Iodine Prophylaxis Following Nuclear Accidents

After the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, the confusion regarding the correct dosage of iodine for the protection of the population led to the request for the WHO Regional Office for Europe to develop guidelines on iodine prophylaxis. A joint WHO/CEC workshop was organised in Brussels in September 1988. The papers presented provided the basis for the development of guidelines on iodine prophylaxis issued by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Papers on the normal function of the thyroid and the response to iodine, the theoretical basis for stable iodine prophylaxis, risks and benefits of stable iodine prophylaxis, and indication for the use of stable iodine are featured. Knowledge in these areas is limited, especially in the cases of pregnant women and the fetus, and it is hoped that this volume will provide a stimulus for continued work on these and other relevant aspects of the problems involved in iodine prophylaxis.