"A century ago, much of northern America was known as the goiter belt," said The Economist. A lack of natural iodine in the soil and water, and an iodine-poor diet, led to the "characteristic neck ...

A CENTURY AGO, much of northern America was known as the goitre belt. In some regions, anywhere from 26% to 70% of school-aged children had the characteristic neck swellings, or goitres, caused by an ...