The Possible Contribution of 129i in the Drinking Water and Food Supply to the Nodular Formation of Thyroid Tissue

Abstract

Nodular formation of the thyroid tissue can occur as a result of exposure to radiation. The nodular goiter is a common disease seen in the city of Elazig and its surroundings, in the eastern part of Turkey. A prospective study was conducted in an effort to identify the role of 129I in drinking water supply. Specimens obtained from nodular and normal thyroid tissue during surgery and also water specimens were counted by nuclear spectrometric system. 129I radioactivity in nodular tissue was noted to be higher compared to normal tissue and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference (p >0.05) between 129I radioactivity in the water supply and tissue obtained from the patients who have malignant or benign nodular lesions. These results support that the 129I radioactivity level in the water supply is one of the risk factors of the nodular formation of the thyroid tissue in the eastern part of Turkey.