Combating Radiation
Exposure before Disaster
Strikes
by Eric R. Braverman, MD; Robert J. Baker, PhD;
Bernard Loeffke, PhD; and Gustavo Ferrer-Gonzalez, MD
A 20-year-old woman hiking in
the mountains of Ecuador falls and
becomes disoriented. She does not
find her way back to the trail until
late the next afternoon. By this time,
she is completely sunburned and
blistered, dying of radiation from the
blazing sun’s UV light. If she only had
the right protection – a simple bottle
of sunscreen – her skin’s damage,
premature aging, and potential death
could all have been avoided.
In Hiroshima, many individuals
who were spared from the initial
impact survived.1 It is clear from the
research of the history of Hiroshima
that if one can get good nutrition,
shelter, and water, and keep general
health, one can survive increased
radiation exposures. Our work
dealing with Chernobyl and other
nuclear accidents demonstrates the
adaptability in radiation hormesis
that occurs in individuals exposed to
radiation. The plan that we propose
will require further experimentation,
but is likely to be a critical step in
preparing for nuclear incidents.
The program that we describe as
CLEAN ME ASAP provides a regimen
that can protect from and prevent
illness and aging. This is important: the
threat of radiation to any population
remains a real concern, whether
from excessive daily exposure (i.e.,
frequent airplane travel), damage to
a nuclear power station, accidental or
deliberate launch of a ballistic missile,
or a terrorist attack.
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
An October 15, 2011, article in the
New York Times reported that Tokyo
residents were showing signs of
radiation more than 6 months after the
March 11 accident at the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear power plant, more
than 160 miles away. Test results
proved that the level of radioactive
cesium found in more than 20 spots in
and around Tokyo was equal to those
in some contaminated areas around
Chernobyl, making the latest Japanese
catastrophe the second worst nuclear
accident in history.
The article stated
… that the vagaries of wind and
rain had scattered worrisome
amounts of radioactive materials
in unexpected patterns far outside
the evacuation zone 12 miles
around the stricken plant. But
reports that substantial amounts
of
radioactive
cesium
had
accumulated as far away as Tokyo
has risen new concerns about how
far the contamination had spread,
possibly settling in areas where
the government has not even
considered looking.2
Fortunately, in the US, nuclear
reactors are built according to strict
regulations that require two or three
barriers between radioactivity of
the reactor and the environment.3
The Chernobyl reactors were not
protected by containment structures
like those required for US reactors,
allowing radioactive particles to freely
enter the environment.4
Exposure to radiation can be
measured in minute particles called
millirems (mrem). The average
person is exposed to 360 mrem
each year, which we can easily
tolerate. However, small quantities
can dangerously add up – a single
CT scan is equal to 1100 mrem. The
likelihood of radiation affecting our
health depends on our current health
status. Children, older people, and
those with existing health problems
will be the first to be affected. For
example, we may be able to withstand
the equivalent of 10 to 40 CT scans
in one day before suffering significant
damage, or even death.5
In Japan, the government’s failure
to act quickly may have led to
radiation exposure of many more
people than originally believed.
Here in the US, close to 116 million
Americans – or 1 in 3 of us –
currently live within a 50-mile radius
of a nuclear power plant.6 Surviving
an incident takes a combination of
knowledge, practice, checklists, and
optimum mental and physical health,
as well as a strong immune system.
We believe that we need to be better
prepared. Loeffke was the US Army
attaché stationed in Moscow in the
late 1970s, where he witnessed
how the Soviets took civil defense
seriously. He watched nuclear drills
conducted for the general population
on a regular basis. Sadly, even 40
years later, we are no closer to having
➤
81
Radiation Exposure
➤
a uniform government response to a
nuclear terrorist attack on American
soil. That is why we need to know
what the dangers of radiation are,
how to identify them, how we can
detoxify, and, most importantly, what
we can do now to prevent illness
later.
We have been working, both
together and separately, on develop­
ing new treatment options and
preventative measures. Braverman
has lectured at Los Alamos on the
effects of radiation, and published a
paper in 1988 wherein he suggested
that cesium chloride was not being
used adequately after the Chernobyl
incident.7 Since then, cesium has
been used aggressively in the Marshall
Islands and elsewhere, including the
recent Scandinavian studies, where
the hypothesis has been proved but
still needs refinement.8
In the early 2000s, Loeffke treated
citizens who had lived on the Marshall
Islands during the past 50 years. Many
had weak immune systems. These
same citizens could have withstood
the assaults to their health if they
had healthier immune systems. It is
also interesting to note that several
of the atolls in the Marshall Islands
continue to be classified as “off limits”
because radiation on the beaches
is still evident, although the water
surrounding the beaches is considered
safe.
