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A cross-sectional survey among Saharawi refugees in four camps carried out in 2007 revealed enlarged thyroid volume and high urinary iodine concentration in women and school children. The purpose of this paper is to describe the content of iodine in food and water and explore whether any sources in the environment can explain the situation. Samples of water (n = 143), milk (n = 19) and salt (n = 89) were collected. Different wells supplied the camps with water and the median iodine concentration was 108 mu g/L (range 55-545 mu g/L) and significantly higher in two of the camps (El Aiune and Ausserd; 300 mu g/L (range 55-545 mu g/L)), compared to the two other camps (Smara; mu g/L (55-127 mu g/L) and Dakla; 70 mu g/L (55-96 mu g/L)). In local goat milk the median iodine concentration was 370 mu g/L (70-13,070 mu g/L). The median content of iodine in salt was 6 mu g/g (0-51 mu g/g). Water and local milk were the most important sources of iodine for women. High levels of iodine in water seem to be one of the main sources of iodine that affects humans as well as animals. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.