Radioactive Iodine and Radiation Hazards

James Acton: The most common isotopes associated with the nuclear power plant catastrophe are actually two different kinds of radioactive iodine. He says if we're exposed to strontium, for example, our body essentially takes it in and treats it like it's calcium - which means terrible things for your bone marrow and blood. If you take an iodine tablet, that will mean that your thyroid is saturated with healthy, non-radioactive iodine,' he says. 'You will avoid getting thyroid cancer'