A rapid and simple method for the determination of iodine from water has been described which is based on preconcentration of iodine with 0.1M solution of 4-(5-nonylpyridine) in benzene or carbon tetrachloride from 1–2M HNO3 followed by neutron irradiation and gamma-ray activity measurements. A clinical survey of endemic goitrous area has also been made to find a possible correlation between the endemic goiter and iodine deficiency in water.