Aaraus’ Nuclear Power Station

Astonishment is the word which will best describe me when I knew I was going to live beside a nuclear power station.  I mean we do have nuclear power stations in Spainn and even in Valencia…but they don’t show up out of my window!! The truth is that I did not fancy the idea much in the beginning, not for any particular reason….and the my god father told me: as long as you see the cloud everything is ok…start worrying just if it goes away!!! And that is what I do, as a reflex i check out for the cloud every time I look through the window…and that is all the concern I have!!

If you are moving to Aarau or anywhere near a Power station, just remember the trick…check out for the cloud and only worry if it’s not there ;) 

The power station Kernkraftwerk Gösgen is situated on the river Aare in Aarau and is operated by the Nordostschweizerische Kraftwerke AG NOK. For this reason the local council distributes free of charge Potassium iodine tablets.

-          Who gets Potassium iodine tablets?

Anyone living within a distance of 20 kilometers from a nuclear power plant will be provided with potassium iodine tablets as a precautionary measure. If there is a danger of radioactive substance being released following a nuclear power plant accident, the population will be alerted.

-          When do you take Potassium iodine tablets?

Tablets should not be taken before a directive has been issued by the authorities

A power plant accident may occur if the safety tank fails, leading to possible release of radioactive iodine into the environment. Iodine will enter the human body via the respiratory system and is enriched in the thyroid gland. If taken in good time, potassium iodine tablets will prevent radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland.

-          Where do I get potassium iodine tablets?

They will be handed out free of charge when you register in the local council. If for any reason you don’t have them feel free to ask and they will provide you with them.