Iodine deficiency in the characteristic swelling or hyperplasia of the thyroid gland, or goiter. In mild iodine deficiency, levels of triiodiothyronine (T) may be elevated in the presence of low levels of levothyroxine, as the body converts more of the levothyroxine to triiodothyronine as a compensation. Some such patients may have a goiter, without an elevated TSH. The introduction of iodized salt since the early 1900s has eliminated this condition in many affluent countries; however, in Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries, iodine deficiency is a significant public health problem. It is more common in developing countries. Public health initiatives to
Isotopes of iodine and 1970s reached about 10). I differs from Cl in that its half-life is longer (15.7 vs. 0.301 million years), it is highly biophilic, and occurs in multiple ionic forms (commonly, I and IO), which have different chemical behaviors. This makes it fairly easy for I to enter the biosphere as it becomes incorporated into vegetation, soil, milk, animal tissue, etc. Of the many isotopes of iodine, only two are typically used in a medical setting: iodine-123 and iodine-131. Since I has both a beta and gamma decay mode, it can be used for radiotherapy or for imaging. I, which