Radiation is An Age Accelerator
Radiation is a form of energy. All
of us are exposed to some each day,
from naturally occurring sources such
Table 2: Exposure Rates
Average dose to US public from all sources ..................................... 360 mrem/year
Average dose to US public from natural sources.............................. 300 mrem/year
Average dose to US public from medical sources............................. 53 mrem/year
Coal-burning power plant.................................................................. 0.165 mrem/year
X-rays from TV set (1 inch).................................................................. 0.500 mrem/hour
Airplane ride (39,000 ft.)........................................................................ 0.500 mrem/hour
Nuclear power plant (normal operation at plant boundary)............................ 0.600 mrem/year
Natural gas in home.......................................................................... 9 mrem/year
Radionuclides in the body (i.e., potassium)............................................ 39 mrem/year
Building materials (concrete)................................................................ 3 mrem/year
Drinking water................................................................................... 5 mrem/year
Pocket watch (radium dial)..................................................................... 6 mrem/year
Eyeglasses (containing thorium).............................................................. 6–11 mrem/year
Chest X-ray....................................................................................... 8 mrem
Extremities X-ray............................................................................... 1 mrem
Dental X-ray...................................................................................... 10 mrem
Head/neck X-ray................................................................................ 20 mrem
Cervical spine X-ray.......................................................................... 22 mrem
Lumbar spinal X-rays........................................................................ 130 mrem
Pelvis X-ray....................................................................................... 44 mrem
Hip X-ray........................................................................................... 83 mrem
Upper GI series................................................................................. 245 mrem
Lower GI series................................................................................. 405 mrem
CT (head and body)................................................................................ 1,100 mrem
PET (whole body)................................................................................... 1,600 mrem12
Tobacco products (dose to the bronchial epithelium) @ 4 cigarettes/day..... 2,000 mrem/year13
Therapeutic thyroid treatment (dose to the thyroid).................................. 10,000,000 mrem
Therapeutic thyroid treatment (dose to the whole body)............................ 7000 mrem
Table 1: The Sun’s Radiation Causes Age Acceleration9,10
Effects of UV Radiation/Sun Damage
Aging
Processes
High BP and cholesterol, Metabolic
excess atherosclerosis
aging
Clinical Manifestation
Diabetes, cardiovascular disease
disease, stroke, hypertension,
and dementia
Short telomeres increase Telomere
Cardiovascular disease,
sensitivity to radiation
shortening
segmental aging in some
progerias
Brain growth retardation
Brain damage
Breaks in DNA, cellular death, and inflammation
Free-radical
Cancer, cataracts,
damage and atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s
oxidative stress plaques
Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial
damage
Seizures and mental retardation
Damage to the brain’s neurons
and cancer
Inhibits immune system
Immunological Viral and bacterial infections
decline
82
as uranium, thorium (both found in
soil), radon (in the air), and certain
forms of potassium and carbon
naturally occurring in our bodies.
Cosmic and UV radiation from the
sun also contributes to our daily dose.
Table 1 explains each exposure and
how it ages us prematurely.
We are also exposed to radiation
from human sources, such as X-rays,
medical procedures, power plants,
and older television sets. Some
people, including nuclear plant
operators, flight crews, and nuclear
medicine staff, may also receive an
occupational radiation dose.
Table 2 shows typical exposure
rates.11 The EPA states that there is no
firm basis for setting a “safe” level of
maximum radiation exposure, but we
estimate it as the safe occupational
dose threshold for workers at nuclear
power plants: an additional 5000
mrem of radiation a year above the
360 mrem level, the equivalent of five
CT scans a year.
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
Detection: Signs and Symptoms of
Radiation Exposure
Radiation insidiously enters the
body either through the air that we
breathe or from the food that we
eat, and spreads following the same
mechanism as a floating cancer cell.
These radioactive microelements
interact with our bodies just as their
natural, healthy elements do, except
with a disastrous twist. For example,
while strontium is known to improve
bone health, radioactive strontium
will seep into our bones and cause
death.
Both acute and chronic radiation
exposure cause ionization in the
molecules of living cells, which
results in the removal of electrons
and the formation of ions or charged
atoms. The ions then react with other
atoms in the cell, causing damage.
Symptoms of radiation exposure
depend on how severe the exposure.
In general, the greater the radiation
exposure, the more rapid and more
severe our symptoms will be.
