Selenium Toxicity Research Articles

Flux profile of selenium intake and dietary health assessment of tilapia products in China e-commerce platform

Tilapia is known as an important way to obtain selenium and has high nutritional values for humans. However, there is currently no specific analysis of the flux profile of selenium intake and dietary health evaluation in tilapia. In addition, it is important for consumers to obtain relevant assessments of the selenium content in different species of tilapia. This will enable different age groups to plan their dietary intake in an organized manner accordingly. We counted the total import and export volume of tilapia in China. Furthermore, we modeled the distribution of selenium content based on the production mode on this basis. The study also delved into the distribution pattern of selenium content within China (n=147). Guangdong, as the production place of tilapia, is the largest e-commerce channel for consumers. The median selenium measured in frozen tilapia, pickled tilapia and canned tilapia was 0.233mg/kg, 0.239mg/kg and 1.073mg/kg respectively. It is evident that adults globally should regulate their consumption of canned tilapia to avoid selenium toxicity. Furthermore, relying solely on tilapia consumption is insufficient to meet the selenium needs of infants. The findings underscore the nutritional value of tilapia in diets. Additionally, these insights can facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the health implications associated with dietary choices, enabling the formulation of targeted advice for various age groups worldwide.

Synthesis of glucosamine-selenium compound and evaluation of its oral toxicity and in vitro anti-hepatitis B virus activity

Selenium supplements are beneficial to human health, however, concerns regarding the toxicity of inorganic selenium have stimulated research on safer organic compounds. The main objective of this study was to develop a novel glucosamine-selenium compound (Se-GlcN), clarify its structure, and subsequently investigate its oral toxicity and in vitro anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity. Electron microscopy, infrared, ultraviolet spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analyses revealed a unique binding mode of Se-GlcN, with the introduction of the Se-O bond at the C6 position, resulting in the formation of two carboxyl groups. In acute toxicity studies, the median lethal dose (LD50) of Se-GlcN in ICR mice was 92.31 mg/kg body weight (BW), with a 95 % confidence interval of 81.88–104.07 mg/kg BW. A 30-day subchronic toxicity study showed that 46.16 mg/kg BW Se-GlcN caused livers and kidneys damage in mice, whereas doses of 9.23 mg/kg BW and lower were safe for the livers and kidneys. In vitro studies, Se-GlcN at 1.25 μg/mL exhibited good anti-HBV activity, significantly reducing HBsAg, HBeAg, 3.5 kb HBV RNA and total HBV RNA by 45 %, 54 %, 84 %, 87 %, respectively. In conclusion, the Se-GlcN synthesized in this study provides potential possibilities and theoretical references for its use as an organic selenium supplement.

Mineralogy and Selenium Speciation Analysis of Early Cambrian Selenium-Rich Black Shale in Southern Shaanxi Province, China

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, and an excess of or deficiency in Se is harmful to health. Research on the selenium enrichment zone began in the late 1970s in Shuang’an, Ziyang, southern Shaanxi Province. Naore village is only one selenosis area in Shuang’an, Ziyang, China. Different scholars have conducted systematic studies on the occurrence of selenium, its organic geochemistry and biomarkers, and its content and enrichment patterns in this area. This study applied the TIMA (TESCAN integrated mineral analyzer) for the first time to conduct detailed mineralogical work. The minerals included quartz, carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite), feldspar (plagioclase, albite, and orthoclase), biotite and muscovite, clay minerals (chlorite and kaolinite), hematite, pyrite, and accessory minerals (almandine, olivine, zircon, and apatite) in Naore village, Ziyang, Shaanxi Province. The ATi index (100 × apatite/(apatite + tourmaline)) is used to determine the source of heavy minerals and the degree of heavy minerals’ weathering. The content POS (100 × (pyroxene + olivine + spinel)/transparent heavy mineral) of olivine, pyroxene, and spinel in heavy minerals can reflect the contribution of basic and ultrabasic rocks in the source area. The ATi and POS indexes for the heavy minerals in the research area were 91.83~99.96 and 0.01~18.75, respectively, reflecting the abundance of volcanic rock material in their source. In addition, the migration, transformation, bioavailability, and toxicity of selenium in the environment are closely related to its species. The species of selenium in various selenium-rich areas (Naore, Wamiao, and Guanquan) mainly include unusable residues and organic forms, followed by humic-acid-bound selenium. The proportions of water-soluble, exchangeable, and carbonate-bound selenium are relatively small, and the proportion of Fe-Mn oxide-bound selenium is the lowest.

