[The present and future of providing iodinated salt to the population]

Iodine content was estimated in 401 samples of table salt (out of which 365 from the distribution network and 101 from households). The values of 85.5% of samples from the distribution network were in normal range (i.e. 25 +/- 10 mg KI/kg) while 9.8% of samples showed the values below that range. The samples from households showed lower values, only 70.2% being in normal range and 28.6% below that which was 3 times more than in those from the distribution network. Such difference may be explained by the loss of iodine from the salt during the storage due to the effects of moisture, temperature and light. However, less satisfactory iodine levels were found in the salt imported from Poland (9 of 28 samples below the normal range, i.e. 32%), Austria (5 from 9 samples below normal range, i.e. 55%) and in the sea salt (7 from 11 samples below normal range, i.e. 63%), while satisfactory values were found in the salt from Germany (all 5 samples examined were in normal range). From 1126 samples from the distribution network examined during 1981-1986 were 63.6 in normal range, while 88.4% out of 612 samples examined during the period 1987-1990 hat their iodine levels in normal range. Present data show satisfactory iodine content in the salt which justifies the assumption of satisfactory iodine intake in the population of Slovakia. (Tab. 2, Ref. 6.).