((Environmental Significant of Iodine Distribution in Ground Water at Baashiqa and Tel- Afer Regions/Northern Iraq))

Abstract

Iodine and Iodide contents are locally variable in ground water at Baashiqa and Tel-Afer regions and their average sum to (0.17 µg/ml and 0.27µ g/ml )and (0.15µg/ml and 0.19 µg/ml ) respectively .Iodine and Iodide distributions are affected by some hydrochemical properties especially pH and electrical conductivity which reflect washing reaction between well water enriched with dissolved salt ( cations , bicarbonate, carbonate ) and the constituents of geological formations exposed at both regions. Ground water at both regions are used for different purposes including domestic and agriculture in addition to drinking water. Such uses may affect differently on human health and consequently on the endemic iodine deficiency diseases known to occur among the population of the northern IRAQ. Apparently, iodine, iodide contents are related to the number of IDD patients and such relation is affected by various factors including pH, dissolved salts and sulfur species, which determine the bioavalability of iodine for the biological processes.