Why were Poles given Lugol’s solution after the Chernobyl explosion?

The taste and appearance of Lugol’s liquid are still remembered by many who drank it in the spring of 1986, after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. Thick, dark amber, “hideous, but to be swallowed” – as some recall. When the s seized the Chernobyl power plant on the first day of the war in Ukraine, Poles began to buy Lugol’s liquid from pharmacies. What is it really, why was it given to Poles after the Chernobyl explosion and why is it said today that it was unnecessary?

1. On the first day of the war in Ukraine, on February 24, troops seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (at the end of March, the s began to leave the plant’s premises)
2. The National Atomic Energy Agency then issued a message that there is no threat to life and health in Poland, but many people went to pharmacies to buy Lugol’s liquid. People still remember well that it was mass administered after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in April 1986 (as part of thyroid cancer prophylaxis)
3. Seeing the growing interest of Poles in Lugol’s liquid at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, endocrinologists warned against the consequences of unjustified intake of this drug
4. Decades after the Chernobyl disaster, experts say drinking Lugol’s liquid was unnecessary. Moreover, they point out the possible negative effect of such therapy
5. You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage.

“Drink children Lugol’s liquid is Soviet Coca-Cola”

On April 26, 1986, the greatest disaster of a nuclear power plant in history took place – the accident and explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor (today’s Ukraine, then the USSR). A radioactive cloud from a damaged reactor spread across Europe. Poland learned about the crash two days later. The information about the accident was provided by prof. Zbigniew Jaworowski, the late specialist in the field of radioactive contamination, who learned about the explosion on April 28 from the BBC radio.

Just a day later, on April 29, the Poles were given Lugol’s solution. – It was the largest preventive action in the history of medicine performed in such a short time. In just three days, 18,5 million people drank Lugol’s liquid, because the campaign covered not only children – recalled prof. Jaworowski in an interview for Polityka.

There are people who have vivid memories of the drug administered at that time. One of them is the journalist and writer Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska. «>> Drink children, Lugol’s liquid is Soviet Coca-Cola,” I smiled involuntarily. There is some truth to this statement. Lugol’s liquid tasted a bit like cherry coke with chemicals, and a bit like concentrated, tart chokeberry juice, of course, also with added chemicals – she mentioned on the blog.

1. Pediatricians warn against chemicals in baby food

«It was sunny, even hot on May 1st. Of course, obligatory processions, along which you went straight to the Health Center for Lugol’s liquid. It wasn’t tasty, but it was swallow. We drank: old, young, children, joking and not realizing what had happened » – one of the internet users remembered. Inna, Iga, recalls those moments as follows: “When we were told the truth, on the afternoon of the last day of April, it was a shock. A day later, instead of on the May Day parade, we crowded with the children in a long line in front of the ambulance service, where the children were given fluids. I was standing in this line and crying … One big question: what will happen with us next? » (more memories from the period of the Chernobyl accident in the archival text of TvoiLokona).

What is Lugol’s fluid and how does it work?

Lugol’s solution is simply an aqueous solution of iodine and potassium iodide (iodine is an element, poorly soluble in water, but dissolves well in an aqueous solution of potassium iodide).

Most Poles probably heard about it only after the Chernobyl accident, but in fact Lugol’s fluid has existed for over 190 years. In 1829 it was invented by a French specialist in internal medicine – Jean Lugol. This doctor developed a method of treating diseases of the thyroid gland with the help of iodine solution.

1. Thyroid – the devil in the human body

Let us remind here that iodine is of great importance for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland – it is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which affect the proper metabolism, are necessary for the proper functioning of all tissues and organs (remember that excess iodine can also be dangerous, therefore, doctors advise against taking large doses of this element without consulting).

Lugol’s solution is used to disinfect undamaged skin surfaces, minor scratches and abrasions. In low concentration, it can be used to gargle. A properly prepared dose of Lugol’s liquid can also inhibit or increase the secretion of thyroid hormones.

1. We are afraid of the second Chernobyl. We drink iodine and Lugol’s solution. Is it worth it?

Why was this drug recommended after the Chernobyl disaster? In the above-mentioned interview for Polityka, prof. Jaworowski drew attention to the dangers of radioactive iodine 131. – It could penetrate, first of all, into the milk, and from there to the thyroid glands of children. At that time, spring was in full swing, so farmers were already releasing cows to the meadows contaminated with radioactive iodine from Chernobyl (after the disaster, cattle grazing were forbidden – editor’s note). Therefore, the most important message that I wanted to convey to the authorities was: the children must be given stable iodine as soon as possible to protect them from thyroid cancer – said the scientist. In other words, Lugol’s solution was to saturate the thyroid with iodine and prevent the radioactive iodine isotope from entering the thyroid gland and co-creating the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxin).

The effects of Lugol’s fluid after many years – what do we know today?

Decades after the event, experts say drinking Lugol’s liquid was unnecessary. There was no risk that the radioactive iodine isotope would reach Poland in dangerous concentrations. However, due to the political situation at the time and incomplete information about the crash, people preferred to be safe than sorry.

Moreover, there is a suspicion that the massive consumption of Lugol’s solution may have had negative health effects. It is primarily Hashimoto’s disease. Many more women in eastern Poland suffer from it than in other parts of the country. For a decade, there has been a clear increase in the incidence in women younger than before, especially in the 40-year-olds.

1. Do we have a cancer epidemic after the Chernobyl outbreak? [WE EXPLAIN]

– After the disaster, it was recommended to eat the so-called Lugol’s fluid to saturate the thyroid with normal iodine before it can absorb the radioactive iodine isotope that was then released into the atmosphere. There are reports that this could lead to an increase in the amount of anti-thyroid antibodies responsible for an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s disease, said the drug in an interview with Medonet. med. Natalia Piłat-Norkowska from the Lower Silesian Cancer Center in Wrocław.

– Currently, this disease is observed frequently. Another reason for this, however, may be the salt iodization program implemented again in 1997 after the break, hence caution should be exercised in unambiguously linking the effects of the catastrophe with current thyroid diseases – adds Natalia Piłat-Norkowska.

Also read:

1. Do we have a cancer epidemic after the Chernobyl outbreak?
2. Chernobyl like an atomic bomb?
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