Iodine drops for Everest Base Camp Trek

As far as I know iodine works better than chlorine tablets. There is a slight taste in iodine treated water, but that can be cleaned by adding half a C-vitamin pill (ascorbic acid) to 1 liter of iodine treated water. This should not be done in the same bottle used for the iodine treatment, as vit-C contaminates the vessel and the next iodine treatment might not work. Long time tests have been done about the effect of iodine treated water on humans, no adverse effects in people with no thyroid problems. You would also get used to the taste...

Iodine water cleaning pills might be banned in Europe, but they can not prevent you form dropping a few drops of Lugol's solution into your canteen. And their power does not extend to Nepal. Also tinidaxole (Tiniba) is banned in Europe, but it work wonders against giardia in Nepal.

"...but I do know that Iodine is banned in the EU"

What exactly is the meaning of the word banned , when I can buy it both here here in Sweden and UK ?

"Also tinidaxole (Tiniba) is banned in Europe, but it work wonders against giardia in Nepal."

Tinidazol : also used both in Sweden and the UK under the brand name Fasigyn.

#20 I agree with you regardng Chlorine tablets. This is not the same as Chlorine Dioxide however:-
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/water-disinfection-for-travelers.htm

Meaning of banned:-
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biocides/pdf/list_dates_product_phasing_out.pdf

Yes, iodine is banned in products sold for water sterilization (also other fields of hygiene), but not banned as a chemical. If somebody decides to drop it in their own drinking water the government can not do much about it.

As I understand it from reading about the 'ban' sometime ago the reasons included it was potentially harmful to pregnant women and for long term users (can't remember the definition of long term).

That it is still available in a form suitable for water purification albeit at a much higher price than I remember does make a mockery of the ban.

scoodly