At low doses, cells can repair
damage. When doses reach up
to 100,000 mrem in a single
exposure, cells cannot repair as
quickly, resulting in cellular death or
permanently altered structures. The
affected cells then go on to produce
more abnormal cells when they
divide, and these cells may become
cancerous over time.
Cellular mutation can lead to
diseases that we can pass on to
our children, and other radiationassociated noncancerous diseases
such as cardiovascular, circulatory,
digestive, and respiratory diseases.14,15
The most common disease associated
with radiation exposure is thyroid
cancer because radioactive iodide
accumulates in the thyroid. Nuclear
reactor accidents release a number
of radioactive elements, the most
common of which is iodine.16,17
Radioactive iodine is readily absorbed
into the body and rapidly taken
up into the thyroid gland.18 In the
thyroid, ionizing radiation given off
by the isotope damages DNA and
causes cancer. Leukemia and other
cancers are other typical outcomes,
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
even decades following exposure.
Long-term lower-level exposures that
overcome genetic repair mechanisms
may lead to myeloid leukemia,
osteosarcoma, and lymphoma.
Radioactive
strontium
is
chemically similar to calcium, which
is why it can be easily absorbed into
the bones. Radioactive strontium
isotopes incorporate into bone and
irradiate bone cells, bone marrow,
and potentially the soft tissues
surrounding bone, especially in the
skull.
Table 3 shows that the first area of
the body to be affected by exposures
above 75,000 mrem is the tissue
in the intestinal lining, leading to
nausea, diarrhea, radiation burn,
and general weakness. This is often
referred to as radiation sickness. The
amount of time between the initial
exposure and when these symptoms
develop is an indicator of how much
radiation a person has absorbed.
Without medical attention and
depending on prior health, a wide
range of doses, up to 400,000 mrem,
can kill 50% of exposed people from
infections within 60 days. It is likely
the types of radiation exposure that
would be dealt with in a nuclear
accident, would be measured in
thousands mrem or less, leaving these
exposures very survivable and able to
be managed.
We have a variety of ways to test
for radiation exposure, but in an
emergency situation, there might not
be time. Remember these signs and
symptoms, and check the urine for
signs of internal bleeding. The stool
should not be black, and there should
not be blood in the urine. If we find
either, see a doctor immediately for
further testing.
Radiation Exposure
We have all experienced how
damaging even the smallest amounts
of radiation can be: just think about
what happens to skin after strong sun
exposure. Our skin and often our
digestive systems begin to experience
the effects of radiation sickness and
burns. And we also know that all
we need to avoid this is simply good
skin coverage using a sunscreen with
significant SPF, which will save our
skin, and ultimately, our lives.
Detoxification: The Established
Principles of Radiation Protection
Most
radioactive
elements
released during a nuclear accident are
unpredictable. However, some aspects
are predictable, such as cesium-134,
cesium-137, strontium-90, various
forms of plutonium, americium, and
iodine-131.
Fortunately,
supportive
data
revealsthat by following the right
protocol
immediately
following
an incident, we can optimize our
defenses against radiation exposure
and detoxify. The treatments proposed
here may reduce very high levels of
radiation.
Good Potassium Iodide Antidotes
Radioactive Iodide
Potassium iodide (KI) is a stable salt
of iodine. It is also the most important
chemical needed in the body to
make thyroid hormones. Typically,
the recommended daily value is
easily obtained through the American
diet. However, potassium iodide
supplementation before and during
radiation exposure will help protect
the thyroid gland from permanent
➤
Table 3: Radiation Exposures Linked to Illness7
Equivalent in Years
of a Single
Source of Exposure
Exposure
Exposure
Earliest onset of radiation sickness
75,000 mrem
208.3 years
Onset of hematopoietic syndrome
300,000 mrem
833.3 years
Onset of gastrointestinal syndrome
1,000,000 mrem
2,777.8 years
Onset of cerebrovascular syndrome
10,000,000 mrem
27,777.78 years
Threshold for cataracts (dose to the eye)
200,000 mrem
555.6 years
Doubling dose for cancer
500,000 mrem
1388.9 years
83
Radiation Exposure
➤
damage: it will block the absorption of
radioactive potassium iodine because
the body cannot tell the difference
between the two. It also accelerates
excretion. It has long been approved
by the FDA for this purpose.19 In
fact, it is considered to be the gold
standard of radiation protection.
