France will give out free iodine tablets to around 2.2 million people living close to nuclear plants to help protect them from radiation in case of an accident, Euronews reported.
The country's nuclear regulator agency ASN said on Tuesday people living within 10-20 kilometres from one of EDF's 19 nuclear plants, as well as some 200,000 institutions including schools, will receive a letter in the incoming days informing them they can pick up the tablets from the nearest pharmacy.
Previously, France distributed iodine tablets to people living within a 10 kilometre radius from a nuclear plant but has now decided to widen the radius.
During nuclear accidents, radioactive iodine is released into the atmosphere that when inhaled or swallowed by the thyroid gland can cause ...