IODISATION Meaning and
Definition
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Iodisation, also spelled iodization, is a process of adding iodine to a substance, typically salt, in order to increase its iodine content. The purpose of this process is to address iodine deficiency and promote proper thyroid function, as iodine is an essential mineral for the human body.
Iodisation plays a crucial role in public health and nutrition, as iodine deficiency can lead to various health problems, especially related to the thyroid gland. The lack of sufficient iodine in the diet can result in thyroid dysfunction, which may cause a range of issues such as goiters, mental retardation, cretinism, and impaired cognitive development in children.
The iodisation process involves the addition of controlled amounts of iodine to salt. This is usually done through methods such as sprinkling potassium iodide or potassium iodate onto the salt crystals or dissolving the iodine compounds directly in the brine used for salt production. The iodine is then uniformly distributed throughout the salt, ensuring that individuals consuming the iodised salt will benefit from its iodine content.
Iodisation programs are commonly implemented by governments or international agencies as a preventive measure to combat iodine deficiency disorders. This intervention has been successful worldwide, significantly reducing the prevalence and severity of iodine deficiency-related disorders in many regions.
Overall, iodisation is an important strategy in public health efforts to improve nutrition and prevent iodine deficiency. By incorporating sufficient amounts of iodine into commonly consumed substances like salt, this process helps ensure that individuals receive the necessary levels of iodine to support their overall health and well-being.
Common Misspellings for IODISATION
- uodisation
- jodisation
- kodisation
- oodisation
- 9odisation
- 8odisation
- iidisation
- ikdisation
- ildisation
- ipdisation
- i0disation
- i9disation
- iosisation
- ioxisation
- iocisation
- iofisation
- iorisation
- ioeisation
- iodusation
- iodjsation
Etymology of IODISATION
The word "iodisation" is derived from the noun "iodine" and the suffix "-ation".
"Iodine" refers to a chemical element with the symbol "I" and atomic number 53. It was discovered in 1811 by the French chemist Bernard Courtois. The term "iodine" itself derives from the Greek word "iodes", which means "violet-colored".
The suffix "-ation" is commonly used to form nouns from verbs, and it indicates an action, process, or result. In this case, it signifies the process or action of adding iodine to something. Thus, "iodisation" refers to the process or action of adding iodine to a substance, typically to improve its nutritional content or for other purposes.
