China's 11-year-old plan to eradicate iodine deficiency disorders by 2000 remains frustrated by chronic shortages of the indispensable element in some areas, health authorities said at a recent meeting.

The government launched a program in 1993 to eliminate iodine deficiency throughout the country by 2000. It has not yet been successful, as four provinces, two autonomous regions and one municipality failed to reach the goal, said Liu Jiayi, a disease control official with the Ministry of Health.

Liu characterized the seven areas that have yet to stamp out the problem -- Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Gansu, Hainan and Chongqing -- as being located in remote sections of the country.

China has reset its goal, planning to provide enough of the element to everyone in the iodine-deficient areas within five years.

Around 100 million people in China, or some 8 percent of the population, suffer from a deficiency of the element. Prenatal iodine deficiency leads to two million infants being born each year with irreversible mental disabilities.

It is generally believed that iodized salt provides the most economical and effective way of distributing iodine. But high shipping costs have hindered the distribution of iodized salt in remote areas, said Lin Jiahua, deputy general manager of the China National Salt Industry Corporation.

Unlawful production and smuggling of uniodized salt is rampant as a result of the underdeveloped legitimate distribution network.

Health education is also necessary to promote the use of iodized salt, Lin said, as people in some areas are accustomed to crude salt and might not use iodized salt even if it is available.

According to the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorder, iodine deficiency is the single most common cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage in the world. It also causes goiters and impairs growth and development. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes miscarriages, stillbirths and other complications. Children with IDD can grow up stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded and incapable of normal movements, speech or hearing.

(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn July 28, 2004)