US News

Russia nuke fears spark panic-buying of radiation-blocking pills

Fears that Russia will start a nuclear war have sparked panic-buying of radiation-blocking potassium iodide in the US and Europe — with the hard-to-get pills being sold for more than 10 times the usual price on sites such as eBay.

The largest distributors of the pills, which can counteract the effects of radiation poisoning, told CNN Business they have put a rush on making more after being overwhelmed with demand.

“This has coincided with the conflict in Ukraine,” said Chris Sampson, a rep for the London-based BTG, which sells Thyrosafe in the US.

And it’s not just panicked individuals behind the mass sales of the pills, which are also known by their chemical formula KI.

“Most of our product is sold to governments, public health agencies and the military who manage stockpiles,” Sampson said. “All of those orders are being met.”

The New York-based company Anbex said demand for its potassium iodide tablets started the day before Russia declared war on Ukraine on Feb. 24 and lasted through the Kremlin’s alarming directive three days later to put its nuclear forces on “high alert.”

One eBay user has tried their luck trying to hawk a five-pack of the pills for nearly $1,000. Ebay
Both the Kremlin and the White House have played down the possibility of atomic warfare. Justin Sullivan

“The big run started on Feb. 23 through Feb. 28. We sold out of all the inventory we had,” said Anbex’s vice president of sales and marketing, Troy Jones, to CNN.

“In the past five days, we’ve probably sold as much as what typically would take us half a year to sell,” he said.

The demand has sparked a resale market seeking big money for the pills on sites including eBay.

Packets of 14 of the tablets, which usually retail for $13.99, are being offered with buy-it-now prices of $149.95.

One Brooklyn-based seller is even trying his luck with a five-pack special at $999.99, though without any bids.

Another listing for the pills currently stands at $69 for a 14-count. Ebay

The Food and Drug Administration says the “effectiveness of KI as a specific blocker of thyroid radioiodine uptake is well established.”

The chemical “floods the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine and prevents the uptake of the radioactive molecules.”

But the agency stresses that the formula “works only to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland” and “is not a general radioprotective agent,” while also warning of possible allergic reactions.

Despite putting its nuclear forces on high alert, the Kremlin has since stressed it does not expect its war on Ukraine to turn atomic.

The White House, which also downplayed the threat, did not comment about the sales of potassium iodide, CNN Business said.