[131 I accumulation in the thyroid gland of the rat following balneotherapy iodine dose administration].

The effect of oral administration of iodine brine as used in the Austrian health resort Bad Hall on 131I uptake in thyroid, skin and serum, and on the renal radioiodine excretion was studied in 22 rats. Intake of iodine brine resulted in a marked decrease of 131I uptake by the thyroid, both in the long-term experiments (3 weeks of iodine brine supplementation, 131I administration 24 hours before the final evaluation) and in the short-term experiments (1 day iodine, 131I administration 2 hours before evaluation). Reductions in thyroid 131I uptake to 19.4% of the control uptake in the long-term and about 36% in the short-term experiments were observed. No alteration in 131I uptake was seen in the skin, whereas the radioiodine excretion in the urine was somewhat increased. The administration of iodide at a dosage easily achieved by drinking the iodine brine of Bad Hall is discussed as a protective measure against radiation hazards.