Research scientist William L. Robison
at Livermore National Laboratories
has already successfully eliminated
the appearance of radioactivity
in coconuts and other fruits and
vegetation growing on the Marshall
Islands, the most radioactive island
sin the world, using a combination of
cesium and potassium.20
The current issue with this
protocol is distribution. We believe
that every American has to have
a stockpile of potassium iodide in
either pill or salt form. The American
Thyroid Association (ATA) believes
that it is necessary to revisit its 2002
recommendations of predistributing
potassium iodide to individuals
living within a 10-mile radius of
nuclear power plants to now cover a
greater area of up to 50 miles.21 We
believe that we can do better, and
incorporate areas as far away as 200
miles because of the proven capacity
for winds to blow radiation far from
its original source. The recent findings
in Tokyo support this.
Currently, there is neither a
sufficient supply nor production
capacity to obtain potassium iodide
during a nuclear reactor accident
(only Vermont has implemented a
program for distributing potassium
iodide to citizens living within 10
miles of nuclear facilities).22 What is
more, if there were a terrorist attack,
distribution of potassium iodide
would be difficult at best.
Potassium iodide treatment may
be the equivalent of erasing 20 years
of accumulated radiation in one day.
This means that if we use this as a
preventative treatment, most of us will
be able to tolerate the equivalent of
20 years of radiation in a single day
without significant side effects.
84
Good Cesium Chloride Antidotes
Radioactive Cesium
Another important compound
necessary for detoxification is
cesium chloride. Soluble cesium is
not only a very lethal pesticide, it
can penetrate concrete. Radioactive
cesium can stay in the atmosphere
and in soil for decades because it is
mobile, as is noted now in Tokyo,
and to some extent it is still recorded
near Chernobyl. In the body, it
accumulates in red blood cells.
However, cesium is more soluble
than salt in water, which means
that it can be used to solve its own
problems. Large doses of cesium
chloride can protect against radiation
toxicity by blocking sites on red
blood cells and resulting in increased
excretion and clearance of radioactive
cesium. A dose of 50 mg maintains
elevated blood cesium levels for 80
days, and further exposure would be
eliminated from the body rapidly. It
has also been shown that dosages
of cesium chloride at 250 mg can
double the effectiveness of flushing
radioactive cesium from both humans
and animals, cutting the effective halflife of radiocesium from 110 to 60 to
80 days, thus decreasing the chances
of developing cancers. Best of all, it
is readily available: the Tanco mine
in the province of Manitoba, Canada,
has a massive natural supply of
cesium chloride.
Good Strontium Antidotes
Radioactive Strontium
Strontium-90
is
a
highly
dangerous, radioactive component
of nuclear fallout. As a result of
above-ground nuclear testing in
the 1950s, radioactive strontium
spread throughout the environment
and contaminated the American
food supply, and subsequently
accumulated in the bones of both
children and adults, causing cancer
and ultimately death.
However, stable, nonradioactive
strontium is almost completely
nontoxic, even when administered in
large doses for prolonged periods. It
appears to be one of the most effective
substances for the prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis and other
bone-related conditions.
What
is
more,
repeatedly
administering stable strontium can
gradually
eliminate
radioactive
strontium from the body. The stable
form slowly replaces or blocks the
radioactive form from entering bone,
and radioactive strontium is excreted
in urine.
Antioxidants Provide Protection
Antioxidants and other vitamins
(A, B, C, D, and E) have also been
reasonably proved to be beneficial.
New data suggest that maintaining
high levels of antioxidants affords
some protection against radiationThey
induced
free
radicals.23
may help to maximize the body’s
ability to withstand the particular
free radical damage that leads to
radiation-induced cancer.24–30 Dr.
