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Published on: December 19, 2017
Interrelationships of selenium with other trace elements
Federation Proceedings
|October 1, 1975
Summary
Selenium
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Trace Element Research
Background:
- Selenium's toxicity is influenced by interactions with other elements.
- Arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and copper are known to interact with selenium.
- Selenium can also mitigate the toxicity of mercury and cadmium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate biological interactions between selenium and other trace elements.
- To understand how these interactions affect selenium's toxicity.
- To explore the impact of selenium on the toxicity of other elements.
Main Methods:
- Studies involving various animal species under diverse conditions.
- Analysis of reaction products of selenium with mercury and cadmium.
- Observation of selenium excretion patterns with arsenic exposure.
Main Results:
- Biological interactions significantly reduce selenium's toxicity.
- Reaction products of selenium with mercury and cadmium show lower toxicity.
- Arsenic exposure alters selenium excretion pathways, directing it to bile.
- No definitive evidence suggests reduced selenium absorption or retention due to other elements.
Conclusions:
- Interactions with elements like arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and copper decrease selenium toxicity.
- Selenium can reduce the toxicity of mercury and cadmium.
- Formation of less reactive compounds may explain these observed interactions.
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