Fordyce, F.M.; Johnson, C.C.; Appleton, J.D.; Zhang, G.; Ge, X.. 2000 Soil selenium and human health in China. In: Abstracts of the British Society of Soil Science Meeting - Soil, Environment and Health. Birmingham, UK, University of Birmingham Medical School and BSSS, 1pp.
Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring metalloid element which is essential to human
health in small doses (deficiency level < 0.04 μg/day,) but can be toxic in excess ( >
900 μg/day). Se plays a vital role in many metabolic functions and is an essential
component of the biologically important glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) antioxidant
enzymes. In China, Se deficiency has been linked to an endemic degenerative
heart disease known as Keshan Disease (KD) and an endemic osteoarthropathy which
causes deformity of affected joints, known as Kaschin-Beck Disease. Selenium
deficiency has also been implicated in the onset of oesophageal cancer. Se toxicity
(selenosis) is less widespread and causes hair and nail loss and disorders of the
nervous system. Although these diseases had been linked to environmental Se levels
by previous investigators, it was not clear why some villages suffered Se deficiency or
Se toxicity diseases whereas others in close proximity did not.
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