Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human health with crucial biological functions. In this study, Se concentrations and physicochemical properties of soils in central and western Handan were determined to investigate their spatial distribution, enrichment degree, influencing factor, and geological source. The results show that: (1) Se concentrations vary from 0.00 to 1.95 μg/g, with an average of 0.45 μg/g, which exceed the mean of Se in soils in China (0.29 μg/g) and Hebei Plain (0.21 μg/g). (2) A continuous and irregular ring-like area showing significant enrichment of Se could be identified in Handan city, Yongnian District, Wu’an City, and Fengfeng Mining District. It can be defined as a positive abnormal Se zone, which is mainly located in the hilly area in the west of Handan City and east of Taihang Mountains, and the plains near Handan City. (3) Comprehensively, Se enrichment in the soil is principally affected by rock weathering, mining activities, and coal combustion. (4) As far as the single-factor pollution index (SFPI) is concerned, most of the study areas are in the safety domain and slightly polluted domain and are at low ecological risk. According to the Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), the moderately and seriously polluted domain are distributed in Handan City, Fengfeng Mining District, and other central areas.
Highlights
Selenium is an essential micronutrient for organisms [1,2] and an integral component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which plays a pivotal role in energy metabolism and gene discovery [3]
The main manifestation is that heavy metals could limit the biological functions of antioxidant enzymes in the organism and destroy biofilms, while Se can slow down the toxic effects than heavy metals and improve the immunity system of the human body and resistance of the animals and plants [5]
Elements with abnormally high background values in soils are S (6.1 times higher than that of Chinese soils, 5.8 times higher than that of Eastern China plain (ECP)), Se (2.25, 4.5), and Ge (3.6, 3.3), while elements that are significantly lower than the reference value are As (0.39, 0.39), Nb (0.12, 0.13), Sn (0.33, 0.26), and Hf (0.05, 0.04)
Summary
Selenium is an essential micronutrient for organisms [1,2] and an integral component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which plays a pivotal role in energy metabolism and gene discovery [3]. It possesses a wide spectrum of pleiotropic biological activities, including antioxidant, regulatory protein, and heavy metal antagonistic effects against mercury, lead, and cadmium [4]. The main manifestation is that heavy metals could limit the biological functions of antioxidant enzymes in the organism and destroy biofilms, while Se can slow down the toxic effects than heavy metals and improve the immunity system of the human body and resistance of the animals and plants [5].
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