 12:48

    I hope you found some. Reports of a fire at Europe's largest Nuclear Power Plant.

    • Gravy on 05/03/2022 - 14:35

      Can get them from USA, just unsure as to how to import, hence the post.

      Yeah, luckily that reactor fire is out now (was in an admin building I think), but likely still a bit touch and go.

  • 82norm on 04/03/2022 - 19:43

    Not great, not terrible.

  • 00 on 09/03/2022 - 23:38

    https://youtu.be/brK__dfY7pM

  • JH100 on 26/07/2022 - 19:05

    Lugols will do the trick, you just have to get the dose and frequency right. It's not hard to find.

    You can also use a higher concentration in white iodine, which I haven't seen available in Oz, yet.

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