Radiation protection
Countries will distribute or reserve iodine tablets for residents around nuclear power plants, the main component of which is potassium iodide. When radiation from nuclear power plants leaks out due to disasters, residents around the plants will take iodine tablets, which can saturate iodine in the thyroid and reduce the absorption of radioactive iodine 131 by the thyroid. However, when exposed to ionizing iodine radiation, it is effective to take it within 4 hours, and it cannot prevent ionizing radiation and isotopes other than iodine-131. Without instructions, improper use may cause hyperthyroidism.
Feed additive
Potassium iodide is an ionic compound, in which iodine ions can form dark yellow precipitated silver iodide with silver ions (see photo decomposition, which can be used to make high-speed photographic films), As a component of thyroxine, iodine is closely related to the basic metabolism of livestock and poultry, and participates in almost all material metabolism processes. Iodine deficiency in livestock will cause thyroid hypertrophy, decrease the basic metabolic rate, and affect growth and development. Iodine needs to be added to the feed of young livestock and livestock in iodine deficient areas. The iodine needs of high-yield dairy cows and high-yield laying hens increase, and their feed also needs to be added with iodine. The iodine in milk and eggs increases with the increase of feed iodine. It is reported that high iodine eggs can reduce the cholesterol content of human body, which is beneficial to the health of patients with hypertension. In addition, during the animal fattening period, although there is no iodine deficiency, in order to make the thyroid function of livestock and poultry strong, enhance the anti stress ability, maintain the maximum production capacity, iodide is also supplemented. Potassium iodide is added to the feed as an iodine source, which can prevent iodine deficiency, promote growth, increase egg production rate and reproduction rate, and improve feed utilization. The amount of added to the feed is usually several PPM, because it is unstable, Iron citrate and calcium stearate (generally 10%) are added as protective agents to stabilize it.
China
