Pressed by Germany and Luxembourg, the central government of Brussels replied by announcing distribution of anti-radiation pills
by Emanuele Bonini
What to do in case of criticism over the national nuclear power plant? The question was probably asked in Belgium, where the answer was definitely not the best one among all those possible. The federal government of smallest kingdom in Benelux is considering handing out iodine tablets to citizens in the event of a nuclear emergency. The pills are used to lessen the impact of radiation on the thyroid gland, and can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after exposure. Not a bad idea at all, unless your country is under attack for safety risks related to nuclear technologies. Earlier previous month the German minister for Environment, Barbara Hendricks, said Belgium should take offline the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, which are close to the German border, because of safety concerns. The same did the government of Luxembourg for the same reason. As answer, the Belgian minister for Health, Maggie De Block, decided to announce the intention of distributing the iodine tablets. A clear way to ensure that everything is under control and everything is going to be all right. The Belgian side said there is nothing strange in providing the pills, but the decision appears to have been taken in the wrong moment with the effect of giving the wrong message. Answering with anti-radiation pills when asked about the reliability of nuclear system, it's not the way to give assurances. So, those who were thinking that Belgian power plants are a risk, are now more sure to be right. Are the Belgian nuclear reactors really safe? If that was the question, the same question is still there. Especially after the political answer arrived from Brussels.
What to do in case of criticism over the national nuclear power plant? The question was probably asked in Belgium, where the answer was definitely not the best one among all those possible. The federal government of smallest kingdom in Benelux is considering handing out iodine tablets to citizens in the event of a nuclear emergency. The pills are used to lessen the impact of radiation on the thyroid gland, and can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after exposure. Not a bad idea at all, unless your country is under attack for safety risks related to nuclear technologies. Earlier previous month the German minister for Environment, Barbara Hendricks, said Belgium should take offline the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, which are close to the German border, because of safety concerns. The same did the government of Luxembourg for the same reason. As answer, the Belgian minister for Health, Maggie De Block, decided to announce the intention of distributing the iodine tablets. A clear way to ensure that everything is under control and everything is going to be all right. The Belgian side said there is nothing strange in providing the pills, but the decision appears to have been taken in the wrong moment with the effect of giving the wrong message. Answering with anti-radiation pills when asked about the reliability of nuclear system, it's not the way to give assurances. So, those who were thinking that Belgian power plants are a risk, are now more sure to be right. Are the Belgian nuclear reactors really safe? If that was the question, the same question is still there. Especially after the political answer arrived from Brussels.
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