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.

The Migration Characteristics of Effective Selenium in Soil in Situ

“…In this study, using field experiments combined with indoor simulation, we revealed the migration characteristics of soil effective selenium measured in situ under drip irrigation, and found that drip irrigation significantly affected the distribution of effective selenium in the soil, and its migration characteristics were strongly affected by the amount of water drop and soil type [8]. The results provide an important scientific basis for precision drip irrigation technology in improving the nutritional management of selenin and ensuring fruit quality, and have certain reference value for promoting the wide application of drip irrigation technology in agricultural production [10].…”

“…It is found that under the action of drip irrigation, the distribution of selenium in the soil showed obvious hierarchy, and the selenium content in the surface soil was high, which gradually decreased with the increase of depth. This phenomenon indicates that water dripping can block the vertical migration of selenium in the soil [10].…”