[Verification and epidemiological study on endemic iodide-induced goiter in Jiangsu Old Yellow River flooded plain]

To verify the existence and reveal the epidemiological characteristics of endemic iodide-induced goiter in Jiangsu Old Yellow River flooded plain, 12 spots were selected in this survey. The results showed that the total goiter rate of 22.18% by palpation and 12.83% by B-ultrasound which surpassed the 5%-cutpoint-recommended jointly by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. The urinary iodine median was 962 micrograms/L in 607 samples. The average 24 hours I31iodine-emissivity ratio was 4.6 +/- 0.3% with most of the serum TSH, T4, T3 within normal ranges. Of 1049 water samples in 65 towns, 771 had iodine content over 300 micrograms/L with water iodine concentration over 300 micrograms/L in 52 towns. These findings suggested that goiter in this plain had been endemic which related to excessive iodine in shallow well water. Heavy load of iodine over general population was noticed.