Acceleration of selenium volatilization in seleniferous agricultural drainage sediments amended with methionine and casein

Phytoremediation is potentially effective for managing excessive selenium (Se) in drainage sediment residing in the San Luis Drain in central California. This 2-year field study examined the feasibility of amending drainage sediment (containing 4.78microgSeg(-1)) with methionine and casein to enhance volatilization without or with vegetation of Sporobolus airoides. Results show that without organic amendments, rates of Se volatilization were less than 25microgm(-2)d(-1) in all plots. After amending the sediment with 71.4mgmethioninekg(-1) soil, Se volatilization rates were 434+/-107microgm(-2)d(-1) in vegetated plots and 289+/-117microgm(-2)d(-1) in irrigated bare plots. With the amendment of 572mgcaseinkg(-1) soil, rates increased to 346+/-103microgm(-2)d(-1) in irrigated bare plots and to 114+/-55microgm(-2)d(-1) in vegetated plots. Both methionine and casein promoted biological remediation of Se via volatilization most effectively during the warmest months.     

Estimation Of Selenium Concentration In Shallow Groundwater In Alluvial Fan Area In Tsukui, Central Japan

Total selenium (Se) and water-soluble Se in soil, and Se in a shallow groundwater were hydrogeochemically researched in an alluvial fan area in Tsukui, Central Japan. The water-soluble Se was estimated at average level of 2.6 ± 1.2μg Se kg⁻¹ dry soil (± SD, n = 25), showing less than 1% of the total Se (349–508μg Se kg⁻¹ dry soil) in soil. The monthly Se concentration in groundwater was average 2.2μg,L⁻¹, ranging 1.6–2.4μg,L⁻¹ during 2001–2003. The Se in groundwater significantly decreased with increasing groundwater level after rainfall. This result indicated that Se-bearing water percolated with relatively low Se concentration through the soil layer. According to our prediction model of linear regression curve on the observation data, Se concentration in the groundwater was estimated to be increasing with the very low rate of 4.35 × 10⁻³μg Se L⁻¹,yr⁻¹. The hydrogeochemical research and the result of the prediction model showed that any explosive increase of Se will hardly occur in this groundwater without an anthropogenic Se contamination.     

Selenium concentrations in water and plant tissues of a newly formed arid wetland in Las Vegas, Nevada

There is concern that elevated levels of selenium found in the source water of a newly formed wetland park in Las Vegas, Nevada, may have detrimental effects on local wildlife. In this study, we collected and analyzed water samples monthly for a three year period from the inflow and outflow of the system. We also gathered dominant aquatic plants and selected terrestrial plants and analyzed the water and plant tissues (root, shoot, leaf and flower) for selenium by high resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. Except for storm events and the introduction of an alternative low selenium content source water during summer low-flow conditions, selenium in the water was relatively stable. The concentration in the outflow tended to be slightly lower than the inflow. Concentrations of selenium in the dominant plant taxa in this wetlands were typical of ecosystems in the western United States and varied by taxa, tissue type, localized conditions (e.g., contact with selenium-laden water), and to a lesser extent, seasons. Selenium in the aquatic plant spiny naiad (Najas marina) was relatively high and may pose an ecological risk to wildlife during the late spring and summer. Additional work is underway investigating aquatic food chain accumulations of selenium as well as mass balance of selenium in the system.     

Metabolic pathway of Na2 75SeO3, o‐methyl‐75Se‐cinnamic acid and 75Se‐1‐flavone,tested as potential phytodrugs

Abstract

This communication describes the metabolic pathways of selenium containing compounds such as, sodium selenite (⁷⁵Se), o‐methyl‐⁷⁵Se‐cinnamic acid and ⁷⁵Se‐1‐flavone, by the plant Brasaica Oleracea to elucidate their role in selenium flavonoid biosynthesis.     