Toxicological study on ibuprofen and selenium in freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis and exploring the microbial cytochrome through modelling and quantum mechanics approaches for its toxicity degradation in contaminated environment

Toxicological stress in aquatic organisms is caused by the discharge of hundreds of toxic pollutants and contaminants among which the current study concentrates on the toxic effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IBF) and the trace element selenium (Se). In this study, IBF and Se toxicity on freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis was studied for 14 days, and in silico predictions for their degradation were made using Molecular modelling and Quantum Mechanical approaches. The degrading propensity of cytochrome c oxidase proteins from Trametes verticillatus and Thauera selenatis (Turkey tail fungi and Gram-negative bacteria) is examined into atom level. The results of molecular modelling study indicate that ionic interactions occur in the T. selenatis-HEME bound complex by Se interacting directly with HEME, and in the T. versicolor-HEME bound complex by IBF bound to a nearby region of HEME. Experimental and theoretical findings suggest that, the toxicological effects of Se and IBF pollution can be reduced by bioremediation with special emphasis on T. versicolor, and T. selenatis, which can effectively interact with Se and IBF present in the environment and degrade them. Besides, this is the first time in freshwater mussel L. marginalis that ibuprofen and selenium toxicity have been studied utilizing both experimental and computational methodologies for their bioremediation study.

Turning sublimed sulfur and bFGF into a nanocomposite to accelerate wound healing via co-activate FGFR and Hippo signaling pathway

Clinical treatment of diabetic refractory ulcers is impeded by chronic inflammation and cell dysfunction associated with wound healing. The significant clinical application of bFGF in wound healing is limited by its instability in vivo. Sulfur has been applied for the treatment of skin diseases in the clinic for antibiosis. We previously found that sulfur incorporation improves the ability of selenium nanoparticles to accelerate wound healing, yet the toxicity of selenium still poses a risk for its clinical application. To obtain materials with high pro-regeneration activity and low toxicity, we explored the mechanism by which selenium-sulfur nanoparticles aid in wound healing via RNA-Seq and designed a nanoparticle called Nano-S@bFGF, which was constructed from sulfur and bFGF. As expected, Nano-S@bFGF not only regenerated zebrafish tail fins and promoted skin wound healing but also promoted skin repair in diabetic mice with a profitable safety profile. Mechanistically, Nano-S@bFGF successfully coactivated the FGFR and Hippo signalling pathways to regulate wound healing. Briefly, the Nano-S@bFGF reported here provides an efficient and feasible method for the synthesis of bioactive nanosulfur and bFGF. In the long term, our results reinvigorated efforts to discover more peculiar unique biofunctions of sulfur and bFGF in a great variety of human diseases.

Teaching NeuroImage: Selenium Toxicity Causing Cerebellar Lesions With Sparing of Dentate Nucleus.

Teaching NeuroImage: Selenium Toxicity Causing Cerebellar Lesions With Sparing of Dentate Nucleus.

Retracted: Growth Response in Oryctolagus cuniculus to Selenium Toxicity Exposure Ameliorated with Vitamin E.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/8216685.].

Methyl jasmonate improves selenium tolerance via regulating ROS signalling, hormonal crosstalk and phenylpropanoid pathway in Plantago ovata

Selenium (Se) toxicity is an emerging contaminant of global concern. It is known to cause oxidative stress, affecting plant growth and yield. Plantago ovata, a major cash crop known for its medicinal properties, is often cultivated in Se-contaminated soil. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) seed priming technique to mitigate Se-induced phytotoxicity. The results demonstrated that Se stress inhibited P. ovata growth, biomass and lowered chlorophyll content in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 1 μM MeJA enhanced the antioxidant defence system via ROS signalling and upregulated key enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway, PAL (1.9 times) and CHI (5.4 times) in comparison to control. Caffeic acid, Vanillic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Coumaric acid and Luteoloside were the most abundant polyphenols. Enzymatic antioxidants involved in ROS scavenging, such as CAT (up to 1.3 times) and GPOX (up to 1.4 times) were raised, while SOD (by 0.6 times) was reduced. There was an upregulation of growth-inducible hormones, IAA (up to 2.1 fold) and GA (up to 1.5 fold) whereas, the stress-responsive hormones ABA (by 0.6 fold) and SA (by 0.5 fold) were downregulated. The alleviation of Se toxicity was also evident from the decrease in H2O2 and MDA contents under MeJA treatment. These findings suggest that MeJA can effectively improve Se tolerance and nutraceutical value in P. ovata by modulating the phytohormone regulatory network, redox homeostasis and elicits accumulation of polyphenols. Therefore, MeJA seed priming could be an efficient way to enhance stress resilience and sustainable crop production.

Laboratory and In situ Selenium Bioaccumulation Assessment in the Benthic Macroinvertebrates Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus.

Selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and toxicity in aquatic vertebrates have been thoroughly investigated. Limited information is available on Se bioaccumulation at the base of aquatic food webs. In this study, we evaluated Se bioaccumulation in two benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI), Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus raised in the laboratory and caged in-situ to a Canadian boreal lake e (i.e., McClean Lake) that receives continuous low-level inputs of Se (< 1μg/L) from a uranium mill. Additional Se bioaccumulation assays were conducted in the laboratory with these BMI to (i) confirm field results, (ii) compare Se bioaccumulation in lab-read and native H. azteca populations and (iii) identify the major Se exposure pathway (surface water, top 1cm and top 2-3cm sediment layers) leading to Se bioaccumulation in H. azteca. Field and laboratory studies indicated overall comparable Se bioaccumulation and trophic transfer factors (TTFs) in co-exposed H. azteca (whole-body Se 0.9-3.1µg/g d.w; TTFs 0.6-6.3) and C. dilutus (whole-body Se at 0.7-3.2µg Se/g d.w.; TTFs 0.7-3.4). Native and lab-reared H. azteca populations exposed to sediment and periphyton from McClean Lake exhibited similar Se uptake and bioaccumulation (NLR, p = 0.003; 4.1 ± 0.8µg Se/g d.w), demonstrating that lab-reared organisms are good surrogates to assess on-site Se bioaccumulation potential. The greater Se concentrations in H. azteca exposed to the top 1-3cm sediment layer relative to waterborne exposure, corroborates the importance of the sediment-detrital pathway leading to greater Se bioaccumulation potential to higher trophic levels via BMI.

Effect of selenium on physiological and reproductive parameters in males of the catfish Sorubim cuspicaudus

Selenium is a trace mineral that participates in the body's homeostasis as an antioxidant by forming selenoproteins. In aquaculture, supplementation with this mineral influences zootechnical parameters and blood biochemistry while strengthening the immune system. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of organic selenium on physiological and zootechnical parameters in males of the catfish Sorubim cuspicaudus. Male breeders of S. cuspicaudus (n=56) with an average weight and length of 485.6 g and 39.3 cm, respectively, were distributed in 6.5 m3 pools in four treatments by triplicate. The fish were fed diets enriched with Se: 0.07 (control), 1.57, 2.07, and 2.57 mg Se/kg diet for 14 weeks. Length, weight, condition factor, and survival were recorded. In blood samples transaminases and cortisol were measured. Also, liver, kidney, and gonad histological analyses were realized. The zootechnical parameters and blood chemistry between treatments showed no significant difference (p>0.05). At the histological level, the fish fed 2.0 and 2.5 mg Se/kg diet showed moderate to severe kidney and mild liver lesions associated with selenium toxicity. The results of this study allow us to conclude that selenium doses of 2 mg or more generate toxicity in male breeders of the catfish S. cuspicaudus.

The beneficial and toxic effects of selenium on zebrafish. A systematic review of the literature.

Selenium is an important and essential trace element in organisms, but its effects on organisms are also a "double-edged sword". Selenium deficiency or excess can endanger the health of humans and animals. In order to thoroughly understand the nutritional value and toxicity hazards of selenium, researchers have conducted many studies on the model animal zebrafish. However, there is a lack of induction and summary of relevant research on which selenium acts on zebrafish. This paper provides a review of the reported studies. Firstly, this article summarizes the benefits of selenium on zebrafish from three aspects: Promoting growth, Enhancing immune function and anti-tumor ability, Antagonizing some pollutants, such as mercury. Then, three aspects of selenium toxicity to zebrafish are introduced: nervous system and behavior, reproductive system and growth, and damage to some organs. This article also describes how different forms of selenium compounds have different effects on zebrafish health. Finally, prospects for future research directions are presented.

Mechanistic characterization of waterborne selenite uptake in the water flea, Daphnia magna, indicates water chemistry affects toxicity in coal mine-impacted waters.

Concentrations of selenium that exceed regulatory guidelines have been associated with coal mining activities and have been linked to detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and the organisms therein. Although the major route of selenium uptake in macroinvertebrates is via the diet, the uptake of waterborne selenite (HSeO3-), the prominent form at circumneutral pH, can be an important contributor to selenium body burden and thus selenium toxicity. In the current study, radiolabelled selenite (Se75) was used to characterize the mechanism of selenite uptake in the water flea, Daphnia magna. The concentration dependence (1-32μM) of selenite uptake was determined in 1-hour uptake assays in artificial waters that independently varied in bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate and selenate concentrations. At concentrations representative of those found in highly contaminated waters, selenite uptake was phosphate-dependent and inhibited by foscarnet, a phosphate transport inhibitor. At higher concentrations, selenite uptake was dependent on waterborne bicarbonate concentration and inhibited by the bicarbonate transporter inhibitor DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid). These findings suggest that concentrations of phosphate in coal mining-affected waters could alter selenite uptake in aquatic organisms and could ultimately affect the toxic impacts of selenium in such waters.

Speciation of Selenium Nanoparticles and Other Selenium Species in Soil: Simple Extraction Followed by Membrane Separation and ICP-MS Determination.

The application of selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-based fertilizers can cause SeNPs to enter the soil environment. Considering the possible transformation of SeNPs and the species-dependent toxicity of selenium (Se), accurate analysis of SeNPs and other Se species present in the soil would help rationally assess the potential hazards of SeNPs to soil organisms. Herein, a novel method for speciation of SeNPs and other Se species in soil was established. Under the optimized conditions, SeNPs, selenite, selenate, and seleno amino acid could be simultaneously extracted from the soil with mixtures of tetrasodium pyrophosphate (5 mM) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (1.2 μM), while inert Se species (mainly metal selenide) remained in the soil. Then, extracted SeNPs can be effectively captured by a nylon membrane (0.45 μm) and quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Other extracted Se species can be separated and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ICP-MS. Based on the difference between the total Se contents and extracted Se contents, the amount of metal selenide can be calculated. The limits of detection of the method were 0.02 μg/g for SeNPs, 0.05 μg/g for selenite, selenate, and selenocystine, and 0.25 μg/g for selenomethionine, respectively. Spiking experiments also showed that our method was applicable to real soil sample analysis. The present method contributes to understanding the speciation of Se in the soil environment and further estimating the occurrence and application risks of SeNPs.

Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings

Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings

Synergistic Effects of Selenium and Silicon Mitigate Arsenic Toxicity in Oryza sativa L.

Synergistic Effects of Selenium and Silicon Mitigate Arsenic Toxicity in Oryza sativa L.

Harnessing selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) for enhancing growth and germination, and mitigating oxidative stress in Pisum sativum L.

Selenium, an essential micronutrient for plants and animals, can cause selenium toxicity as an oxyanion or at elevated doses. However, the toxic selenite (SeO32−) oxyanion, can be converted into less harmful elemental nano-selenium (Se0), with various practical applications. This research aimed to investigate two methods for reducing SeO32−: abiotic reduction using cell-free extract from Enterococcus spp. (abiotic-SeNPs) and chemical reduction involving L-ascorbic acid (chemical-SeNPs). Analysis with XPS confirmed the presence of Se0, while FTIR analysis identified surface functional groups on all SeNPs. The study evaluated the effects of SeO32−, abiotic-SeNPs, and chemical-SeNPs at different concentrations on the growth and germination of Pisum sativum L. seeds. SeO32− demonstrated detrimental effects on germination at concentrations of 1 ppm (germination index (GI) = 0.3). Conversely, both abiotic- and chemical-SeNPs had positive impacts on germination, with GI > 120 at 10 ppm. Through the DPPH assay, it was discovered that SeNPs exhibited superior antioxidant capabilities at 80 ppm, achieving over 70% inhibition, compared to SeO32− (less than 20% inhibition), therefore evidencing significant antioxidant properties. This demonstrates that SeNPs have the potential to be utilized as an agricultural fertilizer additive, benefiting seedling germination and development, while also protecting against oxidative stress.

Age-dependent assessment of selenium nanoparticles: biodistribution and toxicity study in young and adult rats.

Aim: To study the biodistribution and toxicology of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) versus their bulk counterpart in young and adult male rats in a 28-day study. Methods: SeNPs were synthesized and conjugated with indocyanine green to assess comparative biodistribution by in vivo imaging and further characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, UV and ζ-analysis. The toxicity of bulk selenium was evaluated relative to its nano form by hematology indices, redox, inflammatory markers and histopathology. Results: Indocyanine green-conjugated nanoparticles showed preferential accumulation in the liver, followed by testis and kidney. The protective effect of SeNPs was more significantly observed in young livers than in adults compared with the bulk counterpart. Conclusion: Age-dependentmonitoring and diagnosis of toxicity may need different biomarkers of selenium and may also provide better understanding of SeNPs as therapeutics.

On Assessment of Potential Hazards of Selenium Nanoparticles at Different Levels of Organization of Living Things: A Literature Review

Introduction: The spread of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) increases risks of environmental pollution and human exposure, either accidental or following a targeted use of the products known to contain them, making the assessment of potential hazards of Se NPs particularly relevant. Objective: To examine published data for subsequent assessment of potential hazards of selenium nanoparticles as a risk factor in both occupational and environmental settings at different levels of organization of living things. Materials and methods: We have analyzed the results of studies published in 2001–2022 in English and Russian languages and found in PubMed, Google Scholar, eLibrary, CyberLeninka, and Scopus databases using the following keywords: selenium nanoparticles, toxicity, cytotoxicity, pathology, hazard, and risk. Forty-five original research articles were considered eligible for inclusion in the review out of more than 100 papers screened for information of interest. Results: We have noted that health benefits of using Se NPs are discussed more frequently than their adverse effects. Yet, the ability of Se NPs to generate free radicals, exhibit a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, and interact with proteins, although without changes in their secondary structure, has been established. Some authors also report acute and subacute toxicity of Se NPs observed, inter alia, in warm-blooded animals, as well as their accumulation in agricultural plants. Conclusion: Additional in-depth studies of physicochemical, toxicological, and hygienic characteristics of selenium nanoparticles are necessary to specify the extent of their potential hazard for living things.

The effect of selenium concentration on growth and stress markers in two Iranian strains of Dunaliella salina Teodoresco

Selenium toxicity and selenium stress were investigated by comparison of molecular, physiological and genetic response in plants and algae recently. In this study, the phycological responses of two strains of Dunaliella salina (Gavkhooni and Maharloo) to different Na2SeO3 concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/l) were evaluated. Our results showed that carotenoid, astaxanthin, total antioxidant, proline content, and activity of enzymatic antioxidant (especially CAT and APX) increased by adding low concentration of Na2SeO3 (up to 1 mg/l) in the medium, which also was accompanied by increase cell division, chlorophyll pigments content in both strains. Selenite concentration higher than 1 mg/l in the medium, resulted a decrease in the activity of SOD (about 19%, and 41% in Gavkhooni and Maharloo treated with 2 mg/l Na2SeO3 respectively), CAT, and APX as well as the total antioxidant capacity (about 39%, and 23% in Gavkhooni and Maharloo treated with 2 mg/l Na2SeO3 respectively) that led to increased electrolyte leakage (98%, and 62% increase in Gavkhooni and Maharloo treated with 2 mg/l Na2SeO3 respectively)and MDA content (45% and 31% in Gavkhooni and Maharloo at highest Na2SeO3 concentration respectively)in both strains. Consequently, the cell number and growth of both strains decreased in the high selenium concentration medium. The cell division of Gavkhooni strain was statistically higher than Maharloo strain under low level of selenium. Moreover, a delay in the growth of Maharloo strain was illustrated under selenium stress. Generally, it can be concluded that the better growth of Gavkhooni under low level of Se can probably be caused by the increase in the power of total antioxidant, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.

The impact of selenium on insects.

Selenium, a naturally occurring metalloid, is an essential trace element for many higher organisms, including humans. Humans primarily become exposed to selenium by ingesting food products containing trace amounts of selenium compounds. Although essential in these small amounts, selenium exhibits toxic effects at higher doses. Previous studies investigating the effects on insects of order Blattodea, Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Orthoptera revealed impacts on mortality, growth, development, and behavior. Nearly every study examining selenium toxicity has shown that insects are negatively affected by exposure to selenium in their food. However, there were no clear patterns of toxicity between insect orders or similarities between insect species within families. At this time, the potential for control will need to be determined on a species-by-species basis. We suspect that the multiple modes of action, including mutation-inducing modification of important amino acids as well as impacts on microbiome composition, influence this variability. There are relatively few studies that have examined the potential effects of selenium on beneficial insects, and the results have ranged from increased predation (a strong positive effect) to toxicity resulting in reduced population growth or even the effective elimination of the natural enemies (more common negative effects). As a result, in those pest systems where selenium use is contemplated, additional research may be necessary to ascertain if selenium use is compatible with key biological control agents. This review explores selenium as a potential insecticide and possible future directions for research.