Ciftci, E.Sevketbeyoglu, E. (Tashan)Tokel, S.2019-08-012019-08-0120070943-0105https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0661-6https://hdl.handle.net/11480/5347Iodine contents of soils developed over the major rock formations of the northern zone of the Eastern Pontide Tectonic Belt (Northeastern Turkey) have been investigated with respect to soil-parent rock relationship, effect of topography, elevation, and climate to construe its effect on the health of the local population. Samples were collected from the A and B horizons of the soils developed over the major stratigraphic units constituting the eastern Pontides, including the Lower Basic Complex of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous age, the Berdiga limestone (Jurassic-lower Cretaceous), the Dagbasi granitoid (Upper Cretaceous), volcano-sedimentary sequence of Upper Cretaceous age, ore-bearing and barren dacites of Upper Cretaceous age, and Neogene alkaline basalts. Chemical analyses of soil samples indicate significantly lower iodine abundances for all the soils studied (5-28 ppm) in comparison to the average abundance of iodine in analogous soils of other parts of the world (22-93 ppm). The concentration of iodine in soils developed over the same geologic formation decrease with increasing elevation. In certain cases, this decrease may reach up to 70%. Goiter is highly common throughout this region in Turkey. The results of this study suggest that the iodine deficiency of region's soils may be a principal underlying cause for this area of Turkey being an endemic goiter region.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessiodinesoil geochemistrytrabzonEastern Pontidesendemic goiterArticle53245746510.1007/s00254-007-0661-62-s2.0-34548008103N/AWOS:000248907100020Q3