Congratulations to Emeritus Associate Professor, Peter Smyth (UCD School of Medicine), whose paper with Professor Colin O'Dowd (Ryan Institute’s Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies, School of Physics, University of Galway) has been published in the European Thyroid Journal.
The paper focuses on how climate changes are affecting the global iodine status.
Abstract
Global warming is now universally acknowledged as being responsible for dramatic climate changes with rising sea levels, unprecedented temperatures, resulting fires and threatened widespread species loss. While these effects are extremely damaging, threatening the future of life on our planet, one unexpected and paradoxically beneficial consequence could be a significant contribution to global iodine supply.
Climate change and associated global warming are not the primary causes of increased iodine supply, which results from the reaction of ozone (O3) arising from both natural and anthropogenic pollution sources with iodide (I−) present in the oceans and in seaweeds (macro- and microalgae) in coastal waters, producing gaseous iodine (I2). The reaction serves as negative feedback, serving a dual purpose, both diminishing ozone pollution in the lower atmosphere and thereby increasing I2. The potential of this I2 to significantly contribute to human iodine intake is examined in the context of I2 released in a seaweed-abundant coastal area. The bioavailability of the generated I2 offers a long-term possibility of increasing global iodine status and thereby promoting thyroidal health. It is hoped that highlighting possible changes in iodine bioavailability might encourage the health community to address this issue.
From the Discussion section:
In the absence of previously largely unsuccessful attempts to reduce atmospheric pollution, the contribution of volatile iodines, by reducing atmospheric O3 pollution, may not be sufficient to alleviate the damaging effects of global warming but could paradoxically have a beneficial consequence of improving iodine status and thyroidal health.
To read the full paper, please visit the European Thyroid Journal.