ABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient for animals and humans and is related to many human health problems. A close relationship has been found between available forms of trace elements in soil, such as Se, boron, nickel, and molybdenum, and the number of humans living to over 90 years old in Rugao County, Jiangsu Province, China. As an important natural source and pool of Se, soil Se content affects Se levels in the complete ecosystem and impacts human health indirectly through the food chain. Guangxi City, China is a natural lab to study the relationship between Se intake and human health since there are over 33 thousand km2 area with selenium-rich soils and about 10 longevity villages. To better understand the relationship between the concentrations of Se in environment and human health, soil and rice seedling samples were collected in Pubei County and Guiping County, Guangxi, China to perform a preliminary study on the distribution of Se.
