title: A new approach to combatting iodine deficiency in developing countries: the controlled release of iodine in water by a silicone elastomer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Four hundred million people or more may be exposed to iodine deficiency worldwide, in developing countries in particular. Because of the practical problems with existing methods for the large-scale prevention of iodine deficiency, the authors developed a new approach to collective prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This approach relies on the controlled diffusion of iodine into water from a silicone elastomer. Silicone matrices installed in a bore well released iodine at a rate sufficient to permit the daily per capita intake of at least 100 micrograms of iodine, the amount recommended by the World Health Organization. The matrices were tested over 1 year in a village in Mali, West Africa, an area in which goiter was highly endemic. The effects on the well water and population were compared with those of a placebo system in a control village.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in urinary iodine levels was observed in the treated population, and after 12 months the incidence of goiter had fallen from 53.2% to 29.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new concept, adaptable to all sources of water supply, may contribute to the eradication of iodine deficiency.
authors: Services des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales (GEEP), Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fisch
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Pichard
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Prazuck
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sebbag
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Torres
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gernez
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gentilini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D007455:Iodine