Kieran Murphy, a radiologist at the
University of Toronto, believes that a
combination of antioxidants such as
what we prescribe taken regularly can
cut the damage done to DNA by even
the most common radiation from CT
scans by as much as 50%.31
The “ACE” vitamins (A, C, and E)
in particular offer protection because
of their molecular structures. Betacarotene, the precursor of vitamin A,
has been used clinically following
the Chernobyl nuclear accident as
a treatment for children exposed
to radiation. It was found that
supplementation of 40 mg per day for
three months reduced the amount of
radiation-induced oxidized lipids.32
Other studies show that vitamin A
ameliorates other radiation effects and
enhances death of cancerous cells.33
Still other studies reveal that vitamin
A can actually prevent radiationinduced death of healthy cells.34
Vitamin
C,
together
with
natural antioxidant systems such
as glutathione, helps protect DNA
and chromosomes from oxidative
damage.35–37 Vitamin C also inhibits
radiation-induced death of human
blood cells through modulation
of protective gene expression.38
Remarkably, vitamin C can counteract
radiation-induced
“long-lived
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
radicals” (LLRs) that destabilize
chromosomes and induce cancerous
mutations.39
Like vitamin C, vitamin E reduces
free radicals that have formed.40 It
enhances the growth-inhibiting effect
of radiation on cancer tissue, while
simultaneously protecting normal
cells.41 Animal studies show that
vitamin E significantly protects mice
from dying after exposure to otherwise
lethal levels of gamma rays.42
N-acetylcysteine, or NAC, is an
antioxidant that is important part of
radiation therapy, which has been
recognized for more than 20 years
since Braverman first presented this
information at Los Alamos National
Laboratory. This sulfur-containing
compound
supports
natural
intracellular antioxidant systems,
particularly glutathione, rendering it
an effective radioprotective agent.43
NAC has been shown to minimize
liver damage from radiation in mice,
reducing oxidative damage and
resultant DNA damage – both before
and after radiation exposure.44–45
Through a separate underlying
mechanism, NAC also stimulates
release of cytokines that protect bone
marrow against radiation injury.46
NAC also protects bone marrow cells
from radiation, largely by preventing
DNA damage.47,48
Lipoic acid is often referred to as
the “universal antioxidant.” It drives
energy production in the body and
quenches free radicals in both aqueous
and lipid-soluble environments, such
as cellular membranes.49 It promotes
and strengthens the effects of other
antioxidants (particularly vitamins
C and E). While its role as a therapy
to reduce side effects of radiation on
humans is ongoing, recent studies
have shown that dietary supplements
containing lipoic acid can act as
radioprotectors in mice.50
Lipoic acid may offer important
protection against the threats posed by
various types of radiation exposures.
When used in combination with other
antioxidants, including selenium,
vitamin C, vitamin E, NAC, and
coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid helped
improve survival of mice following
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
total-body irradiation.51 Lipoic acid
has been proved to support the
immune health of individuals who
were involved in the clean-up of the
Chernobyl nuclear accident, even
years after the event.52
Lipoic acid is available in two
forms: R-lipoic acid and S-lipoic acid.
While most commercially available
products contain a 50:50 mixture of
the two forms, only R-lipoic acid is
naturally produced and is likely to be
the more potent of the two.53,54
CoQ10 is a natural component
of the electron transport chain and
participates in aerobic cellular
respiration, generating energy in
the form of ATP. Its involvement in
mitochondrial energy conservation
was long suggested to release
single electrons to dioxygen out
of sequence.55,56 In recent years,
coenzyme Q has increasingly
been assumed to exert antioxidant
functions, including detoxification.
Lastly, we also believe that
melatonin supplementation may be
an effective antiradiation treatment as
well as a sleep supplement. Studies
have shown that melatonin protects
dividing cells and circulating blood
cells from chromosomal injury by
radiation.57,58
Detoxification Dosages for Adults
and Children
Table 4 gives typical dosages.
Larger dosages may be necessary and
will vary depending on the extent of
exposure. Adult dosages are based on
body weight of 150 pounds or more.
Radiation Exposure
Please consult your physician and
your child’s physician before taking
any supplements.
Exercise and Nutrition Increase
Metabolism and Excretion of
Radioactive Materials
Exercise
and
nutrition
are
important for internal cleansing,
especially if the supplements listed
above are not immediately available.
Everyone excretes toxins when they
are exercising and eating right, both
over the long term and during a crisis.
Exercise
increases
blood
circulation,
primarily
to
the
lymphatic system, which is integral
for detoxification. The rapid “elbow
to opposite knee” movement is the
best way to increase activity in the
lymphatic system. Push-ups and situps are excellent ways to maintain
good conditioning.
Depending on our state of health,
we could survive a large amount of
radiation. This is why maintaining
a healthful lifestyle now is critically
important to our future survival. For
example, if we have to evacuate an
area by foot, with luggage, we need
to be able to walk at least 10 miles
a day to reach a safer environment.
The former Soviet Union had a civil
defense goal that every citizen should
be able to walk 20 miles with 20
pounds of supplies. So if we are
looking for another reason to start
exercising, this is it.
