Question by Ben: What are the benefits and risks of iodine water purification tablets?
I am hiking with a few people on a 24-mile hike (all day+) in Southeast Missouri wilderness. There is a free flowing semi-large stream (clear in most areas) nearby the trail. I’ll refill my water in a canteen in the stream. Advice or good websites on this kind of water purification?

Best answer:

Answer by Scuba Steve JW
Iodine is extremely safe in it’s inorganic form.

It is one of the most misunderstood nutrients and of all the trace elements it is probably the most essential.

If you read the book, “Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It” you would have no fear of taking iodine tablets or of using iodine for purifying water.

I have been taking 12.5 mg a day in liquid form since the middle of January and my wife has taken 50 mg a day for 3 months in tablet form. Lugol’s Solution and Iodoral are 2 of the safest iodine supplements available.

I drink 6 pints of water a day and I add 1 drop of Lugol’s 2% solution to each pint. For water purification purposes you should use 10 drops per litre of water or 4 drops per litre if using Lugol’s 5% solution. If you don’t like the iodine taste you can add vitamin C to neutralize the taste.

More info here: http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/water.html#chemical

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Purify-Water-Using-Iodine-Tincture/

Over 90% of humans are iodine deficient. You may find that you feel better while taking the iodine.

While some persons may have a sensitivity to iodine ar even an allergy it is quite rare.

More about Lugol’s http://altcancer.com/lugols.htm

More about Iodoral [tablet form of Lugol's] http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/opt_Iodoral.htm

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