Iodine deficiency an insidious condition that leads to serious health problems is spreading, according to a nationwide study.

A survey by the Ministry of Health last year showed the deficiency is widespread in seven areas the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sichuan, Gansu, Hainan and Qinghai provinces, and Chongqing Municipality.

More worryingly, the incidence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) has increased in areas where, according to a survey in 2000, the problem had been practically eliminated.

The latest survey on IDDs and the use of iodized salt has been conducted in 2,328 counties nationwide.

"The results really cause serious concern," said Li Sumei, director of the National Reference Laboratory for Iodine Deficiency Disorders under the Ministry of Health, which analyzed the data collected.

There are 700 million people living in iodine-deficient areas, and a significant number of them suffer from varying degrees of IDDs, according to Li.

The 2000 survey found Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai had the worst record in terms of consumption of iodized salt.

The situation has deteriorated, said Li. In Tibet, for example, 39 percent of edible salt was not iodised. In Hainan, the figure was 22 percent.

A worrying finding from the latest survey is that some areas that met the standard for iodized salt consumption in 2000 have slipped back.

Beijing and Guangdong Province met the targets for iodized salt consumption in 2000. But last year, 16 percent of edible salt available on the market in the capital city was not iodized, and the corresponding figure in Guangdong was 12 percent.

"The sale of fake iodized salt in Beijing is rampant. Some wholesale markets, such as Shuitun in Changping District, have become distribution centers for fake iodized salt," Li said.

"Consumers are unable to tell proper iodized salt from the fake since all the packages are the same, marked 'iodized.' Consumers have no equipment to test the contents," Li said.

It is estimated that of the 10.17 million developmentally-challenged infants in China, about 80 percent of their mothers did not consume enough iodine when they were pregnant. Each year, about 6 million babies are born in iodine-deficient areas.

"Lack of enough iodine among pregnant women has the most terrible consequences since it destroys the health of the next generation," Li said.

Iodized salt is a very simple, universally effective and incredibly cheap weapon with which to combat IDD, said health expert Li.

The health authorities distribute capsules of iodine oil in some remote areas of Tibet because it is difficult to obtain iodized salt products there.

The State has a monopoly on the production and distribution of iodized salt, but in recent years some private manufacturers have started selling what they claim is iodized salt, and have raked in huge profits.

"Promoting the consumption of iodized salt needs a joint effort by many departments and society at large," said Li.

The crackdown requires the co-ordination of the departments of public security, health and transportation. Education is also needed to boost the consumption of the right kind of salt, Li said.

"In some remote regions, residents have not realized the importance of taking iodized salt and have little knowledge of IDDs, so cheap un-iodized salt rules the market."

(China Daily July 6, 2005)