Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Selenium in Chinese coals: distribution, occurrence, and health impact

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is one of the volatile elements in coal. During mining and utilization of coal, Se is largely released into the environment, which influences environmental quality, and consequently impacts on human health. This paper is a review of current knowledge on the distribution, occurrence and environmental impact of Se in Chinese coals. This study includes the following aspects: distribution and abundance of Se in coals of different provinces of China, different coal-forming periods, modes of occurrence of Se in coals, formation mechanism of Se in coals, migration processes and transformation of Se during coal combustion and leaching and their environmental effects. The available data show that Se content in Chinese coals is highly variable in different coalfields, different coal-forming periods, and different coal seams from individual coalfields. The average Se content in Chinese coal is 3.91 mg/kg.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bai X, Li W, Chen W (2003) The study on distribution of selenium in Chinese coals and its washability. J China Coal Soc 28:69–73 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouska V, Pesek J (1999) Quality parameters of lignite of the North Bohemian basin in the Czech Republic in comparison with the world average lignite. Int J Coal Geol 40:211–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen HJM (1979) Environmental chemistry of the elements. Academic Press, London, pp 1–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen P, Tang X (2002) Selenium in Chinese coal. Chin Coalf Geol 14(Suppl):29–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen BR, Yang SP, Yang YN, Qian QF (1989) The content and distribution of trace element in Shanxi province coals. Nucl Electron Detect Technol 9:377–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Y, Zhu L, Bai XX, Li P (1993) The selenium level of child’s hair in fluorine-rich area. Chin Endem Dis Stud Mag 12:293–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke LB (1993) The fate of trace elements during coal combustion and gasification: an overview. Fuel 72:731–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens AH, Damiano LF, Gong D, Matheson TW (1999) Partitioning behaviour of some toxic volatile elements during stoker and fluidized bed combustion of alkaline sub-bituminous coal. Fuel 78:1379–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Li S, Song JF, Wu ZH (2003a) Concentrations of minor elements and regional distribution of arsenic in Late Paleozoic coals from North China Platform. J China Univ Min Technol 32:111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Liu JR, Li SS (2003b) Occurrence and distribution of minor toxic elements in coals of Fengfeng Coalfield, Hebei Province, North China. J China Univ Min Technol 32:358–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Li DH, Ren DY, Tang YG, Shao LY, Song HB (2004) Geochemistry of the Late Permian No. 30 coal seam, Zhijin Coalfield of Southwest China: influence of a siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluid. Appl Geochem 19:1315–1330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Tang YG, Yue M, Hao LM (2005) Concentration and distribution of elements in Late Permian coals from western Guizhou Province, China. Int J Coal Geol 61:119–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Chou CL, Li SS, Jiang YF (2006a) Mineralogy and geochemistry of the No. 6 coal (Pennsylvanian) in the Junger Coalfield, Ordos Basin, China. Int J Coal Geol 66:253–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Han DX, Chou CL (2006b) Petrography and geochemistry of the Middle Devonian coal from Luquan, Yunnan Province, China. Fuel 85:456–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Li D, Chou CL, Luo KL (2006c) Mineralogical anomalies and their influences on elemental geochemistry of the main workable coal beds from the Dafang Coalfield, Guizhou, China. Acta Geol Sin 80:589–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Ren DY, Li SS, Chou CL (2006d) A discovery of extremely-enriched boehmite from coal in the Junger coalfield, the Northeastern Ordos Basin. Acta Geol Sin 80:294–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai SF, Sun YZ, Zeng RS (2006e) Enrichment of arsenic, antimony, mercury, and thallium in a Late Permian anthracite from Xingren, Guizhou, Southwest China. Int J Coal Geol 66:217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dale LS, Lavrencic SA, Chapman JF (1992) Mineralogical residences of trace elements in coal environmental implications of combustion in power stations. CSIRO Investigation Report CET/IR058, Australia

