Iodine concentration in drinking water sources of selected villages in Ramtek Tehsil, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Purpose

Iodine content in drinking water is a reflection of the iodine level of rocks and soil of the region. Different water sources have different levels of iodine; this makes variability in concentration of iodine content. The present study was done to estimate the iodine content in drinking water from different water sources of Ramtek villages in Nagpur district identified with sporadic cases of endemic goiter. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The water samples were collected from seven villages from Ramtek taluka, which included well, bore well and tap water. Water was collected in clean and dry glass bottles from each source from the entire villages under study. The analysis of the water samples was done by the method of Karmarkar et al.

Findings

Iodine content of water samples varied from 17.42 to 43.55 μg/l in tap water, 17.42-21.77 μg/l in well water and 8.7-37.02 μg/l bore well water. The mean iodine content was found to be highest (34.04±11.44 μg/l) in tap water, while bore well water and well water showed 20.46±14.16 μg/l and 19.59±3.07 μg/l, respectively.

Originality/value

The endemic area has been surveyed by the author – the data generated and analyzed – the findings of which are independently arrived. The study is helpful for students, academicians, independent researchers, and the government policy makers for their further research, policy formulation and implementation.

Citation

Vikas Jambhulkar, S. and Anvar Vali, S. (2013), "Iodine concentration in drinking water sources of selected villages in Ramtek Tehsil, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 591-596. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-09-2011-0094