The pills would be distributed to supplement evacuation and sheltering plans should there be a widespread release of radioactive contamination from the San Onofre nuclear power plant 17 miles north of Oceanside. Most North County residents are unlikely to be affected by the commission's policy revision because the city is outside San Onofre's emergency evacuation area, disaster planners said. The evacuation area covers a 10-mile radius from the plant. It includes nearby cities in Orange County, but the only portion in San Diego County is within Camp Pendleton. Previously, the commission's policy recommended stocking the drug only for emergency workers and for residents such as hospital patients who might not be evacuated quickly.
Potassium iodide is the same substance added to iodized salt.
It is absorbed by the thyroid gland and blocks the gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. Thyroid cancer caused by radioactive iodine is one of the more common cancers in areas contaminated by excessive radiation, especially among children. Emergency response agencies in San Diego and Orange counties including the Oceanside Fire Department - now store small amounts of the pills. The Oceanside Fire Department keeps 100 bottles of potassium iodide at Station 1, said Pete Lawrence, an emergency planner with the department. Each bottle contains 14 doses.