Posted: 10/7/2008 2:48:39 PM EDT
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I have some Iosat 130mg Potassium Iodide Tablets taht have an expiration date of 7/89 on them. Obviously, they are for use in emergency situations only to help the thyroid from absorbing radiation. Are they safe to use? Also have some Israeli gas mask from the 1980s with what looks like German filters marked as 3/82. Are they safe? Filters look like this: 
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Don't know about the tablets but I'd probably at least get new filters for your mask if it's for serious use. Rubber in the mask may have degraded as well. They look like the filters that came with my Israeli mask around GW1. Just be sure to remove BOTH seals from the filter before putting it on. 
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Don't worry, the mask has a hi-tech way to remind you if you forget  BTW- KI is a salt and over time and with exposure to moisture will oxidize into Iodine. I do not know when/if it loses its effectiveness for immediate treatment of exposure to radioactive Iodine but I suspect it has a VERY long shelf life if kept in a sealed container. |
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not sure what media was used in those filters but if it is the same as the us i'd toss them. the media crumbles with age and is a known carcinogen. breathing that dust can be some BAD juju. current filters can be had pretty cheap on ebay. the expiration dates on new filters are generally for the vacume seal guarantee and not the media IIRC. <i'd want to verify that> mike |
