GC: n

S: WHO – http://www.who.int/elena/titles/salt_iodization/en/ (last access: 11 June 2016); https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/ (last access: 11 June 2016).

N: 1. non-metallic element, 1814, formed by English chemist Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829) from French iode “iodine,” which was coined 1812 by French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac from Greek ioeides “violet-colored” (from ion “the violet; dark blue flower;” see violet) + eidos “appearance” (see -oid).
Davy added the chemical suffix -ine (2) to make it analogous with chlorine and fluorine. So called from the color of the vapor given off when the crystals are heated.
2. Iodine is a chemical element. The body needs iodine but cannot make it. The needed iodine must come from the diet. As a rule, there is very little iodine in food, unless it has been added during processing, which is now the case with salt. Most of the world’s iodine is found in the ocean, where it is concentrated by sea life, especially seaweed.
3. The thyroid gland needs iodine to make hormones. If the thyroid doesn’t have enough iodine to do its job, feedback systems in the body cause the thyroid to work harder. This can cause an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), which becomes evident as a swollen neck.
4. Other consequences of not having enough iodine (iodine deficiency) are also serious. Iodine deficiency and the resulting low levels of thyroid hormone can cause women to stop ovulating, leading to infertility. Iodine deficiency can also lead to an autoimmune disease of the thyroid and may increase the risk of getting thyroid cancer. Some researchers think that iodine deficiency might also increase the risk of other cancers such as prostate, breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
5. Nutritionists have found that the most efficient way to add iodine to the diet is through the use of iodized salt.
6. iodine: form recommended by the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) for the systematic name corresponding to the CAS number indicated on the present record; term adopted by Environment Canada, used in the list of pollutants measured in the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS).

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=iodine (last access: 11 June 2016). 2 to 4. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-35-iodine.aspx?activeingredientid=35 (last access: 11 June 2016). 5 & 6. TERMIUM PLUS – http://goo.gl/95i5bZ (last access: 11 June 2016).

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S:

CR: iodization, povidone-iodine.