Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional element for human beings. Many studies have been conducted on concentration and distribution patterns of soil Se in low Se, Se-enriched, and selenosis areas; however, soil Se has not been systematically studied in a watershed, especially in Se-enriched longevity region and karst area in South China. This study is carried out to explore the controlling factors of Se-enriched soils in Baishou river tributary watershed, where soils are Se-enriched, and local people have the phenomenon of longevity. The area-weighted average rock Se concentration in the watershed is 0.054 mg/kg, and there are no significant differences in rock Se concentration between different strata and between different lithological rocks. The area-weighted average concentration of Se in soils (0–20 cm) is 0.80 mg/kg, and the soil Se concentration is of high level in the watershed. Soil Se concentration decreases from upstream to downstream in the watershed, and significantly correlated with elevation. Climate is the main factor causing high content of soil Se in the watershed which lacks black rock series. The difference of clastic and carbonate parent materials in soil forming process and the physical and chemical properties (pH, OM, etc.) are the main reasons for the spatial variation of Se distribution in the watershed. The research will be beneficial to the development and utilization of Se-enriched soil in Se-enriched area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balistrieri LS, Chao TT (1990) Adsorption of selenium by amorphous iron oxyhydroxide and manganese dioxide. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54(3):739–751. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(90)90369-V
Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (1985) Regional Geology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Geological Publishing House, Beijing In Chinese
Fan HF, Wen HJ, Hu RZ, Zhao H (2011) Selenium speciation in Lower Cambrian Se-enriched strata in South China and its geological implications. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 75(23):7725–7740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.09.027
Feng CX, Chi GX, Liu JJ, Hu RZ, Liu S, Coulson IM (2012) Geochemical constrains on the origin and environment of Lower Cambrian, selenium-rich siliceous sedimentary rocks in the Ziyang area, Daba region, Central China. Int Geol Rev 54(7):765–778. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2011.580625
Fontes MPF, Alleoni LR (2006) Electrochemical attributes and availability of nutrients, toxic elements, and heavy metals in tropical soils. Sci Agric 63(6):589–608. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-90162006000600014
Fordyce FM (2013) Selenium deficiency and toxicity in the environment. Essentials of medical geology. Springer Netherlands, pp. 375-416. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4375-5_16
Gabos MB, Alleoni LRF, Abreu CA (2014) Background levels of selenium in some selected Brazilian tropical soils. J Geochem Explor 145:35–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.05.007
Goh KH, Lim TT (2004) Geochemistry of inorganic arsenic and selenium in a tropical soil: effect of reaction time, pH, and competitive anions on arsenic and selenium adsorption. Chemosphere 55(6):849–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2003.11.041
Li YH, Wang WY, Luo KL, Li HR (2008) Environmental behaviors of selenium in soil of typical selenosis area, China. J Environ Sci 20(7):859–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(08)62138-5
Li Q, Liu MF, Hou J, Jiang CX, Li SC, Wang T (2013) The prevalence of Keshan disease in China. Int J Cardiol 168(2):1121–1126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.11.046
Li M, Xi XH, Xiao GY, Cheng HX, Yang ZF, Zhou GH, Ye JY, Li ZH (2014) National multi-purpose regional geochemical survey in China. J Geochem Explor 139:21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.06.002
Li Z, Liang DL, Peng Q, Cui ZW, Huang J, Lin ZQ (2017) Interaction between selenium and soil organic matter and its impact on soil selenium bioavailability: a review. Geoderma 295:69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.02.019
Liu YJ, Cao LM, Li ZL, Wang HN, Chu TQ, Zhang JR (1984) Element Geochemistry. Science Press, Beijing in Chinese
Liu Y, Li YH, Jiang Y, Li HR, Wang WY, Yang LS (2013) Effects of soil trace elements on longevity population in China. Biol Trace Elem Res 153(1–3):119–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9673-0
Lu RK (2000) Analysis methods of soil agricultural chemistry. Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Press, Beijing In Chinese
