Abstract:Objective To fully understand the iodine content of drinking water in Chenzhou City, and to scientifically guide prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders. Methods According to the National Survey Plan for Iodine Content in Drinking Water, we investigated the iodine content of drinking water in 158 townships (towns and streets) of 11 counties (cities and districts) based on taking townships and towns as units as well as in the townships and towns with the median of water iodine being greater than 10 μg/L based on taking administrative villages (neighborhood committees) as units. The iodine content in water was detected by the method recommended by the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Reference Laboratory. The data regarding the survey of water iodine were analyzed by Excel 2007 and SPSS 17.0 software. Results A total of 1,319 water samples were collected from 158 townships (towns and streets) of 11 counties (cities and streets). The water samples with iodine content less than 10 μg/L accounted for 89.92% (1,186/1,319). The median of water iodine in the 11 counties (cities and districts)was less than 10 μg/L. The townships with the median of water iodine being less than 10 μg/L accounted for 98.73% (156/158), and those with the median of water iodine being 10-100 μg/L 1.27% (2/158). We investigated 19 villages in 2 townships of 2 counties based on taking administrative villages as units. The villages with the median of water iodine being less than 10 μg/L accounted for 57.89% (11/19), and those with the median of water iodine being 10-100 μg/L 42.11% (8/19). The median of water iodine in centralized water supply was the highest (2.76 μg/L), followed by partially centralized water supply (2.01 μg/L) and distributed water supply (1.62 μg/L). There were statistically significant differences in the median of water iodine among different water supply modes (H=17.94, P<0.001). The median of water iodine was higher in well water than in surface water (2.54 μg/L vs. 1.50 μg/L),with a statistically significant differences (Z=-9.55, P<0.001). The median of water iodine in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas (3.37 μg/L vs. 1.90 μg/L), with a statistically significant differences (Z=-2.68, P=0.007). Conclusions The iodine content of drinking water in Chenzhou City is generally at a low level. Chenzhou City belongs to the iodine deficiency area of external environment; and hence, it is necessary to adhere to scientific supplementation of iodine and constantly conduct a comprehensive monitoring of iodine deficiency disorders.