What makes iodine

What's in a name? From the Greek word for violet, iodes. Say what? Iodine was discovered by the French chemist Barnard Courtois in Courtois was extracting sodium and potassium compounds from seaweed ash. Once these compounds were removed, he added sulfuric acid H 2 SO 4 to further process the ash. He accidentally added too much acid and a violet colored cloud erupted from the mass.

The gas condensed on metal objects in the room, creating solid iodine. What is the most common cause of iodine deficiency? Pregnancy and breastfeeding put women at risk for iodine deficiency. How is iodine deficiency treated? Women who are planning on becoming pregnant or are pregnant should take a prenatal vitamin that contains iodine be sure to check the label. You can help correct low iodine levels by adding foods that contain iodine to your diet, such as iodized salt.

Iodine deficiency happens when your body does not have enough of this element. That said, topical and oral supplementation of iodine has shown some effectiveness for: Venus leg ulcers topical 20 Iodine deficiency and insufficiency 2 Hypothyroidism only if iodine deficient; too much iodine can also cause hypothyroidism 2 Fibrocystic breast disease 2 Reduction in infection risk with catheters and surgery incisions topical 21 Most supplements come in the form of potassium iodide and sodium iodide, but there are other options available, including kelp a type of seaweed.

Favorite Orgs for Iodine Information Iodine Global Network This nonprofit is focused on global, universal salt iodization to prevent iodine deficiency. World Health Organization Read a brief history of iodine deficiency and the current critical importance of global iodized salt programs for a broad view of efforts that are underway to address this health issue. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. History of U. Iodine Fortification and Supplementation.

November Iodine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. May 1, Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board. Infant Formula: U. Food and Drug Administration. April 1, Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes. National Institutes of Health. Iodine Deficiency. British Journal of Nutrition. IDD Newsletter. October Tayie FA, Jourdan K. American Journal of Hypertension. Hess S. February Ervin R, Kennedy-Stephenson J. The Journal of Nutrition. February 14, Selenium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

March 11, Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. February 28, Merck Manual Consumer Version. June Mayo Clinic. November 27, December Journal of the American Medical Association. Catheter Compatibility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 9, Harvard Heart Letter. September The Iodine Deficiency Disorders. The maximum allowable concentration in air when working with iodine is just 1 mg m All iodides are toxic if taken in excess.

Iodine is one of the radionuclides involved in atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, which began in , with a US test, and ended in with a Chinese test. It is among the long-lived radionuclides that have produced and will continue to produce increased cancers risk for decades and centuries to come.

Iodine increases the risk of cancer and possibly other diseases of the thyroid and those caused by thyroid hormonal deficiency. Iodine in air can combine with water particles and precipitate into water or soils.

Iodine in soils will combine with organic matter and remain in the same place for a long time. Plants that grow on these soils may absorb iodine. Cattle and other animals will absorb iodine when they eat these plants. Iodine in surface water will vaporize and re-enter the air as a result.

Humans also add iodine gas to the air, by burning coal or fuel oil for energy. But the amount of iodine that enters the air through human activity is fairly small compared to the amount that vaporizes from the oceans. Iodine may be radioactive. The radioactive isotopes are formed naturally during chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Most radioactive isotopes of iodine have very short half-lives and will reshape into stable iodine compounds quickly.

However, there is one radioactive form of iodine that has a half-live of millions of years and that is seriously harmful to the environment. This isotope enters the air from nuclear power plants, where it is formed during uranium and plutonium processing. Accidents in nuclear power plants have caused the release of large amounts of radioactive iodine into air. Read more on iodine in water. Back to the periodic table of elements.