old wives advice - take salt to prevent radiation

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Check facts, don't heed old wives' tales
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Radiation Trackers

THERE is plenty of nonsense and old wives' tales circulating in the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis.

The department director of the Centre for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science, Mr Koh Kim Hock, advised people to ignore mobile phone text messages and e-mail purporting to be from experts.

Since the disaster broke, several messages have made the rounds, including one urging people to stock up on salt. This is based on the erroneous belief that table salt can prevent radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the body.

Mr Koh debunked such myths and urged people not to pass on such messages without verifying them against authoritative sources.

There was similarly no need for people to stay indoors or wear raincoats in case of radioactive rain, another widely circulated piece of misinformation.

Singapore is unlikely to be affected by radioactive clouds from Japan, which is more than 5,000km away.

Should the situation change, government agencies would be the first to issue appropriate advice.

'Go to the right place for the right information,' he advised, citing the World Health Organisation and Singapore Government websites as examples.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim, who spoke briefly to reporters at the press conference, said Government agencies would continue to monitor the effects of Japan's disaster on Singapore.

The checks would include practices already in place - for example, on the radiation level and food imported from Japan.

'We have emergency plans if the situation worsens,' he said.

He offered his condolences to the Japanese people, and also took the opportunity to remind Singaporeans to avoid travelling to Japan unless necessary.

Those already in Japan should avoid going within 100km of the reactor sites in Fukushima.

 

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China panic sets S'pore shoppers buying salt
Panic buying of salt in China has prompted people here to stock up as well, but experts say eating salt or washing vegetables in heavily salted water is no safeguard against the effects of radiation. Besides, there is no risk of radioactive contamination in Singapore. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SOME supermarket outlets have run out of salt, while three of six chains have seen an increase in demand.

Reports of panic buying in China and Hong Kong might have got some people here stocking up, in the mistaken belief that eating salt or soaking vegetables in heavily salted water helps ward off the effects of potential radiation.

Experts said there is no such thing.

'Firstly, there is no risk of radioactive contamination here,' said Dr Ng Kee Chong, head of emergency medicine at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Secondly, the iodine concentration in edible salt is too low to have any effect.

China, one of Singapore's major suppliers, iodises its salt as part of a national policy to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.

Madam Sim Lian Tin, 50, owner of an iEcon minimart in Yishun, said one customer told her she would soak her vegetables in salt water to get rid of radiation.

But Dr Anthony Goh, head of Singapore General Hospital's department of nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography, said: 'It is true that common salt does contain some iodine, but you cannot remove radioactive contamination from food; you just have to avoid it. You cannot wash it off or get rid of it with salt.'

Yesterday, supermarket chains Sheng Siong, FairPrice and Prime said demand for salt had gone up, although Giant, Shop N Save and Cold Storage reported no change.

Retailers said some consumers may also be stocking up to guard against a possible shortage and higher prices.

Madam Sim said she sold about 100 packets of salt yesterday, 10 times more than usual.

'When I opened the shop in the morning, one customer asked if I had salt. She bought 22 packets,' she said, adding that most of her customers were the elderly and housewives.

Mr Tng Ah Yiam, director of integrated purchasing at FairPrice, said there is ample supply and prices have remained stable.

The Sheng Siong spokesman said the chain is well-stocked too.

JESSICA LIM

 

[kanninabeh]

kanninabeh they eat salt more than u eat rice but rice can full salt cannot leh kanninabeh!

 

[middaydog]

Madam Sim said she sold about 100 packets of salt yesterday, 10 times more than usual.

'When I opened the shop in the morning, one customer asked if I had salt. He bought 22 packets'

now you come and tell me this

So? what do I do with 22 packets of salt ? Should I bath in it or should I eat them all at one go ?

 

[GoldenDragon]

now you come and tell me this

So? what do I do with 22 packets of salt ? Should I bath in it or should I eat them all at one go ?

Wash your car with salt water sure see pay shiny one!

 

[po2wq]

now you come and tell me this

So? what do I do with 22 packets of salt ? Should I bath in it or should I eat them all at one go ?

dun worry la ... xperts say u can dun eat salt ... but u can go swallow ...

 

[cleareyes]

eat more salt and get ready for Kidney stone

and when that happens, blame it on radiation

what a great way to pass the fault around.

 

[eatshitndie]

this proves that it is easy to manipulate chinese losers to go into frenzy, fear and panic with stupid rumors and false facts. it has been like this for 5 thousand years and they never overcome their stupidity, and they never will.

 

[Lestat]

Has it been proven that salt do help in preventing or lowering radiation exposure? If not I believe this is just a rumour by the salt sellers to take advantage of the situation to make a quick buck.

 

[lianbeng]

lianbeng says salt cannot fill hungry tummy but rice can leh.