The fear of a nuclear accident rises and in Italy there is a rush to iodine. In the draft of the National Plan for the management of emergencies prepared by the Civil Protection there is also talk of iodiotherapy.

"There have been requests for potassium iodide in pharmacies all over Italy, especially in the North and in large cities. But in Italy there is no reason to take iodine tablets to counter the inhalation of radioactive iodine present in the air. as there are no nuclear power plants, nor alarms of radioactive leaks from Ukraine. Not only that, taking iodine without real need could have counterproductive effects and produce thyroid imbalances ", explains Roberto Tobia, national secretary of Federfarma and president of PGEU, the a grouping to which all the Federations of Pharmacists' Orders and the National Associations of European pharmacies belong after the various alarms from Ukraine on possible radioactive leaks following the fighting near nuclear power plants.

"In Italy there is no therapeutic indication for the use of potassium iodide - continues Tobia -, so much so that iodine tablets are galenic preparations that pharmacists make on request, or there are supplements that also contain iodine. 'Italy: in 1986 iodine was recommended to the people of Chernobyl after the accident at the nuclear power plant ".

Pharmacists are explaining to customers that do-it-yourself does not make sense and could be harmful, it is not always explained how to behave in drugstores, supermarkets and herbalists, where you can also buy supplements, not to mention the possibility of buying iodine. online.

"IRRATIONAL" - "In the last two years, fake news has jeopardized the health of Italians", says Andrea Mandelli, president of the Federation of Orders of Italian Pharmacists, who speaks of a "senseless frenzy" and asks not to "irrational behavior" prevails.

"At this moment - he explains - there is no emergency regarding radiation and taking iodine tablets as a form of prevention with respect to a possible future exposure to radiation has no scientific basis. What's more, the intake of iodine in a reckless manner it can cause serious damage to health, in particular to the thyroid gland ".