ABSTRACT
A simple method for iodine determination in urine and water samples is presented. After digestion of the sample with chromic acid, the iodate produced was converted to iodide by the addition of a strong solution of sodium sulphite. The iodide was then precipitated as palladium iodide using a solution of palladium chloride. The precipitate was filtered through membrane filter paper, air-dried and analyzed using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) method.
Subject(s)
Iodine/analysis , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Water/chemistry , Humans , Iodine/urine , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are known to be a potential problem for billions of people living in the highland areas of Africa and Asia. One method of determining the severity of IDD in a region is to determine the iodine content of the urine of school aged children. The iodine status in four primary schools in the Kapenguria Division of West Pokot district was assessed by determining the urinary iodine concentration in 102 children from the four schools. The median urine iodine concentrations were obtained as Kammorou (n = 24): 2.0-2.5 micrograms/dL (p < 0.01), Nasokol (n = 28): 2.5-3.0 micrograms/dL, Nangrotum (n = 27): 2.5-3.0 micrograms/dL and Makutano (n = 23): 5.5-6.0 micrograms/dL. For a goitre free area, the urinary iodine concentration should be above 5.0 micrograms/dL.
