Endemic goitre, the factors controlling iodine deficiency in soils.

Iodine concentrations in soils derived from a selection of very different parent rocks but within a small well-defined area of uniform environmental conditions have been studied. The results indicate that iodine in soils is independent of parent rock type, and that the maturing of young soils such as those found in areas of endemic goitre is the most important influence on iodine deficiency. The iodine is retained and enriched during vegetative recycling processes.