Luo KL, Xu LR, Tan JA, Wang DH, Xiang LH (2004) Selenium source in the selenosis area of the Daba region, south Qinling Mountain, China. Environ Geol 45(3):426–432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0893-z
Lv JM, Wang WY, Krafft T, Li YH, Zhang FY, Yuan FQ (2011) Effects of several environmental factors on longevity and health of the human population of Zhongxiang, Hubei, China. Biol Trace Elem Res 143(2):702–716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8914-8
Matos RP, Lima VMP, Windmöller CC, Nascentes CC (2017) Correlation between the natural levels of selenium and soil physicochemical characteristics from the Jequitinhonha Valley (MG), Brazil. J Geochem Explor 172:195–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2016.11.001
Mclennan SM (1993) Weathering and global denudation. J Geol 101(2):295–303. https://doi.org/10.1086/648222
Nakamaru YM, Altansuvd J (2014) Speciation and bioavailability of selenium and antimony in non-flooded and wetland soils: a review. Chemosphere 111:366–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.04.024
Nesbitt HW, Young GM (1982) Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major element chemistry of lutites. Nature 299(5885):715–717. https://doi.org/10.1038/299715a0
Ni RX, Luo KL, Tian XL, Yan SG, Zhong JT, Liu MQ (2016) Distribution and geological sources of selenium in environmental materials in Taoyuan County, Hunan Province, China. Environ Geochem Health 38(3):927–938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9772-2
Park M, Chon HT, Marton L (2010) Mobility and accumulation of selenium and its relationship with other heavy metals in the system rocks/soils–crops in areas covered by black shale in Korea. J Geochem Explor 107(2):161–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2010.09.003
Pérez-Sirvent C, Martínez-Sánchez MJ, García-Lorenzo ML, Molina J, Tudela ML, Mantilla W, Bech J (2010) Selenium content in soils from Murcia Region (SE, Spain). J Geochem Explor 107(2):100–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2010.10.001
Schwarz K, Foltz CM (1957) Selenium as an integral part of factor 3 against dietary necrotic liver degeneration. J Am Chem Soc 79:3292–3293
Shao Y, Wang YW, Cai CF, Yang SH, Zhang HT (2016) Prediction on spatial distribution of soil selenium in typical karst area of southwest China. Trans Chin Soc Agric Eng 32(22):178–183. https://doi.org/10.11975/j.issn.1002-6819.2016.22.024
Sun WX, Huang B, Zhao YC, Shi XZ, Darilek JL, Deng X, Wang HJ, Zou Z (2009) Spatial variability of soil selenium as affected by geologic and pedogenic processes and its effect on ecosystem and human health. Geochem J 43(4):217–225. https://doi.org/10.2343/geochemj.1.0019
Tan JA, Zhu WY, Wang WY, Li RB, Hou SF, Wang DC, Yang LS (2002) Selenium in soil and endemic diseases in China. Sci Total Environ 284(1–3):227–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00889-0
Xing K, Zhou SB, Wu XG, Zhu YY, Kong JJ, Shao T, Tao X (2015) Concentrations and characteristics of selenium in soil samples from Dashan region, a selenium-enriched area in China. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 61(6):889–897. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2015.1075363
Yang ZF, Yu T, Hou Q, Xia XQ, Feng HY, Huang CL, Wang LS, Lv YY, Zhang M (2014) Geochemical evaluation of land quality in China and its applications. J Geochem Explor 139:122–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.07.014
Yu T, Yang ZF, Lv YY, Hou QY, Xia XQ, Feng HY, Zhang M, Jin LX, Kan ZZ (2014) The origin and geochemical cycle of soil selenium in a Se-rich area of China. J Geochem Explor 139:97–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.09.006
Zhao QG, Huang GQ (2014) Guangxi Red Soil. China Environment Science Press, Beijing In Chinese
Zhu JM, Wang N, Li SH, Li L, Su HC, Liu CX (2008) Distribution and transport of selenium in Yutangba, China: impact of human activities. Sci Total Environ 392(2–3):252–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.12.019
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Guangxi Scientific Experiment Center of Mining, Metallurgy, and Environment, Guilin University of Technology, and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology for their support.
Funding
This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41267082, 41462005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shao, Y., Cai, C., Zhang, H. et al. Controlling factors of soil selenium distribution in a watershed in Se-enriched and longevity region of South China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 20048–20056 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2091-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2091-2