Non-destructive neutron activation analysis studies on a withering disease of lowland rice occurring near an iodine plant

The withering disease of lowland rice that seems to be an injury from exess iodine was recognized in the paddy fields near an iodine isolation plant. To investigate the cause of this disease a pot experiment of lowland rice was performed and iodine contents of soils and rice plants were determined by non-destructive neutron activation analysis. The soils of the disease-produced paddy fields were remarkably polluted by iodine, its contents in roots of diseased rice plants were more than the reported limiting values for the disease.