➤
Table 4: Detoxification Dosages for Adults and Children
Detoxifying Agent
Potassium iodide
Cesium chloride
Strontium
Vitamin A
Vitamin B
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
N-acetylcysteine
CoQ10
Lipoic acid
Melatonin
Adult Dosage
130 mg
250 mg–5 g
680 mg–2 g
25,000–100,000 mg
1–4 g
3–10 g
5000–50,000
400–1,600 mg
2–7 g
200–500 mg
250–1000 mg
1–3 mg
Child Dosage
65 mg
50–250 mg
50–500 mg
1,000–10,000 mg
0.5 g
100–500 mg
400–1000
100–200 mg
250–1500 mg
50–100 mg
100 mg
50 micrograms
85
Radiation Exposure
➤
Hydration is critical for effective
detoxification. In abnormal situations,
we need to drink half our body weight
in ounces every day to efficiently and
quickly rid the body of radiation.
Make sure to have three days’ supply
of water, stored in a cool, dry place,
for every member of the family to
prepare for an emergency.
Nutrients are also important for
treating radiation exposure. Nuclear
factor-kappa B (NF-kB) is a protein
complex that has been implicated
in the onset of 95% of all cancers.
NF-kB stimulates genes to produce
inflammatory cytokines and other
cell-signaling molecules that promote
cancer growth and development. The
resulting processes make it more likely
that a cancer-prone cell will form
a malignant tumor, which is more
resistant to radiation. The following
“nutraceuticals” have been shown to
inhibit NF-kB from moving into cell
nuclei and becoming activated. They
may also cause cancer cell death by
apoptosis. Since the beginning of the
nuclear age when the first bombs
were dropped on Hiroshima, there
are stories of people who survived
unharmed. We do not know why
some survive radiation exposure,
and others do not. We believe that it
may be linked to a protective diet that
includes the following:
• turmeric
• garlic extracts
• ginger
• green tea
• soy
• foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
(salmon, shrimp, eggs)
Prevention and Maintenance
While the suggestions listed above
offer good advice for those faced with
an emergency, the best medicine is
preventative. Nothing accelerates
aging faster than radiation. Just as the
frequent application of a high-quality
sunscreen protects our skin against
the daily effects of radiation, the
same supplements listed above can
be taken prophylactically to lower
our risk for sickness and mortality. So
while it is critical to apply sunscreen
after we have been in the sun for two
hours and feel as if we have been
burned, it is still better to apply prior
to exposure. We have found that if
we can take these remedies now, we
will be better off in the future. What is
more, they all have beneficial effects
on our overall health.
The infusion of nutrients and
trace elements into our society for
the improvement of public health
is well known: we add chlorine
to swimming pools, iodide to salt,
fluoride to the water supply, calcium
and magnesium to foodstuffs, vitamin
D to milk, niacin and other B vitamins
to white flour to reduce pellagra. We
can begin to tackle the problems of
radiation exposure in the same way.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a
preventative weekly dosage in a single
pill – consisting of strontium, iodide,
and cesium – that will be taken at the
very least by those who live in highrisk areas. Extra iodide, cesium, and
microunits of strontium can also be
added to salt to protect the youngest
among us.
Cesium
chloride
could
be
added to table salt as a preventative
treatment policy as well as an
ongoing maintenance program, as
radioactive cesium can remain in the
Table 5: Strontium Dosages
DosageEffects
320 mg
Amount of Sr naturally found in human body
1.7g/day
84% subjects reported relief of bone pain,
probable increased bone mass observed in 78%
subjects
680 mg/day
Best combination of efficacy and safety,
increasing vertebral BMD and reducing incidence
of vertebral fractures
6–10 mg/L in tap water supply
Reduced incidence of cavities
86
environment for more than 30 years.
By prophylactically loading the body
with cesium chloride, toxic cesium
may not be absorbed in the GI tract.
An oral dose of 50 mg maintains
elevated blood cesium levels for 80
days. Larger doses of 2 to 9 grams
produce no observed harmful effects
and maintain elevated cesium blood
levels for up to a year. These data
suggest that there is a threshold of
cesium in the blood; if maintained,
additional cesium exposure would be
excreted.
Cesium chloride may prove to be
an agent for improving brain health.
One 2007 study from the Indiana
University School of Medicine
demonstrated that it can protect brain
cell death and could potentially be
used therapeutically for Alzheimer’s
disease and other neurodegenerative
diseases.59 It may also have
antidepressive and prolocomotor
activity effects because cesium is a
calming nutrient similar to lithium or
rubidium.
The Salts of the Periodic Table
The left side of the periodic table
shows the relationship between these
elements: cesium (CS) is in the same
column as lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb),
sodium (Na), and potassium (K).
Strontium supplements not only
protect the body against radiation
damage but also help improve overall
bone health. A significant portion
of our population is osteopenic, and
many of today’s young people are
coming into adulthood with poor
bone density. Strontium works as well
as Forteo, a parathyroid-like hormone,
on feeble bone and works better
than biphosphate on bone density.
