Abstract
Some common staple roots and tubers (cassava, yam, sweet potato and yellow yam) were analyzed for selenium content level using hydride generation—atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HG-ASS) technique. Results for duplicate analysis revealed that sweet potato has the highest mean selenium content (19.2 ± 5.20 μg/kg), followed by yellow yam (18.3 ± 6.97 μg/kg), then yam (13.6 ± 7.12 μg/kg) and cassava the least (13.0 ± 5.84 μg/kg). In comparing our results with the literature values, most of the results obtained in this work such as 54.2, 72.3 and 81.8 μg/kg were higher than literature values. The variations could be due to the type of species/variety, geographical location, total selenium concentration in the soil and its bioavailability. In view of the importance of Se to human health and considering the levels found in the staples investigated, we recommend that sweet potato be popularized as a staple, much more than cassava as it is now the case in Central Nigeria.
Highlights
Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring metalloid element that is found in all natural materials on earth including rocks, soils, water, air, plant and animal tissues [1,2]
A total of fifty-two (52) samples of root and tuber staples were obtained from open markets in Central Nigeria for selenium content investigation
72.7 ples in Central Nigeria ranged from 0.01 - 52.6 μg/kg with Abuja sample having the highest (52.6 μg/kg) while Bida, Gboko, Otukpo, Idah, Ilorin, Lafiagi and Jos samples having below the detection limit (
Summary
Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring metalloid element that is found in all natural materials on earth including rocks, soils, water, air, plant and animal tissues [1,2]. Selenium concentrations in most rock types are generally low. Sedimentary rocks contain more of the elements than igneous rocks; concentrations in most lime stones and sandstones rarely exceed 0.05 mg/kg. Se is often associated with the clay fraction in shales (0.06 mg/kg) than lime stones or sandstones. Some phosphatic rocks have very high concentrations up to 300 mg/kg [3]. Coals and other organic-rich deposits can be enriched in the element relative to other rock types, typically ranging from 1 to 20 mg/kg. Values of over 600 mg/kg had been found in some black shales and exceptionally high concentrations of 600 mg/kg in Se rich coals were found in China [4]. Distribution of Se in the geological environment is highly variable, reflecting the properties of different rock types [5]
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