Iodine Geochemistry and Health

It has been estimated that about 29% of the world population is at risk from some form of iodine deficiency disorder. It is the world’s most common cause of mental retardation and brain damage with 1.6 billion people at risk, 50 million children affected and 100,000 cretins born every year. Pharaoh (1985) considers endemic cretinism to be the most important form of IDD, even though other diseases such as still births, abortions, congenital abnormalities and impaired mental function of children are also major health problems (Stewart and Pharoah, 1996).