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Re: [at-l] Iodine allergy.
> Bill, to us poor non medical types this doesn't mean a lot. I would have
> assumed that iodine is iodine. If I am understanding your post then this
> is not the case. Could you elaborate a little more. Thanks, Hopeful
Iodine in shell-fish and x-ray dyes is attached to the molecule/protein.
Think of it as Chlorine in salt (NaCl). The trick in these allergies is
reaction to these proteins and molecules which are large enough to
create an allergic reaction by Mast Cells in your body (don't sweat the
details). The cells that create the allergic reaction are looking for
something big enough that it looks like an invader/threat, not like
food/neccessity.
Elemental iodine, like elemental chlorine, isn't exactly friendly to
living tissues, and likes to burn or corrode them. Ionic iodine is a
reactive ion, not as common as Chlorine, but very neccessary in creation
of thyroid hormone and other proteins. The iodine in your purifier and
iodine tabs is elemental, dissolved in a wax or other carrier. In the
water, the iodine is consumed, burns up the bad buggies, and would
bother you if you put it in your eye or on a cut. You wait a while after
using iodine tabs for the excess iodine to dissipate into the air, or to
be burned up and either settles with bug scum in the bottom of the
bottle, or is dissolved and acts like the iodine added to salt.
I suppose someone _might_ get a reaction to iodinated bug guts, but I
doubt it would have the allergic sensitivity of shellfish and x-ray
dyes. One who is prone to anaphylatic reactions should include an
allergy kit in the first aid pack.
Okay?
Bill Thorneloe
Atlanta, GA
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