The radiation levels in the worst-hit areas of the reactor building have been estimated to be 5.6 roentgens per second (R/s), equivalent to more than 20,000 roentgens per hour. A lethal dose is around 500 roentgens (~5 Gy) over 5 hours, so in some areas, unprotected workers received fatal doses in less than a minute.
Sodium bicarbonate is the generic name for a drug that is most commonly used to calm upset stomach caused by irritation from acid reflux. It's available in tablet form and is also sold in combination with omeprazole (Prilosec) as the over-the-counter (OTC) drug Zegerid for acid reflux. Sodium bicarbonate belongs to a class of drugs called antacids.
It has a white powder appearance. It is odorless and has a slightly alkaline taste. The most common bicarbonate is sodium bicarbonate. It has the chemical formula NaHCO3 and is used as baking soda for cooking and cleaning. It is also used as an antacid. Due to its solubility in water, sodium bicarbonate is often used to assess water quality.