Iodine is a non-metallic chemical element that receives it’s name from the Greek word “iodes” (violet) because of the color of the fumes that appear when it is heated. It is found in nature in very low concentrations on the earth ground and also in the sea water and some seaweeds.
Most of the iodine produced worldwide comes from the Caliche deposits in the North of Chile, and from brines associated with natural oil and gas deposits in Japan and the USA. Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and China are the other countries that produce iodine on a commercial scale.
Iodine is essential for the optimal development of growth in human lives and also in the lives of other mammals, where it becomes key for the production of hormones in the thyroid gland.