Bioaccumulation of selenium from natural geologic sources in western states and its potential consequences

Ecological impacts of water-quality problems have developed in the western United States resulting from the disposal of seleniferous agricultural wastewater in wetland areas. Overt effects of selenium toxicosis occurred at five areas where deformities of wild aquatic birds were similar to those first observed at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge in the west-central San Joaquin Valley of California. These areas are: Tulare Lake Bed Area, California, Middle Green River Basin, Utah, Kendrick Reclamation Project Area, Wyoming, Sun River Basin, Montana, and Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada. Potential for ecological damage is indicated at six more sites in Oregon, Colorado, the Colorado/Kansas border, and South Dakota out of 16 areas in 11 states where biological tissue data were collected. This conclusion is based on the fact that selenium bioaccumulated in bird livers to median levels that had exceeded or were in the range associated with adverse reproductive effects. Selenium concentrations in samples of fish and bird eggs support these conclusions at a majority of these areas. Reason for concern is also given for the lower Colorado River Valley, although this is not exclusively a conclusion from these reconnaissance data. Biogeochemical conditions and the extent of selenium contamination of water, bottom sediment, and biota from which this assessment was made are given here. In a companion paper, the biogeochemical pathway postulated for selenium contamination to take place from natural geologic sources to aquatic wildlife is defined.     

Minimizing contamination hazards to waterbirds using agricultural drainage evaporation ponds

In much of the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA, inadequate drainage of applied irrigation water and accumulating salts in the soil have necessitated the installation of subsurface tile drainage systems to preserve crop productivity. At present, these subsurface drainage waters are disposed of by means of evaporation ponds or discharges into the San Joaquin River. Unfortunately, most of these agricultural drainage waters contain high concentrations of salts and naturally occurring trace elements, such as selenium, and recent evidence indicates that substantial numbers of waterbirds are exposed to contamination by selenium in the evaporation ponds. In order to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse impacts on wildlife using the ponds, alternative pond management methods must be identified and evaluated for implementation. A number of methods have the potential to be cost-effective in significantly reducing the contamination hazard to birds using agricultural evaporation ponds. Twenty general methods were evaluated in this study, and four methods are recommended for implementation: remove levee vegetation, remove windbreaks, deepen the ponds, and haze birds. A number of other methods are recommended for further consideration because they appear to have good prospects for reducing the contamination hazard: steepen interior levee slopes, apply herbicides and insecticides, place netting on pond shorelines, and provide freshwater habitat adjacent to evaporation ponds. It may be necessary to use a combination of methods to effectively control selenium contamination of aquatic birds because it is unlikely that a single affordable pond management method will be able to entirely eliminate the contamination hazard.     

Influences of salinity on the biokinetics of Cd, Se, and Zn in the intertidal mudskipper Periophthalmus cantonensis

The biokinetics (aqueous uptake, dietary assimilation, and elimination) of Cd, Se, and Zn in the intertidal mudskipper, Periophthalmus cantonensis, were examined at different acclimated salinities using the radiotracer technique. The dietary assimilation efficiency from ingested radiolabeled polychaetes was the highest for Se (32–40%), followed by Zn (5–7%) and Cd (2–3%), and was not influenced by salinity within a range of 10–30 psu. Uptake from the dissolved phase typically exhibited a linear pattern within the first 12 h of exposure, followed by a second slower uptake. The highest concentration factor (CF) was found for Zn, followed by Cd and Se. Differences in salinity did not significantly affect the CF of the three metals within the first 12 h, but the CFs were significantly higher at lower salinities (10–20 psu) than at the highest salinity (30 psu) by the end of 48 h exposure. Because the degrees to which the uptake of Se (a metalloid) and Cd/Zn were affected by salinity were comparable, we concluded that metal speciation as a result of salinity change was not important in leading to a change in metal CF. Physiological changes may be responsible for the increasing uptake at lowered salinity. The elimination rates of the three metals (0.01–0.06 d⁻¹) were not significantly affected by salinity, but Se was eliminated at a faster rate following aqueous uptake than following dietary ingestion. There was no consistent influence of exposure routes on Cd and Zn elimination. The accumulated Cd was mainly associated with the gut, whereas the muscle was the dominant target site for Se and Zn accumulation.     

