Tamene Fite Duressa^1,, Ahmed Yasin Mohammed¹, Girma Regassa Feyissa¹, Lemma Teshome Tufa², Khalid Siraj³

The iodine content of water, soil, salt and cereals have been analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), titrimetry, Fusion and ion selective electrode methods at Geological Survey of Ethiopia, Geosciences Laboratory Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From the view point of analytical result, the chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, manganese and magnesium, which are considered as goitrogens are with high concentrations while that of iodine is significantly low (p = 0.055). Likewise, the concentrations of iodine in all the water samples fall in the ranges of the iodine concentration of the various parts of the world, 15µg/l. The iodine concentration in the soil samples taken from non-farm lands (no use of chemical inputs) is significantly higher (p = 0.001) than that of farm lands. Iodine concentration in wheat and barley samples is observed to be significantly low (p = 0.002). This is the major guide to draw the conclusion that community using this water, cereals and salt could face the insufficiencies of iodine in their dietary, which in turn would cause less up-take of iodine by the body resulting iodine deficiency disorder and endemic goiter among the population. Thus, the main approaches to tackle the challenges are the use of iodized salt and oil, fortification of food, water and condiments and distribution of iodine tablets.

goiter, iodine, iodine deficiency disorder, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), hypothyroid, universal Iodized salt, iodinated oil