Mining
The above picture shows the mining areas affected by the earthquake.
Many of Japan’s industries were affected by the earthquake and tsunami, the mining industry being one of those that suffered. Japan produces nearly one quarter of the world’s iodine supply and is the second leading iodine producer in the world. Japan has many other plants other than iodine, such as cement, iron, steel, limestone, copper and more. Many of these plants were physically affected by the earthquake and tsunami. In the area that was affected by the earthquake and tsunami, there were 8 iodine plants as well as 9 cement plants. The mining industry was not only affected by the physical impacts to the mines themselves, but also on the surrounding infrastructure that supported the mining. Many large sectors of Japan experienced a loss in electrical power as a result of the natural events. Many mines which required vast amounts of electricity had no way to operate after the earthquake, and even if they were not physically affected, they had to stop operations. Many of the operable mines have lost the ability to transport their minerals as a result of many roads and highways being destroyed. Because of all of these factors, their supply of iodine has been greatly reduced.
Why is this significant?
This is very important because iodine pills are used to aid people who have been exposed to radiation. Many Japanese workers, civilians, and foreign civilians have been exposed to radiation and may benefit from taking iodine pills. The human thyroid needs and uses iodine to produce a thyroid hormone. When exposed to radiation, the radioactive iodine enters the thyroid where in concentrates and emits radiation. This greatly and in some cases inevitably cause thyroid cancer. The way that iodine pills work is that they force the thyroid to absorb all the iodine it needs from the pills and therefore will not absorb as much radioactive iodine from the atmosphere. The British Embassy began distributing iodine tablets to British citizens in Tokyo and Sendai near the end of March. Another BBC article states that the sale of iodine pills had “surged” in the United States. Many people may be sending iodine pills over to Japan including American companies sending pills to their employees in Japan. The increase in demand may not be supported by the supply, because a large percentage of the world’s iodine was based in Japan.
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12794541
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