Dr. WEEKS’ COMMENT: I advise my patients to have iodine on hand in their 1st aid kits.
“These findings suggest that elimination of iodine deficiency in areas affected by
Int J Epidemiol. 2003 Aug;32(4):584-91.
Iodine deficiency, radiation dose, and the risk of thyroid cancer among children and adolescents in the
Shakhtarin VV, Tsyb AF, Stepanenko VF, Orlov MY, Kopecky KJ, Davis S.
Medical Radiological
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the joint effect of iodine deficiency and radiation exposure on the risk of thyroid cancer. No epidemiological studies have been published assessing the modifying effect of iodine deficiency on radiation-induced thyroid cancer following the
METHODS: A population sample of 3070 individuals (2590 ages 6-18, and 480 adults) from 75 settlements in the most highly contaminated regions of the Bryansk Oblast of Russia was identified and sampled for urinary iodine measurements in 1996, and iodine deficiency in each geopolitical unit (raion) was estimated. All cases of thyroid cancer were identified in those born 1968-1986 who were resident in the study area in May-June 1986 (34 histologically confirmed cases). The risk of thyroid cancer was examined in relation to population estimates of thyroid radiation dose and urinary iodine excretion level.
RESULTS: The excess relative risk (ERR) of thyroid cancer was significantly associated with increasing thyroid radiation dose, and was inversely associated with urinary iodine excretion levels. There was a joint effect of radiation exposure and iodine deficiency. At 1 gray (Gy), the ERR in territories with severe iodine deficiency was approximately two times that in areas of normal iodine intake.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elimination of iodine deficiency in areas affected by