In doses up to 1.7 g/day, this can be
added directly to the water supply. It
appears to offer a safe, effective, and
inexpensive approach to preventing
and reversing osteoporosis and
may be of benefit in patients with
osteoarthritis and cancer with bone
metastases, as well as possibly
helping to prevent dental cavities.
Table 5 states that doses of 680 mg/
day appear to be optimum, although
lower doses are clinically effective.
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
Stable strontium is readily available in
many safe forms, including strontium
citrate and strontium carbonate.
Studies prove that increasing the
iodide levels in table salt would help
protect against radioactive iodine. For
example, taking one 14 mg pill of
potassium iodide each week would
protect our thyroids.
By supplementing with potassium
iodide, we can also lower the rate of
goiters, hypothyroidism, and thyroidrelated diseases (not recommended
for those already diagnosed with
hyperthyroidism). More than half of
our nation has thyroid deficiency.
A study from the Mayo Clinic found
thyroid nodules consistent with the
beginning of hypothyroidism in
50.5% of surveyed subjects.60 Public
health studies show that US research
has observed trends of iodine level
decline due to reduction of iodine
levels in foods.
The average American consumes
about 700 μg of iodine a day
through table salt. The maximum
recommended iodine dietary dose
is 2 mg/day through salt. However,
there is no government regulation
for potassium iodide, and we
could potentially increase iodine
intake by more than 1 mg without
foreseeing any problems related to
hyperthyroidism. A review of the
human trials on the safety of iodine
ingestion indicates that neither the
maximum recommended dietary
dose (2 mg/day) nor the minimum
recommended duration of use (3
weeks) has a firm basis. Rather than
a clear threshold response level or a
linear and temporal dose-response
relationship between iodine intake
and thyroid function, there appears
to be marked individual sensitivity,
often connected to underlying thyroid
disease.61
The issue is not whether we will
ever have a nuclear incident; it is
just a matter of when. By increasing
cesium, potassium iodide, and
strontium for the general population,
we can reduce the overall fracture
rate and improve bone health, reduce
thyroid disease, reduce anxiety,
improve osteoporosis, and reduce
TOWNSEND LETTER – NOVEMBER 2012
kidney stones and cavities, as well as
protect against radiation sickness and
death.
Have a Plan: Preparation and
Evacuation
The Red Cross (www.redcross.
org) publishes a handbook which
is available online that covers what
we need for emergencies. Read this
booklet well in advance, so that you
can prepare an evacuation kit. You
will need to have on hand three days’
water supply for every person in the
family, as well as a supply of sodium
bicarbonate, or baking soda, to use as
an antiseptic in case of injury. It can
also be used as a powerful neutralizer
of radiation contamination both
internally and externally.62 Zeolites
are readily available minerals that are
added to water to remove radiation.
They are currently being used in
Japan. We can add zeolites to drinking
water after we have exhausted our
stored supply.
If acute nuclear radiation were
emitted, our local government would
issue one of two orders: shelter-inplace or evacuation. When a shelterin-place order is issued, residents are
required to seek shelter where they
are, seal the premises, and wait for
further notice. Once inside, close
all windows and doors, shut off all
ventilation systems, go into a belowground or lowest level room with the
fewest doors and windows and access
to a bathroom, and seal the room.
Dampen towels and place them
under the doors. Cut plastic sheeting
to fit over windows and vents. Secure
the plastic with duct tape. Then, tape
around the door frame. Turn on the
radio. And finally, do not let air out
of the room or leave the sealed shelter
until told to do so.
For the latter scenario, we first need
to devise a plan for where our family
will meet. This location should be
outside a 60-mile radius from where
the disaster has occurred: it could be
a local landmark, a Red Cross shelter,
or a friend’s or relative’s home. Take
photos of our families with us for
identification, along with important
medical records and medicines.
Radiation Exposure
Once we are outside, move upwind
or perpendicular to the path of the
disaster.
