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Abstract: A cross-sectional survey among Saharawi refugees in four camps carried out in 2007 revealed enlarged thyroid volume and high urinary iodine concentration in women and school children. The purpose of this paper is to describe the content of iodine in food and water and explore whether any sources in the environment can explain the situation. Samples of water (n =143), milk (n =19) and salt (n =89) were collected. Different wells supplied the camps with water and the median iodine concentration was 108μg/L (range 55–545μg/L) and significantly higher in two of the camps (El Aiune and Ausserd; 300μg/L (range 55–545μg/L)), compared to the two other camps (Smara; 87μg/L (55–127μg/L) and Dakla; 70μg/L (55–96μg/L)). In local goat milk the median iodine concentration was 370μg/L (70–13,070μg/L). The median content of iodine in salt was 6μg/g (0–51μg/g). Water and local milk were the most important sources of iodine for women. High levels of iodine in water seem to be one of the main sources of iodine that affects humans as well as animals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Excessive iodine intake is a major public health problem in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria, where animal milk is an important source of iodine. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between iodine concentrations in locally produced animal milk and in animal drinking water and further to assess the risk of exceeding European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) tolerable upper intake level for iodine (600 μg/d) among Saharawi women. In 2009 and 2010, 202 milk samples from goats and sheep and 52 milk samples from camel were collected. Iodine in milk was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, iodine in 56 water samples from the general water system and 54 water samples from wells, was determined by modified Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Animal milk is generally consumed mixed with water. The median (min, max) iodine intake from goat/sheep milk mixed with water in camps with high iodine content in human drinking water was 284 (57, 2889) μg/d and 19% of participants exceeded EFSA upper intake level for iodine. The median (min, max) iodine intake from camel milk mixed with water in all camps was 2100 (210, 11100) and 47% of participants exceeded the EFSA upper intake level. The median (min, max) iodine content in goat/sheep milk from camps with moderate and high iodine content in water was 507 (101, 4791) μg/L and 1612 (487, 9323) μg/L, respectively (p < 0.001). The iodine content in goat/sheep milk was positively associated with iodine content in animal drinking water (regression coefficient, B 5.71, 95% CI 4.03, 7.39). In conclusion, consumption of camel milk and living in camps with high water iodine content increased the risk of exceeding the EFSA upper intake level for iodine. We suggest that purified water for both human and animal consumption should be provided., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.