  • Diplock AT (1987) Trace elements in human health with special reference to selenium. Am Soc Clin Nutr 45:1313–1322

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreher GE, Finkelman RB (1992) Selenium mobilization in a surface coal mine, Power River Basin, Wyoming, USA. Environ Geol Water Sci 19:155–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng XB, Ni JY, Hong YT, Zhu JM, Zhou B, Wang Y (1998) A preliminary study on the distribution laws of some volatile trace elements in coal of Guizhou province. Environ Chem 17:148–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng XB, Hong B, Ni JY, Hong YT (1999) Chemical mobility of potentially toxic trace elements in coal at surface conditions. Acta Sci Circumstantiae 19:433–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB (1982) Modes of occurrence of trace elements in coal: an analytical approach. In: Filby RH, Carpenter BS, Ragaini RC (eds) Atomic and nuclear methods in fossil energy research. Plenum, New York, pp 141–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB (1985) Mode of occurrence of accessory sulfide and selenide minerals in coal. C. R. Neuv. Congress Int. Stratigraphy Geol Carboniferous 4:407–412

  • Finkelman RB (1989) What we don’t know about the occurrence and distribution of trace elements in coals. J Coal Qual 8:3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB (1994) Modes of occurrence of potentially hazardous elements in coal: levels of confidence. Fuel Process Technol 39:21–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB (1995) Modes of occurrence of environmentally sensitive trace elements in coal. In: Swaine DJ, Goodarzi F (eds) Environmental aspects of trace elements in coal. Kluwer Academic Publishing, Netherlands, pp 24–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB (2004) Potential health impacts of burning coal beds and waste banks. Int J Coal Geol 59:19–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB, Gross PMK (1999) Types of data needed for assessing the environmental and human health impacts of coal. Int J Coal Geol 40:91–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB, Palmer CA, Krasnow MR, Aruscavage PJ, Sellers GA, Dulong FT (1990) Combustion and leaching behaviour of elements in the Argonne Premium Coal Samples. Energ Fuel 4:755–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman RB, Palmer CA, Kolker A, Mroczkowski SJ (1999) Quantifying the modes of occurrence of elements in coal. Prospects for coal science in the 21st century. In: Li BQ, Liu ZY (eds) Proceeding of the tenth international conference on coal science. Science Technology Press, Shanxi, pp 21–24

  • Finkelman RB, Orem W, Castranova V, Tatu CA, Beklin HE, Zheng B, Lerch HE, Maharaj SV, Bates AL (2002) Health impacts of coal and coal use: possible solutions. Int J Coal Geol 50:425–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster HD, Zhang L (1995) Longevity and selenium deficiency: evidence from the People’s Republic of China. Sci Total Environ 170:133–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt VM, Hefter O (1933) Zur Geochemie des Selens. Nachr. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen, Math-Phys. Kl., Fachgruppe IV, pp 245–252

  • He B, Liang L, Jiang G (2002) Distributions of arsenic and selenium in selected Chinese coal mines. Sci Total Environ 296:19–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hower JC, Robertson JD (2003) Clausthalite in coal. Int J Coal Geol 53:221–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Chen X (1991) Qinling Kaschin-Beck disease epidemiology investigation in Ninshan Ankang and Shiquan counties (city) in the Qinling area. Chin J Endemiol 10:144–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang W, Yang Q, Tang D, Kang X, Liu D (2000) Trace element geochemistry of the coals in the Taiyuan formation from Zaozhuang coalfield. J Grad Sch China Univ Geosci 14:61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang SS, Hua M, Feng JS (2009) Assessment of selenium pollution in agriculture soils in the Xuzhou District, Northwest Jiangsu, China. J Environ Sci (China) 24(4):481–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorissen A (1896) Sur la présence du molybdène, du sélénium, du bismuth, etc., dans le terrain houiller du pays de Liége. Ann Soc Geol Belg 23:101–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizilstein LY, Shokhina OA (2001) Geochemistry of selenium in coal: environmental aspect. Geokhimiya 4:434–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemly AD (2002) Symptoms and implications of selenium toxicity in fish: the Belews Lake case example. Aquat Toxicol 57(1–2):39–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MJ, Tang SZ (1994) Analysis of contents on F, Se, S, C and other trace elements in coal in Hubei province. Chin J Endemiol 13:243–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Li RB, Tan JA, Zhu WY, Yang LS, Hou SF (1995) The comparative study on biological chemical environment in pure Keshan disease areas and pure Kaschin Beck disease areas. Acta Geogr Sin 50:272–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Long J, Wang JR (2004a) Geochemical characteristics of selenium in soils of Kaiyang Region, Guizhou province. Chin J Soil Sci 35:579–582

