URINARY IODINE EXCRETION IN BYELARUS CHILDREN

Casual urine samples were collected to determine iodine excretion of 1 680 Belarus children during 1990-1994. The subjects, 8-16 years old, w ere from nine different regions of Belarus; 60% were from the Gomel ob last, which has been associated with relatively high levels; of radioi odine fallout and increased incidence of thyroid cancer. Most of the m edian values indicate borderline/low iodine intake or mild iodine defi ciency. Ranges were wide but 163 children excreted < 201 mu gI/l urine and they should be considered severely deficient in iodine.