This section provides information about the distribution, storage and effect of iodine tablets and about what you should do if a serious incident involving a nuclear power plant occurs.
You can download a PDF document containing all the questions and answers.
The younger a person is, the more sensitive their thyroid gland is to radioactive iodine and the greater the risk is of thyroid cancer developing at a later date. This means that it is above all toddlers and children who need to be protected from exposure to radiation. Experts estimate that their risk of developing cancer if they are exposed without protection is around 10 times higher than that of young adults.
| Newborns up to 1 month | ¼ tablet, just once |
| Children 2 months to 3 years old | ½ tablet per day* |
| Children 4 to 12 years old | 1 tablet per day* |
| Children over 12 and adults | Take 2 tablets at once per day* |
| Pregnant and breastfeeding women | Take 2 tablets at once per day over a period of up to 2 days |
* The duration of administration is guided by how long the exposure situation lasts. It is determined and communicated by the authorities.
The iodine tablets can be dissolved in water or fruit juice, or crushed and mixed with yoghurt. The drink or food containing the tablet must be consumed immediately.
Give the child a lot of liquid to drink. It is not usually necessary to consult a doctor. If the child has swallowed several tablets or is clearly experiencing side effects, it is advisable to contact your GP or paediatrician.
This situation should not really arise. The tablet blisters are opaque and additionally covered with a child-resistant white protective film that makes it more difficult to press the tablets out of the blister.
Although the newborn baby receives a little additional, non-radioactive iodine in the breast milk, iodine prophylaxis is recommended for both mother and child. Please note that the dosage is different for children and adults and can be found in the package leaflet.