Monday, October 13, 2008

Iodine -- #53


Of the halogens, Iodine is the very least reactive. While that may be the case, in very brief research I came to find a bunch of surprising information about it, varied enough to suggest that Iodine might be making up for its lack of reactivity by getting involved with random hobbies, including medicine/health, photography, and recreational drugs.

Iodine does not occur elementally in nature, but it can be found in large concentrations in the ocean. Several iodine compounds are commonly used by society - as a tincture with ethanol, iodine is useful for treating wounds and sanitizing water. Combined with silver, it is used in developing film. As iodine compounds are used by some in manufacturing methamphetamines, the police might have something to say if they catch you with significant amounts.

It is the heaviest element necessary to life, playing an important role in our thyroid hormones. I was interested to find out that human consumption of iodine is much higher in Japan (thanks to a diet rich in seaweed and sea creatures). Iodine deficiency is apparently a major cause of hypothyroidism, and can lead to all kinds of health problems. In some countries, iodine is regularly added to table salt (that's what they mean by "iodized") which has curbed the trouble caused by lack of the element in the diets of many, but the problem persists in many parts of the world. The Iodine Network strives to "support national efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency in a sustainable manner by promoting collaboration among public, private, scientific and civic organizations."

Here's a link to Oregon State University's page on Iodine as a micronutrient

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