Iodine Concentration in Drinking Water in the Same or Different Seasons of the Year in Brazilian Macroregions

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of iodine in drinking water in the same or different seasons of the year in Brazilian macroregions. Method. Water samples were collected from the Basic Health Units of eight municipalities that make up the different Brazilian macroregions and the Federal District. Sample collection took place in the summer, autumn, winter, and spring seasons. The spectrophotometric method with “leuco crystal violet” was used to determine the concentration of iodine in the water. Descriptive statistics on the data were performed. To verify if there was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water between the climatic seasons of the year in the same place and between the same seasons in different locations, the Mann–Whitney or Kruskal–Wallis test was used and a $p<0.05$ value was considered significant. Results. Among the climatic seasons throughout the year in the same location, there was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water in the municipality of Pinhais, state of Paraná/South macroregion, between autumn and summer ( $p=0.041$ ) and winter and summer seasons ( $p=0.003$ ). There was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water in the summer season between the Midwest and South macroregions; Northeast and Midwest, Southeast and South; North and Midwest, Southeast and South ( $p<0.05$ ). In the autumn season, there was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water between the Midwest and South macroregions; Northeast and Midwest, Southeast and South; North and Midwest, Northeast and South ( $p<0.05$ ). In the winter season, there was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water between the Southeast and Midwest and Southeast and South macroregions ( $p<0.05$ ). In the spring season, there was a difference in the concentration of iodine in the water between the Southeast and Midwest and Southeast and South macroregions ( $p<0.05$ ). Conclusion. There were differences in the iodine concentrations in drinking water in different locations in Brazil, when analyzed in the same seasons, and in the municipality of Pinhais between the autumn and summer and winter and summer seasons. Thus, it is suggested to monitor the iodine concentrations in water, considering the differences in climate, characteristics of each region, and soils throughout the Brazilian territory, since the deficiency or excess of iodine can bring risks to the health of the population.