Objective   To investigate update distribution of non-iodized salt in iodine deficiency areas so as to assess the effect of controlling it in Shandong province.

  Methods   Edible salts were sampled and tested at the levels of producers and households by cross-section survey.Palpation of the thyroid of school-age children was carried out, their urinary iodine level was detected by random sampling.The indicators were compared with previous ones.

  Results   The rate of iodized salts from factories was 94.6% with mean value(32.7±6.4)mg/kg.Only in 1999 the rate of it was below 90%.27, 423 samples of edible salts from households were tested.The proportion of iodized salt was 95.5%, qualification iodized salt 91.2% and non-iodized salt 4.5%.The ratio of iodized salt was 5.9%, qualified iodized 91.1% and non-iodized salt 4.1% in whole province.The proportions of iodized salt in 87.6% of counties were over 90%, 74.2% in qualification rate(≥90%)and 12.4% in non-iodized salt rate(> 10%).75.0% of counties with non-iodized salt were at coastal regions, 25% were at inland.The number of the counties was lower in 2002 or 2003 than in 1999, but 2004 was more then before.Goiter prevalence in school-age children was 7.7%.Their urinary iodine median was 199.1 μg/L.

  Conclusion   The rates of iodized salt and qualification iodized salt have reached the tar get of IDD elimination at the levels of province.It should strengthen synthesizing intervention activit ies against non-iodized salt in the same costal counties for the goal.