Tasmanian Thyroid Advisory Committee. Study in disease surveillance, 1950-1979.

Tasmania has had a long-standing endemic goitre problem. Attempts over the period from 1949 to 1965 to correct iodine deficiency in school-children and young women met with only partial success. In 1966, iodization of bread was introduced with suitable legislative authority. Within six months, an increased incidence of thyrotoxicosis was noted in thyroid clinics in Launceston and Hobart. In 1967, a Thyroid Advisory Committee was set up to advise the Minister of Health. This Committee included clinicians, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and subsequently veterinarians and dairy technologists as well as members of public health departments. A number of contributions to the scientific literature have been made by individual members. However, the major function of the Committee has been to provide multidisciplinary investigation and review of findings related to the increased incidence of thyrotoxicosis. The Committee has played an important role in an area of environmental surveillance. It provides a useful precedent for the monitoring of other environmental situations-and a reminder of the need to anticipate unexpected health consequences after community intervention measures.