Absorption of excess selenium and sulfur by plants and animals
- Department of Agriculture, Kimberly, ID (United States)
High concentrations of selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) often occur in over-burden soils and underlying shales associated with western coal mining areas. Knowing the role of Se and S in the soil-plant-animal system is important for proper management of mine spoil reclamation. This paper will discuss recent findings about Se and S forms in soils, their absorption and accumulation by plants, and their subsequent toxicity to grazing animals. Selenium absorbed by the accumulating plants is generally metabolized to non-protein forms, while that absorbed by the non-accumulating plants occurs predominantly as selenomethionine. Selenomethionine is readily absorbed by animals. In animals, both acute and chronic forms of selenosis are known. Death occurs when a large dose of highly-available Se is ingested. One chronic form includes symptoms of inappetence, hair loss, hardening and extension of nails and hooves, reduced weight gains, and poor reproductive performance. Beath and Rosenfield identified {open_quotes}blind staggers{close_quotes} as another from of selenosis, but this disorder; more appropriately called polioencephalomalcia (PEM), occurred only in ruminants. However; the historical association of selenosis to blind staggers has been questioned. Recent experimental evidence has shown that PEM is likely caused by excess SO{sub 4}. Cases of this disorder have been documented in the USA and Canada when ruminants have high S intake from herbage and/or drinking water. Western mine reclamation decisions should consider the potential for not only excess Se, but also excess SO{sub 4} in water, soil, and plants.
- OSTI ID:
- 98669
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9506226-; TRN: 95:006357-0017
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation annual meeting: decades later - a time for reassessment, Gillette, WY (United States), 3-8 Jun 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Decades later: A time for reassessment. Volume 1 and Volume 2; Schuman, G.E. [High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY (United States)]; Vance, G.F. [Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)] [eds.]; PB: 889 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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