Dataset of iodine concentration in soils and grassland vegetation and radioactive contamination of pastures of the regions of the Russian Federation affected by the Chernobyl NPP accident.

Iodine is a trace element with an important role in human health. Iodine deficiency is a global health problem that can provoke iodine-deficiency-related thyroid disorders, such as endemic goitre, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, etc. Study of iodine in the soils and vegetation was conducted from 2008 to 2022 in the Bryansk and Oryol regions of Russia. These regions are known to exhibit natural iodine deficiency and have been affected by radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Soil and grassland vegetation samples were collected from local pastures near rural settlements. The soil core was divided into layers at the following depths: 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm. The iodine content in all selected samples was determined in the GEOKHI RAS using the kinetic rhodanide-nitrite method. The information in the dataset could be used to assess the iodine deficiency in the environment of other regions situated on similar soils.