[Determination of radioactive contamination in Saghand area]

Saghand area is located at 190 Km north-east of the Yazd city. The presence of radioactive materials and the possibility of radiation caused concern among people. This study was performed to measure radioactive materials in the soil, plant, and water of the Saghand area. In a cross sectional and analytical study the amounts of Ra226,Tu232, K40 and Cs137 in each 5Km as far as 50Km of Saghand mines were measured. Samples of plants were washed, dried and grinded. Samples of soil were picked up from 30cm deep and the water samples were picked up from the springs of that area. The samples were analyzed by spectrometry by the pure germanium [H.P.Ge] detectors in the lab of Iran Atomic Energy Organization. The results showed that the value of Ra in the soil was 21-45, Tu was 21-43, K was 303-505, Cs was 0.1-12 Bq/Kg, and the amounts in the both axes were similar. The amount of Ra in the plant of that area was 0.6-2.8, Tu was 1.7-3.3, K was 86-157, and Cs was 0.4-3.4 Bq/Kg. The value of Ra226 of water was between 2 to 8 mBq/liter in the water sources of that area. According to the radiation law, by increasing the distance, the value of radiation from radioactive materials do not decrease. The value of radiation in water was much less than the standard level [110 mBq/liter]. Therefore, we can confie to all of the people in the district that the life is not dangerous for water, food and soil pollution with radioactive materials in this region

Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion and household salt iodine after 10 years of salt iodization in Yazd province in Iran

Iodine Deficiency Disorders[IDD] are the most important epidemic disorders in the world including Iran. For preventing IDD and its consequences, table salt has been iodized since 1989. At present, this programme has been 10 years old. Objective: To determine the total goiter rate[TGR] and urinary iodine in 6-11 years old students in Yazd province and related cities after 10 years of salt iodized programme. Subjects and Methods: A total 4755 primary school students[2948 boys and 1807 girls] aged 6-11 were selected by multistage cluster sampling method from the Yazd province. Thyroid examination and goiter classification were made according to World Health Organization[WHO] guidelines by two trained physicians. Urine sample and household salt was collected from 1/13th of total population. Urinary iodine was determined by a digestion method. Iodine of salt was determined by rapid test kit. Data was analyzed by SPSSWIN software. Results: TGR of Yazd province was 40.9%[Girls 41.8% and boys 40.3% not significant]. Prevalence of goiter grade 1 and grade 2 were 38.6% and 2.3%, respectively. These figures for girls were 39.1% and 2.7% and for boys were 38.3% and 2% respectively. TGR of Taft, Abarkuh, Khatam, Yazd, Bafgh, Sadugh, Mehriz, Mybod and Ardakan were 43.3%, 41.5% 32.4%, 40.2%, 38.5%, 53.8%, 41.8%, 37.8% and 31.5% respectively. TGR was significantly different among these cities[pv<0.0001]. Overall mean of the urinary iodine was 264 +/- 123 microg/l and the corresponding mean in girls and boys were 236 +/- 118 microg/l and 281 +/- 123 microg/l, respectively which were significantly different[pv=0.001]. Mean of urinary iodine in Taft, Abarkuh, Khatam, Yazd, Bafgh, Sadugh, Mehriz, Mybod and Ardakan were 224 +/- 146 microg/l, 229 +/- 130 microg/l, 332 +/- 114 microg/l, 266 +/- 122 microg/l, 264 +/- 84 microg/l, 291 +/- 116 microg/l, 208 +/- 125 microg/l, 235 +/- 103 microg/l and 279 +/- 118 microg/l, respectively [pv=0.02]. In general, 10.5% of study population had urinary iodine concentrations below 100 microg/l, 24.5% were in ideal range[100-200 microg/l] and 65% were higher than 200 microg/l. Approximately 94% of salt samples had iodine. The study shows that after ten years iodized salt program has decreased the prevalence of goiter and increased urinary iodine. This means that Yazd province is .IDD free. from 2002