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Cui LP, Hu YB, Tang XY (2004b) A study on static leaching experiment of hazardous trace elements from Gangues. Shanghai. Environ Sci 23(5):193–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Li YH, Wang WY, Luo KL, Yang LS (2004c) Distribution of selenium and fluorine in soils of Daba Mountains. Acta Pedol Sin 41:61–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Li YG, Dong YX, Zheng J, Li Y, Wu XY, Zhu CH (2005) Selenium: abundance in soil and assessment in Zhejian. Quat Sci 25:323–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Li DH, Tang YG, Chen K, Deng T, Cheng FP, Liu D (2006) Distribution of twelve toxic trace elements in coals from Southwest China. J China Univ Min Tech 35:15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin BY (1990) Concise principles of environmental geochemistry. Metallurgy Industry Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu GH, Sun M (1999) Selenium and human body health in geological environment. South Central Metall Geol 2:72–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Wang GL, Zhang W (1999) Study on environmental geochemistry of minor and trace elements—example from Yanzhou mining area. J China Univ Min Tech 6:13–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Peng ZC, Yang PY, Wang GL, Zhang W (2001a) Main factors controlling concentration of trace element in coal. Coal Geol Explor 29(4):1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu YH, You XQ, Guo X, Zheng CG (2001b) Most volatile toxic trace elements in coal and their behavior during coal combustion. Environ Sci Technol 25:9–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Zheng CG, Zhang JY, Wang MH (2003) Study on the occurrence of most volatile trace elements in coal. J Combust Sci Tech 9:295–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Zheng LG, Gao LF (2004) The harmful trace elements in coal and the human body health. China Nonmetallic Min Ind Herald 5:78–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu SQ, Wang YT, Li Y, Oakey J (2006) Thermodynamic equilibrium study of trace element transformation during underground coal gasification. Fuel Process Technol 87:209–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Zhang Y, Qi CC, Zheng LG, Chen YW, Peng ZC (2007a) Comparison on causes and accumulation of selenium in the tree-rings ambient high-selenium coal combustion area from Yutangba, Hubei, China. Environ Monit Assess 133(1–3):99–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Zheng LG, Zhang Y, Qi CC, Chen YW, Peng ZC (2007b) Distribution and mode of occurrence of As, Hg and Se and sulfur in coal seam 3 of the Shanxi Formation, Yanzhou coalfield, China. Int J Coal Geol 71(2–3):371–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu GJ, Zheng LG, Nurdan S, Duzgoren A, Gao LF, Liu JH, Peng ZC (2007c) Health effects of arsenic, fluorine, and selenium from indoor burning of Chinese coal. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 189:89–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu XW (2003) The environment geochemistry character of selenium in coal. Sha’anxi Normal Univ J (Nat Sci Ed) 31:107–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu XW (2004) Study on selenium contents and specification and its environmental effect in coal of all coal forming periods of Sha’anxi Province. J Arid Land Resour Environ 18:27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu XW, Luo KL, Wang LZ, Wang WY (2003) The content of trace elements of coals in Weibei area, Sha’anxi Province. J Jilin Univ (Earth Sci Ed) 33:178–182

