Twelve percent of those who live near the North Anna Nuclear Station showed up to receive the free tablets, which protect against radiation poisoning. In the Williamsburg area, near the Surry Nuclear Station, participation was 10 percent.

“It wasn’t a huge turnout,” said Kay Jones, nurse manager for the Rappahannock Area Health District.

Health Department officials traveled to fire stations, community centers, schools and offices to hand out the tablets. The distributions took place during September and October in nine localities.

Each resident received a single 130 mg. potassium iodide tablet, a one-day supply. Those who live or work within 10 miles of the plants in Louisa and Surry counties were eligible.

In the Fredericksburg area, 2,500 people received the tablets. In the Williamsburg area, 24,764 people took part.

Some residents said they appreciated what the state was doing, Jones said, while a few wondered if the state knew of some danger that the public didn’t.

“There was not a sense of panic,” said Dr. Elaine S. Perry, director of the Peninsula Health District.

Potassium iodide is a nonprescription medication that is routinely added to table salt to make it “iodized.” It can protect against poisoning by radioactive iodine, one of the contaminants that could be released during a severe reactor accident. Exposure to radioactive iodine can increase the risk of thyroid cancer, especially in children.

The giveaways were unprecedented in Virginia and came in response to the events of Sept. 11 and the threat of a terrorist attack.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has offered potassium iodide tablets to 34 states that house commercial nuclear reactors. Virginia is one of 17 states to request or receive the tablets.

The pills are not meant to be a substitute for sheltering or evacuation during an emergency, Jones said. Nor will they protect against all the chemicals that could be released from a breach at a plant.

Residents were asked to store the tablets at room temperature and take them only when directed.