Iodine

About Iodine

• Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for healthy thyroid function, brain development and overall growth.
• Properties: Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53.
  • It belongs to Group 17 (halogens) and Period 5 of the periodic table.
  • It is a lustrous, blue-black solid at room temperature and exists as a diatomicmolecule (I₂).
  • On heating,it sublimes directly into violet vapour without first becoming liquid.
• Uses: Iodine helps produce thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth and development.
  • It is also used in antiseptics, medical treatments and industrial processes.
• Deficiency: Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable intellectual disability worldwide.
  • It can cause goitre, hypothyroidism, cretinism, miscarriage, stillbirth and impaired mental development.
  • Severe deficiency during pregnancy and earlyinfancy can cause irreversible developmental effects.
• Sources: Iodine can be obtained from iodised salt, seaweed, fish, shrimp and dairy products.
• Government Initiatives:
  • The Government launched the National Goitre ControlProgramme (NGCP) in1962.
    • It was renamed the National Iodine Deficiency DisordersControl Programme (NIDDCP) in 1992 to cover wider disorders across all States and Union Territories.
  • India made salt iodisation mandatory for direct human consumption in 1992.
  • The Supreme Court mandated universal iodisation in 2011.
  • Jeevan Bindi, aniodine patch, was introduced to help one lakh tribal women in north-west Maharashtra.
• Global Efforts: The WHO and UNICEF have promoted universal salt iodisation since1993.