Selenium Application Decreases the Enrichment and Human Exposure Risk of Cadmium in the Leaf of Jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) Planted in Uncontaminated Purple Soil

Abstract

The effects of soil selenium (Se) application on the enrichment and human exposure risk of heavy metals in the jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) leaf have attracted extensive attention. The jute was planted with or without soil Se addition for 265 days. The jute leaf was harvested seven times during the experiment to determine the content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and Se. The results showed that the enrichment ability ranked Cd > Se > Pb. Cd in the jute leaf exceeded the average pollutant limit in GB2762-2017 by 1.37 times without Se application. The Se application is conducive to an increase of Se by 88.11–202.79%, contrarily reducing Cd by 35.40–38.32% and Pb by 9.58–26.57%. In general, the risk quotients (HQ) of Cd and Pb were decreased and less than 1 with Se treatment. Thus, the human exposure risk of Cd and Pb is negligible when ingesting the jute leaf via diet. It is suggested that Se can be applied to inhibit the enrichment of Cd and Pb in the jute production process to reduce the potential exposure risk of Cd and Pb to the human body and increase economic and nutritional values by raising Se levels in the jute leaf.