Report of field visit and initial data from investigations into the prediction and remediation of human selenium imbalances in Enshi District, Hubei Province, China, 8-26 November 1995. (Report No. WC/96/007R)
Abstract
This field visit represents the second fieldwork phase of the ODA TDR project \"Prediction and Remediation of Human Selenium Imbalances\" (R6227), the objectives of which are to:
Delineate risk areas in which Se toxicity or deficiency causes health disorders based on (a) mapping methodology for environmental Se levels (b) appraisal of environmental geochemical controls on the distribution of Se-responsive diseases, (c) database showing the role of Se in relation to human disease and epidemiology and (d) an integrated GIS for human risk prediction.
Mitigate problems of natural Se imbalances by designing and implementing land-use planning, crop and dietary supplementation methods.
The field programme described in this report was designed by Dr J D Appleton (BGS) in collaboration with the IRMA and Enshi Local Government (Appleton, 1995) and was finalized at the start of this visit. Enshi District is one of two areas in China where Se toxicity problems have been identified in humans.
The main objectives of the field programme were to: establish the relationship between the human Se status of communities (represented by hair samples) and their dietary Se intake (represented by grain and drinking water samples) to the local geochemical environment characterised by cultivated soils; identify criteria which may be used to define areas where there is a risk of Se-toxicity or deficiency to humans and other animals.
assess, design and implement strategies for the reduction of the toxic effects of high Se in the Enshi area; assess the potential for developing high Se-products which may be used to ameliorate the effects of Se-deficiency in humans in other parts of China.
Fifteen villages were selected for the investigation based on previous studies and epidemiological records held by Enshi District Local Government. Five villages with high environmental Se and human selenosis incidence, five villages with high environmental Se but no human selenosis and five villages with low environmental Se and KD incidence were chosen.
This report is available to download in full colour (3452 kb) or in black and white (3452 kb).