Lack of iodine is affecting more areas
By Sun Xiaohua (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-06 05:52

Iodine deficiency an insidious condition that leads to serious health problems is spreading, according to a nationwide study.

Health workers in Ruoqiang County of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonmous Region send iodized salt to the country's poverty-stricken households. The autonomous region is among six other areas which are affected by iodine deficiency. [newsphoto]

A survey by the Ministry of Health last year showed the deficiency is widespread in seven areas the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous Region, Sichuan, Gansu, Hainan and Qinghai provinces, and Chongqing Municipality.

More worryingly, the incidence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) has increased in areas where, according to a survey in 2000, the problem had been practically eliminated.

The latest survey on IDDs and the use of iodized salt has been conducted in 2,328 counties nationwide.

"The results really cause serious concern," said Li Sumei, director of the National Reference Laboratory for Iodine Deficiency Disorders under the Ministry of Health, which analyzed the data collected.

There are 700 million people living in iodine-deficient areas, and a significant number of them suffer from varying degrees of IDDs, according to Li.

The 2000 survey found Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai had the worst record in terms of consumption of iodized salt.

The situation has deteriorated, said Li. In Tibet, for example, 39 per cent of edible salt was not iodised. In Hainan, the figure was 22 per cent.

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