As a way to remember the
materials presented, we came up
with: CLEAN ME ASAP:
CLEAN
C4: Cesium chloride, CoQ10, NAC
Lipoic acid
Excrete toxins with exercise and hydration
Antioxidants
Nutrients
ME
Melatonin
Evaluate urine and stool
ASAP
Arrange an evacuation plan and supply kit
Strontium citrate or carbonate
Assist others with zeolite filters and
sodium bicarbonate
Potassium chloride
Though there are limited data
supporting the effectiveness of cesium
chloride and of strontium carbonate
in radioactive Cs-134 and Cs-137 and
Sr-90 respectively, other significant
health benefits of cesium and
strontium justify their use as dietary
supplements; that is, cesium chloride
for anxiety and brain cell apoptosis
(cell death), strontium carbonate for
bone density.63–65
The
American
Thyroid
Association took 50 years to gather
sufficient scientific data before
recommending that potassium iodide
be “predistributed” to all Americans
living within 50 miles of a nuclear
power plant on March 30, 2011.16
This recommendation has yet to be
implemented, and potassium iodide
may need to be taken prior to an
event. The US Navy is currently using
techniques discussed in the article,
such as zeolites, to deal with cesium
chloride migration across Japan.
We cannot wait another 50 years
to prepare for a nuclear disaster.
Hysteria caused by cesium radiation
exposure has frightened the Japanese
people – as many Japanese now carry
Geiger counters because of cesium’s
rapid mobility. Due to concern over
➤
87
Radiation Exposure
➤
nuclear safety, all of Japan’s 54 nuclear
reactors were shut down during the
summer of 2012, leading to serious
power shortages.66 Any nuclear
accident in the US, regardless of the
actual danger that it posed, would
result in panic, shut-down of nuclear
reactors, and consequent paralysis of
energy. We must understand that low
levels of radiation can be properly
managed and protected against.
Just as we monitor mercury, lead,
cadmium, and aluminum, we need
to be aware of our radiation exposure
dosages. Instead of continuing in fear
of the unknown, we must educate
ourselves on the best methods of
preparedness to combat any and all
potential threats.
Following
evidence
that
prophylactic KI is most effective, we
propose that the ultimate prophylaxis
may be a supplement regimen
as described above. It should be
recognized that prophylactic KI
would have to be distributed in
the fist 10 days, while iodide is
high. Also, there may be a need for
long-term KI in salt-shakers, to be
combined with strontium chloride
and cesium chloride, both to
precipitate our radiation in water, as
well as antidoting the long-term low
level exposures of these radioactive
elements. Braverman has been able
to predict trends in medicine from
prenatal vitamins to lowered lead
toxicity levels. It is only fitting that
his research be on the cutting edge
in protecting the American people in
event of nuclear emergency.
We are also developing a “Smart
Medical Records Bracelet” with a
USB card, containing software that
permits essential medical records
to be downloaded instantly (X-rays,
physicians’ notes, procedures, and
labs). The software will also be
capable of tracking medical radiation
exposure and adding the number of
television hours watched, flight hours,
and so on, to a patient’s total radiation
exposure. The system will alert
patients with a red flag when they have
reached the national average of 620
mrems, which is above the personal
recommended limit. The alert will
advise them to discuss this report
with their primary care physician. If
a patient requires further CT scans,
CXR, and so on, alternatives should
be discussed. Some alternatives are
a combination of body ultrasounds
(US) with a thorough physical exam,
or MRI, V/Q scan, or blood tests such
as D-dimer for pulmonary embolism
among others. The system will also
alert patients with a yellow flag when
they are approaching 500 mrems and
a green flag when personal exposure
is below 350 mrems.
Seeing how the events of
September 11, 2001, disrupted
New York City, it is apparent that
nuclear agencies, government, and
leaders around the country must be
prepared to implement antidotes
quickly and calm the public, which
has a misconception that low levels of
radiation are highly toxic. They are no
more toxic than the low levels of lead,
cadmium, aluminum, and mercury
that we are all exposed to and have
made adjustments to treat. The same
adjustments can be made for low
levels of radiation as long as the
public does not go into widespread
panic. The antidoting of water, land,
and the human body should be
achievable with a variety of salts and
other techniques, allowing us comfort
and control.
Eric R Braverman, MD, has written several best-selling books, including Younger You, and is the author of the
forthcoming Younger Brain, Sharper Mind (Rodale; 2012).
Bernard Loeffke, PhD, is a retired major general from the US Army who is the author of several works, including
the booklet How We Plan to Survive an Attack and the book From Warrior to Healer.
Robert J. Baker, PhD, is the director and curator of mammals and genetic resources at the Natural Science
Research Laboratory at the Museum of Texas Tech University. He and his PhD students have spent several years
studying the biological consequences to native rodents living in the environment created by the Chernobyl
disaster. He is a Horn Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University.
Gustavo Ferrer-Gonzalez, MD, is an associate clinical professor at Florida International University, Florida Atlantic
University, St. Georges University in the Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Department at the Cleveland Clinic
in Weston, Florida.
88
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