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Humic substances in drinking water and the epidemiology of thyroid disease
Author(s) -
Laurberg Peter,
Andersen Stig,
Pedersen Inge BÜLow,
Ovesen Lars,
Knudsen Nils
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520190307
Subject(s) - iodine , environmental chemistry , thyroid , aquifer , groundwater , goiter , environmental science , chemistry , endocrinology , medicine , geology , organic chemistry , geotechnical engineering
Thyroid diseases are common in all populations but the type and frequency depends on environmental factors. In Denmark geographical differences in iodine intake are caused by different iodine contents of drinking water, which varies from < 1 to 139 μg iodine per litre. Comparative epidemiologic studies have demonstrated considerable differences in type and occurrence of thyroid disease with more goitre and hyperthyroidism in Aalborg with water iodine content around 5 μg/L, and more hypothyroidism in Copenhagen with water iodine around 20 μg/L. In Denmark, iodine in ground water is bound in humic substances, which have probably leached from marine sediments in the aquifers. Interestingly, humic substances in water from other parts of the world have goitrogenic properties, especially humic substances from coal and shale. Humic substances are heterogeneous mixtures of naturally occurring molecules, produced by decomposition of plant and animal tissues. The effect of humic substances in drinking water on the epidemiology of thyroid disease probably depends on the source of aquifer sediments.