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Iodine concentrations of soils near Trabzon, Turkey: a region of endemic goiter

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Iodine contents of soils developed over the major rock formations of the northern zone of the Eastern Pontide Tectonic Belt (Northeastern Turkey) have been investigated with respect to soil-parent rock relationship, effect of topography, elevation, and climate to construe its effect on the health of the local population. Samples were collected from the A and B horizons of the soils developed over the major stratigraphic units constituting the eastern Pontides, including the Lower Basic Complex of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous age, the Berdiga limestone (Jurassic-lower Cretaceous), the Dagbasi granitoid (Upper Cretaceous), volcano-sedimentary sequence of Upper Cretaceous age, ore-bearing and barren dacites of Upper Cretaceous age, and Neogene alkaline basalts. Chemical analyses of soil samples indicate significantly lower iodine abundances for all the soils studied (5–28 ppm) in comparison to the average abundance of iodine in analogous soils of other parts of the world (22–93 ppm). The concentration of iodine in soils developed over the same geologic formation decrease with increasing elevation. In certain cases, this decrease may reach up to 70%. Goiter is highly common throughout this region in Turkey. The results of this study suggest that the iodine deficiency of region’s soils may be a principal underlying cause for this area of Turkey being an endemic goiter region.

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Acknowledgment

Author is indebted to Dr. John P. Hogan (University of Missouri-Rolla) and the anonymous reviewers for their contributions and constructive criticisms that significantly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Nigde University, 51100, Nigde, Turkey

    E. Çiftçi

  2. The Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Trabzon, 61100, Trabzon, Turkey

    E. (Taşhan) Şevketbeyoğlu

  3. Department of Geological Engineering, Kocaeli University, 41100, Kocaeli, Turkey

    S. Tokel

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  1. E. Çiftçi
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  2. E. (Taşhan) Şevketbeyoğlu
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  3. S. Tokel
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Correspondence to E. Çiftçi.

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Çiftçi, E., (Taşhan) Şevketbeyoğlu, E. & Tokel, S. Iodine concentrations of soils near Trabzon, Turkey: a region of endemic goiter. Environ Geol 53, 457–465 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0661-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0661-6

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