The Polish Government has announced it is distributing iodide tablets to citizens across the country following fears of possible radiation hazard regarding the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
At the beginning of the week, the Ministry of the Interior announced that all firefighting communities across the country have been provided with adequate doses of the drug.
"This is a standard procedure prescribed by law and applied in the event of a possible radiation hazard. At the same time, we would like to inform you that at the moment there is no such danger and the National Agency for Nuclear Energy is constantly monitoring the situation," the Ministry said.
They went on to add that all services are on alert at the present moment, but sufficient doses of iodine have been provided to all Polish citizens.
On the Polish government's website, the statement reads: "As part of the crisis management and civil protection activities, in connection with the media information on the fighting in the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant region, last week tablets containing potassium iodide were handed over to the district headquarters of the State Fire Service.
"It is a standard procedure provided for by law and used in the event of a possible radiation emergency.
"At the same time, we would like to inform you that at the moment there is no such threat and the situation is monitored on an ongoing basis by the National Atomic Energy Agency.
"The services responsible for state security are on constant readiness, and the appropriate amount of potassium iodide is secured for every Polish citizen."
In case of confirmed contamination, the plan is to quickly distribute iodine tablets that help absorb radioactive substances.
Russian forces seized the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in March this year - which was known as the largest plant in Europe.
Since its seizure, there have been security concerns.
Energoatom, which manages nuclear power plants in Ukraine, added that Russian forces fired missiles at the second largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine on Sunday, report Notes from Poland.
However, the Polish national agency confirmed on Monday that the damaged systems were not important for the safety for the nuclear plants.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - on 24 February 2022 - the number of pharmacies selling iodine in Poland more than doubled. Meanwhile, the the interest in iodine itself has increased about 50 times in a week.
What do iodide tablets do?
When you take potassium iodide, your thyroid gland - just in front of the windpipe - absorbs it.
Upon taking the pill, if you get the right amount at the right time, it will saturate your thyroid gland. This means that by taking the pill, it can help block any inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine from being absorbed by your thyroid.
Therefore, this lowers your risk for radiation damage to that gland.
After the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986, Polish authorities also distributed iodine to millions of citizens - especially to children.