Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.

Iodine is an effective, simple, and cost-efficient means of water disinfection for people who vacation, travel, or work in areas where municipal water treatment is not reliable. However, there is considerable controversy about the maximum safe iodine dose and duration of use when iodine is ingested...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Backer, H, Hollowell, J
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: 2000
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1638306/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10964787
_version_ 1782130994910855168
author Backer, H
Hollowell, J
author_facet Backer, H
Hollowell, J
author_sort Backer, H
collection PubMed
description Iodine is an effective, simple, and cost-efficient means of water disinfection for people who vacation, travel, or work in areas where municipal water treatment is not reliable. However, there is considerable controversy about the maximum safe iodine dose and duration of use when iodine is ingested in excess of the recommended daily dietary amount. The major health effect of concern with excess iodine ingestion is thyroid disorders, primarily hypothyroidism with or without iodine-induced goiter. A review of the human trials on the safety of iodine ingestion indicates that neither the maximum recommended dietary dose (2 mg/day) nor the maximum recommended duration of use (3 weeks) has a firm basis. Rather than a clear threshold response level or a linear and temporal dose-response relationship between iodine intake and thyroid function, there appears to be marked individual sensitivity, often resulting from unmasking of underlying thyroid disease. The use of iodine for water disinfection requires a risk-benefit decision based on iodine's benefit as a disinfectant and the changes it induces in thyroid physiology. By using appropriate disinfection techniques and monitoring thyroid function, most people can use iodine for water treatment over a prolonged period of time.
format Text
id pubmed-1638306
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2000
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-16383062006-11-17 Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose. Backer, H Hollowell, J Environ Health Perspect Research Article Iodine is an effective, simple, and cost-efficient means of water disinfection for people who vacation, travel, or work in areas where municipal water treatment is not reliable. However, there is considerable controversy about the maximum safe iodine dose and duration of use when iodine is ingested in excess of the recommended daily dietary amount. The major health effect of concern with excess iodine ingestion is thyroid disorders, primarily hypothyroidism with or without iodine-induced goiter. A review of the human trials on the safety of iodine ingestion indicates that neither the maximum recommended dietary dose (2 mg/day) nor the maximum recommended duration of use (3 weeks) has a firm basis. Rather than a clear threshold response level or a linear and temporal dose-response relationship between iodine intake and thyroid function, there appears to be marked individual sensitivity, often resulting from unmasking of underlying thyroid disease. The use of iodine for water disinfection requires a risk-benefit decision based on iodine's benefit as a disinfectant and the changes it induces in thyroid physiology. By using appropriate disinfection techniques and monitoring thyroid function, most people can use iodine for water treatment over a prolonged period of time. 2000-08 /pmc/articles/PMC1638306/ /pubmed/10964787 Text en
spellingShingle Research Article
Backer, H
Hollowell, J
Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title_full Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title_fullStr Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title_full_unstemmed Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title_short Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
title_sort use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose.
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1638306/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10964787
work_keys_str_mv AT backerh useofiodineforwaterdisinfectioniodinetoxicityandmaximumrecommendeddose
AT hollowellj useofiodineforwaterdisinfectioniodinetoxicityandmaximumrecommendeddose