    Google Scholar 

  • 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 45:426–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons PC, Palmer CA, Bostick NH (1989) Chemistry and origin of minor and trace elements in vitrinite concentrations from a rank series from the Eastern United States, England and Australia. Int J Coal Geol 13:481–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao DJ, Su HC (1993) Geographic factors affecting selenium poisoning in southwestern Hubei province. Hubei J Prev Med 4:23–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao DJ, Zheng BS, Su HC (1997) The medical geography characteristics of Se poisoning in Yutangba. Endem Dis Bull 12:59–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao DJ, Zheng BS, Yan WX (1999) The selenium and the cadmium content of the soil in southwest Hubei the stone coal area. Hubei J Prev Med 10:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Tarazona MR, Vega JMG, Garcia AB (1997) Pyrite and trace elements in high rank coals. In: Ziegler A et al (eds) Proc. 9th Intern. Conf Coal Sci, DGMK, Essen 1:397–400

  • Mills CF (1996) Geochemical aspects of the aetiology of trace element related diseases. Geol Soc Spec Publ 113:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minkin JA, Finkelman RB, Thompson CL, Chao ECT, Ruppert LF, Blank H, Cecil CB (1984) Microcharacterization of arsenic- and selenium-bearing pyrite in Upper Freeport coal, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Scanning Electron Microsc 4:1515–1529

    Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics of China (2006) Statistical yearbook 2006

  • National Bureau of Statistics of China (2007) Statistical yearbook 2007

  • Nriagu JO, Pacyna JM (1988) Quantitative assessment of worldwide contamination of air, water and soil by trace elements. Nature 333:134–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer CA, Lyons PC (1996) Selected elements in major minerals from bituminous coal as determined by INAA: Implications for removing environmentally sensitive elements from coal. Int J Coal Geol 32:151–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer CA, Mroczkowski SJ, Finkelman RB, Crowley SS, Bullock Jr, JH (1998) The use of sequential leaching to quantify the modes of occurrence of elements in coal. 15th Ann. Int Pitts Coal Conf., Pittsburgh. 9:14–18, 28

    Google Scholar 

  • PECH (1980) Trace element geochemistry of coal resource development related to environmental quality and health. National Academy Press, Washington, DC 153 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng A, Wang ZJ, Whanger PD (1995) The environmental biology inorganic chemistry of selenium. Chi Environ Sci Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Querol X, Fernández-Turiel JL, López-Soler A (1995) Trace elements in coal and their behaviour during combustion in a large power station. Feul 74:331–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratafia-Brown JA (1994) Overview of trace element partitioning in flames and furnaces of utility coal-fired boilers. Fuel Process Technol 39:139–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren DY, Zhao FH, Wang YQ, Yang SJ (1999a) Distributions of minor and trace elements in Chinese coals. Int J Coal Geol 40:109–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren DY, Zhao FH, Zhang JY, Xu DW (1999b) A preliminary study on genetic type of enrichment for hazardous minor and trace elements in coal. Earth Sci Front 6(Suppl):17–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren DY, Xu DW, Zhao FH (2004) A preliminary study on the enrichment mechanism and occurrence of hazardous trace elements in the Tertiary lignite from the Shenbei coalfield, China. Int J Coal Geol 57:187–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren DY, Zhao FH, Dai SF, Zhang JY, Luo KL (2006) Geochemistry of trace elements in coal. Science Press, Beijing, 556 p

