Are there chemicals in the drinking water that can affect the thyroid gland?
“What elements or chemicals in drinking water are considered problematic to thyroid conditions?” ANSWER: It is true that in some parts of the world, there has been a relationship between drinking the water of those areas and goitre prevalence, although this has not been documented in this country. These studies indicate that goitrogenic organic compounds contaminate the water supply in certain areas. Sources of water- borne goitrogens are sedimentary rocks rich in organic matter, coals, shales, cherts, etc. Over 30 organic compounds have been identified in activated carbon extracts of water from Columbia with anti-thyroid activity. Resorcinol and other parent phenolic and phenolic carboxylic compounds have particular goitrogenic effects. I would emphasize once again that we generally have not been aware of water-borne goitrogens of much significance in water in Canada. We do not see endemic goitre in this country, and most of the thyroid conditions that we do see are not due to such fa
