Cations and Anions in drinking water as putative contributory factors to endemic Goiter in Shiraz

Abstract

The prevalence of endemic goiter in Shiraz has already been established and the present study was undertaken to identify some of the possible environmental goiterogenic agents in this region and establish their likely relationship with goiter. The drinking water samples were analyzed for the quantitative determination of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and nitrate. The bicarbonate content of drinking water was found to bear a significant positive correlation with the goiter rate (P<0.014). The nitrate level in drinking water showed significant positive correlation with the goiter rate (P<0.002). The calcium and sodium levels in drinking water showed also significant positive correlation with goiter rate (P<0.05). The magnesium and potassium levels in drinking water had no positive correlation with goiter rate. It is concluded that there is possibly an interplasy of several factors in association with a state of iodine deficiency, which may be responsible for the endemic goiter seen in this part of Iran