I thought this was interesting,

http://www.fishermensvoice.com/archives/0307seaweed.html



A Texas Researcher studying Iodine contacted Maine Seaweed while trying to develop an Iodine supplement in order to address perchlorate contamination originating in Nevada—where 250 million gallons of the chemical are leaching into the Colorado River that irrigates crops grown in the Southwest and Mexico. Thirty percent of U.S. produce is affected by contaminants from this water system. Perchlorate blocks Iodine from the thyroid, creating metabolic disorders. Hanson also works with cancer researcher Jane Teas, affiliated with the Harvard School of Public Health. Teas uses alaria supplied by Hanson in her studies. The cancer resistant diet link in Japan has been partly attributed to a high consumption of seaweed. Japanese men, 50% more likely to smoke cigarettes than Americans, have a significantly lower incidence of lung cancer than Americans. Additionally, older Japanese women have lower incidence of Breast Cancer in his 1985 research.