珠三角新会地区表层土壤硒、氟、碘地球化学特征研究

以珠江三角洲新会地区西江、潭江下游的三江、睦州、古井三镇土壤为主要研究对象,测试分析所采集的1 567件表层土壤样品全氮(N)、有机碳(Org.C)、pH等理化指标和二氧化硅(SiO_2)、三氧化二铝(Al_2O_3)、硒(Se)、氟(F)、碘(I) 5种元素组分含量,以及60件稻谷样的硒(Se)含量。重点探讨了研究区Se、F、I的含量、分布及其影响因素等地球化学特征。结果表明,研究区土壤呈现强酸性-酸性,Se、F、I的含量均值分别为0. 50 mg/kg、617. 39 mg/kg、3. 57 mg/kg,Se、F高于全国土壤背景值,I低于全国土壤背景值; Se、F、I均与Al_2O_3、Org.C以及pH相关,F与Se不相关,F与I负相关。Se、F、I的含量、分布等地球化学特征受地层控制:不同成土母质中,基岩区和花岗岩区Se、I含量较高;第四纪沉积区F含量较高。推测Se和I主要源于燕山期的火山活动,F主要源于三角洲的沉积作用。总体上研究区土壤呈现足硒、富硒,碘适量,氟过剩的特征,稻谷富硒率也高,具备开发天然富硒农产品的条件。     

Selenium fractions in organic matter from Se-rich soils and weathered stone coal in selenosis areas of China

A high degree of association between Selenium (Se) and organic matter has been demonstrated in natural environments, but Se fractions and speciation in organic matter is unclear. In this study, a method for quantifying organic matter associated with Se (OM-Se) was developed to investigate Se fractions in organic matter in Se-rich soils and weathered stone coal from Enshi, China, where Se poisoning of humans and livestock has been documented. Initially, Se was extracted using water and a phosphate buffer. Subsequently, OM-Se was extracted using NaOH, and then speciated into Se associated with fulvic acids (FA-Se) and humic acids (HA-Se). Both FA-Se and HA-Se were further speciated into the weakly bound and strongly bound fractions using a customized hydride generation reactor. The results show that FA-Se (1.91-479 mg kg⁻¹) is the predominant form of Se in all Se-rich soils and the weathered stone coal samples, accounting for more than 62% of OM-Se (3.07-484 mg kg⁻¹). Weakly bound FA-Se (1.33-450 mg kg⁻¹) was prevalent in the total FA-Se, while weakly bound HA-Se (0.62-26.2 mg kg⁻¹) was variable in the total HA-Se (1.15-32.5 mg kg⁻¹). These data indicate that OM-Se could play a significant source and sink role in the biogeochemical cycling of Se in the supergene environment. Weakly bound FA-Se seems to act as a potential source for bioavailable Se, whereas strongly bound HA-Se is a possible OM-Se sink which is not readily transformed into bioavailable Se.     

Antioxidant response versus selenium accumulation in the liver and kidney of the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri)

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of selenium on concentrations of metabolites and enzyme activities acting as antioxidant markers in liver and kidney of Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baeri. Sturgeons were fed selenium cysteine for 30 and 60 d at 1.25, 5, 20 mg Se kg⁻¹. Selenium level in the control feed was 0.32 mg kg⁻¹. Se concentration was measured in liver, kidney and muscle of every specimen. Sturgeon accumulated Se in tissues with a clear dose-response relationship and the highest Se concentration was recorded in liver. This outcome is lined up with the findings obtained on the antioxidant markers evaluated in both tissues, and in which a dose-response for several biomarkers was recorded in liver. The superoxide dismutase activity in Se-treated fish was generally induced, while catalase activity was lower in liver or unaltered in kidney. The concentrations of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and total glutathione responded differently for both tissues and were induced in a different way at both endpoints. No changes of glyoxalase I activity were noted for both Se-treated tissues, while for glyoxalase II enzyme in liver a dose-related pattern was found showing a reversible effect (decreased and increased counteractive response) only in the 5 mg kg⁻¹ group. Moreover, the highest Se concentrations did not cause marked changes in malondialdehyde levels of liver and kidney. The enhancement of glutathione peroxidase activity in Se-treated sturgeon might have prevented the lipid peroxidation in both tissues, providing to the Siberian sturgeon a great defense ability versus the prooxidant effect of selenium.