Osmium (from Greek á½ÏÎ¼Î® osme, smell) is a chemical element with symbol Os and atomic number 76. It is a hard, brittle, bluish-white transition metal in the platinum group that is found as a trace element in alloys, mostly in platinum ores. Osmium is the densest naturally occurring element, with a density of 7004225900000000000â 22.59 g/cm3. Its alloys with platinum, iridium, and other platinum-group metals are employed in fountain pen nibs, electrical contacts, and other applications where extreme durability and hardness are needed.
Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. The most common cause of goiter worldwide is iodine deficiency in the diet. Goiter is often caused by (and a symptom of) hyperthyroidism in the United States, where iodized salt provides plenty of iodine.
Even when it's enlarged, your thyroid may produce normal amounts of hormones. It might also, however, produce too much or too little thyroxine and T-3. A number of factors can cause your thyroid gland to enlarge.Among the most common are: Iodine deficiency. Iodine, which is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, is found primarily in seawater and in the soil in coastal areas. Cancer of the thyroid often appears as an enlargement on one side of the thyroid. 2  Pregnancy. 3  A hormone produced during pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), may cause your thyroid gland to enlarge slightly. 4  Inflammation.