  • Riley KW, French DH, Lambropoulos NA, Farrell OP, Wood RA, Huggins FE (2007) Origin and occurrence of selenium in some Australian coals. Int J Coal Geol 72:72–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song CZ (1989) General situation of southwestern Hubei Province Yutangba sedimentary selenium-mineralized area. Miner Deposits 8:83–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Song DY, Qin Y, Wang WF (2003) Burning and migration behavior of trace elements of coal used in power plant. J China Univ Min Tech 32:316–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Spears DA, Zheng Y (1999) Geochemistry and origin of elements in some UK coals. Int J Coal Geol 38:161–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su HC, Yan LR, Rao SQ, Jian XH, Mao DJ (1990) Investigation of the cause of the origin of the environmental selenium area in the Exi autonomous prefecture of Hubei province. Environ Sci 11:86–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun JX, Jervis RE (1987) The trace elements in coal and their distribution characteristics during coal combustion. Sci Sin 30:288–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaine DJ (1990) Trace elements in coal. Butterworth, London, pp 178–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaine DJ (1992) Environmental aspects of trace-elements in coal. Environ Geochem Health 14(1):2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaine DJ (2000) Why trace elements are important. Fuel Process Technol 65:21–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan JA, Huang YJ (1991) Selenium in geo-ecosystem and its relation to endemic diseases in China. Water Air Soil Pollut 57–8:59–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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 284:227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang XY, Huang WH (2004) Trace Elements in Chinese Coals. Commerce Press, China, 390 p

  • Tang YG, Yin ZR, Chang CX, Zhang YZ, Song HB, Wang SQ, Hao L (2005) Distribution of trace elements in the Kailuan coalfield. J Chin Coal Soc 30:80–84

    Google Scholar 

  • The 2007 Statistics Bulletin of the National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China. National Bureau of Statistics of China, Statistical yearbook 2007

  • Tong LH, Yan JP, Tang XY (2004) The trace element in Huainan coal and distribution character. Min Ind Secur Environ Prot 31(Suppl):94–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Troshin YP, Lomonosov IS, Lomonosova TK (2001) Geochemistry of the ore-bearing elements in sediments of the Cenozoic depressions, Baikal rift zone. Geol Geophys 42:348–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang WX (1996) Geochemical study of the facies of accompanying elements in coal. J Chin Coal Soc 21:12–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang SL, Mulligan CN (2006) Occurrence of arsenic contamination in Canada: sources behavior and distribution. Sci Total Environ 366:701–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YQ, Ren DY, Xie HB (1995) The distribution and escaping rules of the trace elements during combustion. Coal Mine Environ Prot 9:25–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang QC, Shao QC, Kang SL, Wang ZG, Zou ST (1996) Distribution of 15 trace elements in the combustion products of coal. J Fuel Chem Technol 24:137–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang WY, Li YH, Luo KL, Yang LS (2003) The geochemical characteristics of selenium and fluorine in soils of Daba Mountains. Geogr Res 22:179–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen HJ, Carignan J, Qiu YZ, Liu SR (2006) Selenium speciation in kerogen from two Chinese selenium deposits: environmental implications. Environ Sci Technol 40:1126–1132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZY, Li YH, Zhou YC (2004) Geochemical behavior of trace elements in coals in Baishan area, Jilin Province. Coal Geol Explor 32:8–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu WD, Zeng RS, Ye DN, Querol X (2005) Distribution and environmental impact of selenium in wastes of coal from a power plant. Chin J Environ Sci 26:64–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan BW, Wu T (1992) The investigation of Enshi, Hubei, selenium-rich area environmental selenium level. Hubei J Prev Med 3:27–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan BW, Wu T (1993) Investigation of the environmental selenium area in the Exi Autonomous Prefecture. Chin Endem J 12:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang G, Zhou R, Sun S, Yin T, Liu S (1981a) Study of unidentified trichomadesis and nail losing of Enshi Prefecture of Hubei Province. J Acad Med Sci Chi 3(Suppl):1

