Evaluation of iodine concentration in potable water and selected food specimens from moderate endemic goiter area in Poland.

Simple and specific methods for iodide determination in potable water and total iodine in selected food products by means of energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) has been worked out. The methods were applied for the determination of iodine in 83 samples of water from different water intakes in the region of Southern Poland. In over 70 per cent of analysed samples the iodide concentration was below 3 micrograms/dm3. Iodine was also determined in several egg yolks, which were freeze dried before measurements. The eggs were taken from small village farms. The iodine content in particular yolks was between 4 micrograms to 20 micrograms. Only few samples of natural milk were analysed. Iodine concentration in lyophilized milk was at detectability limit i.e. about 0.5 microgram/g lyophilized milk. The region of South-Eastern Poland is characterized by low concentration of iodine in potable water and food.