The role of thiocyanate in the etiology of goiter in an industrial metropolitan area.

In our investigation, age, gender and smoking (raising SCN- levels by CN- inhalation) were predictive for thyroid volume and the urinary I-/SCN- ratios were able to detect probands with an increased risk of developing goiter in contrast to urinary I- excretion levels alone. These data suggest, that in an era and area of decreased cyanide pollution, SCN- may remain a cofactor in the multifactorial aetiology of goiter.