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang GQ, Wang SZ, Zhou RH, Sun SH (1981b) Research on the etiology of an endemic disease characterized by loss of nails and hair in Enshi county. Acta Acad Med Sin 3(Suppl):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Yudovich YE, Ketris MP (2006) Selenium in coal: a review. Int J Coal Geol 67:112–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JY, Ren DY, Xu DW, Zhao FH (1999) Advances in the studies of selenium in coal. Coal Geol Explor 27:16–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JY, Ren DY, Zhong Q, Xu FM, Zhang YG, Yin JH (2001) Retention of selenium volatility using lime in coal combustion. Environ Sci 22:100–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JY, Ren DY, Zhu YM, Chou CL, Zeng RS, Zheng BS (2004) Mineral matter and potentially hazardous trace elements in coals from Qianxi Fault Depression Area in south-western Guizhou, China. Int J Coal Geol 57:49–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao CY, Ren JH, Xue CZ (1993) Selenium in soil of selenium-rich areas in Ziyang county. Acta Pedol Sin 30:253–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng BS, Hong YT, Zhao W, Zhou HY, Xia WP, Su HC, Mao DY, Yan LR, Thornton I (1992) The Se-rich carbonaceous siliceous rock and endemic Se poisoning in southwest Hubei, China. Chin Sci Bull 37:l027–l029

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng BS, Ding ZH, Huang RG, Zhu JM, Yu XY, Wang AM, Zhou DX, Mao DJ, Su HC (1999) Issues of health and disease relating to coal use in southwestern China. Int J Coal Geol 40:119–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou YP, Bohor BF, Ren YL (2000) Trace element geochemistry of altered volcanic ash layers (tonsteins) in Late Permian coal-bearing formations of eastern Yunnan and western Guizhou Provinces, China. Int J Coal Geol 44:305–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JM (2001) Modes of occurrence of selenium in the black Se-rich rocks of Yutangba and its impact on the local environment. Guiyang Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Science

  • Zhu JM, Zheng BS (2001) Distribution of selenium in mini-landscape of Yutangba, Enshi, Hubei Province, China. Appl Geochem 16:1333–1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JM, Zheng BS, Su HC, Li HC, Mao DJ, Lei P, Finkelman RB (2001) New occurrence of native selenium and its preliminary investigation. Geochimica 30:236–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JM, Liang XB, Ling HW, Wang MS, Wang FS, Liu SR (2003) Advances in studying occurrence modes of selenium in environment. Bull Mineral Petrol Geochem 22:75–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JM, Zuo W, Liang XB, Li SH, Zheng BS (2004) Occurrence of native selenium in Yutangba and its environmental implications. Appl Geochem 19:461–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JM, Ling HW, Wang MS, Li SH, Su HC (2005) Distribution, transportation and bioavailability of selenium in Yutangba, Hubei province, China. Acta Pedol Sin 2:838–843

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang XG, Yang SK, Zeng RS, Xu WD (1999) Characteristics of trace elements in coals from several main coal districts in China. Geol Sci Technol Inf 13:63–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang XG, Querol X, Alastuey A, Juan R, Plana F, Lopez-Soler A, Du G, Martynov VV (2006) Geochemistry and mineralogy of the Cretaceous Wulantuga high-germanium coal deposit in Shengli coal field, Inner Mongolia, northeastern China. Int J Coal Geol 66:119–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40873070, 40772095) and the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB202201), National Major Science and Technology Projects of China (Grant Nos. 2008ZX05039-003), Anhui Natural Science Excellent Youth Foundation (08040106909) and National Foundation of Anhui Education (KJ2008A147). We thank the editor and reviewers for constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China

    Lei Wang, Guijian Liu, Liugen Zheng & Cuicui Qi

  2. State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, 710075, Shannxi, People’s Republic of China

    Guijian Liu

  3. College of Earth Science, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China

    Yiwen Ju

  4. Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA

    Chen-Lin Chou

  5. Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong (CityU), 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Lei Wang & Cuicui Qi

  6. Advanced Laboratory of Environmental Research and Technology (ALERT), Joint Advanced Research Center, USTC-CityU, 215123, Suzhou, China

    Lei Wang & Cuicui Qi

Authors
  1. Lei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yiwen Ju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guijian Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chen-Lin Chou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Liugen Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Cuicui Qi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guijian Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, L., Ju, Y., Liu, G. et al. Selenium in Chinese coals: distribution, occurrence, and health impact. Environ Earth Sci 60, 1641–1651 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0298-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0298-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation