Distribution and transport of selenium in Yutangba, China: Impact of human activities

Yutangba, one of the typical high-Se areas where a sudden incidence of Se poisoning occurred in 1963, is located in the northern part of Shuanghe town about 81 km SE of Enshi, Hubei Province, China. In this area, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on the distribution of Se in soils, plant species, stream water and sediment. The mean concentrations of Se were: total soil, 4.75 ± 7.43 mg/kg (n = 150); Corn seeds, 1.48 ± 1.41 mg/kg (n = 20); Agry wormwood, 1.68 ± 1.27 mg/kg (n = 30); Bracken fern, 0.63 ± 1.61 mg/kg (n = 57), and Central China dryoathyrium, 0.48 ± 0.72 mg/kg (n = 39); Stream water, 58.4 ± 16.8 µg/L (n = 12); stream sediment, 26.6 ± 26.8 mg/kg (n = 11). The spatial distribution of Se in soils and plants is significantly uneven and higher Se samples mainly distributed in the croplands and northwest Yutangba, while almost all the lower Se samples are located in undisturbed areas. 11 samples contained extremely high concentrations of Se, ranging from 346 to 2018 mg/kg with an average of 899 ± 548 mg/kg, were found at croplands and discarded coal spoils in Yutangba. The distribution of Se in Yutangba is related to the pathways of Se transport, which was caused by human activities such as stone coal conveyance by local villagers, mining of stone coal for use as a fuel or fertilizer, and discharging lime into cropland to improve soil. These activities caused variable addition of Se to the soil and further accumulation of Se in food chain. Therefore, human activities have played an important role in the distribution, transport, and bioavailability of Se. Yutangba is still a high risk area where Se poisoning may occur again, and so are almost all high-Se areas in Enshi Prefecture.