Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Universal salt iodation will prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Globally, salt-iodation technologies mostly target large and medium-scale salt-producers. Since most producers in low-income countries are small-scale, we examin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2009-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/187 |
| _version_ | 1818147175264157696 |
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| author | Assey Vincent D Tylleskär Thorkild Momburi Philip B Maganga Michael Mlingi Nicholaus V Reilly Marie Greiner Ted Peterson Stefan |
| author_facet | Assey Vincent D Tylleskär Thorkild Momburi Philip B Maganga Michael Mlingi Nicholaus V Reilly Marie Greiner Ted Peterson Stefan |
| author_sort | Assey Vincent D |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Universal salt iodation will prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Globally, salt-iodation technologies mostly target large and medium-scale salt-producers. Since most producers in low-income countries are small-scale, we examined and improved the performance of hand and knapsack-sprayers used locally in Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied three salt facilities on the Bagamoyo coast, investigating procedures for preparing potassium-iodate solution, salt spraying and mixing. Different concentrations of solution were prepared and tested using different iodation methods, with the aim of attaining correct and homogeneous iodine levels under real-life conditions. Levels achieved by manual mixing were compared to those achieved by machine mixing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall median iodation level in samples of salt iodated using previously existing methods was 10.6 ppm (range 1.1 – 110.0 ppm), with much higher levels in the top than the bottom layers of the salt bags, p < 0.0001. Experimentation using knapsack-sprayers and manual mixing led to the reliable achievement of levels (60.9 ppm ± 7.4) that fell within the recommended range of 40 – 80 ppm. The improved methods yielded homogenous iodine concentrations in all layers of salt-bags (p = 0.58) with 96% of the samples (n = 45) falling within 40 – 80 ppm compared to only 9% (n = 45) before the experiment and training (p < 0.0001). For knapsack-spraying, a machine mixer improved the iodine levels and homogeneity slightly compared to manual mixing (p = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Supervised, standardized salt iodation procedures adapted to local circumstances can yield homogeneous iodine levels within the required range, overcoming a major obstacle to universal salt iodation.</p> |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:31:04Z |
| publishDate | 2009-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-36cb5ca82f5843a4874555c20ae383422022-12-22T01:07:14ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582009-06-019118710.1186/1471-2458-9-187Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in TanzaniaAssey Vincent DTylleskär ThorkildMomburi Philip BMaganga MichaelMlingi Nicholaus VReilly MarieGreiner TedPeterson Stefan<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Universal salt iodation will prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Globally, salt-iodation technologies mostly target large and medium-scale salt-producers. Since most producers in low-income countries are small-scale, we examined and improved the performance of hand and knapsack-sprayers used locally in Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied three salt facilities on the Bagamoyo coast, investigating procedures for preparing potassium-iodate solution, salt spraying and mixing. Different concentrations of solution were prepared and tested using different iodation methods, with the aim of attaining correct and homogeneous iodine levels under real-life conditions. Levels achieved by manual mixing were compared to those achieved by machine mixing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall median iodation level in samples of salt iodated using previously existing methods was 10.6 ppm (range 1.1 – 110.0 ppm), with much higher levels in the top than the bottom layers of the salt bags, p < 0.0001. Experimentation using knapsack-sprayers and manual mixing led to the reliable achievement of levels (60.9 ppm ± 7.4) that fell within the recommended range of 40 – 80 ppm. The improved methods yielded homogenous iodine concentrations in all layers of salt-bags (p = 0.58) with 96% of the samples (n = 45) falling within 40 – 80 ppm compared to only 9% (n = 45) before the experiment and training (p < 0.0001). For knapsack-spraying, a machine mixer improved the iodine levels and homogeneity slightly compared to manual mixing (p = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Supervised, standardized salt iodation procedures adapted to local circumstances can yield homogeneous iodine levels within the required range, overcoming a major obstacle to universal salt iodation.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/187 |
| spellingShingle | Assey Vincent D Tylleskär Thorkild Momburi Philip B Maganga Michael Mlingi Nicholaus V Reilly Marie Greiner Ted Peterson Stefan Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania BMC Public Health |
| title | Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania |
| title_full | Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania |
| title_short | Improved salt iodation methods for small-scale salt producers in low-resource settings in Tanzania |
| title_sort | improved salt iodation methods for small scale salt producers in low resource settings in tanzania |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/187 |
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