Arsenic,Selenium Pollution in Capsicum and Corn Roasted by Coal-combustion in Zhaotong Fluorosis Areas and the Cumulation in Human Hair / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether there was arsenic and selenium pollution besides fluorine pollution in the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion in Zhaotong fluorosis areas were collected,and the cumulation in human hair. Methods In September 2005,the capsicum and corn samples were collected before they were roasted and after roasted by coal-combustion,and the hair samples from people living in Zhaotong fluorosis areas were collected,and the fluorine,arsenic and selenium content in these samples were determined. Results The average arsenic and selenium content in the fresh capsicum not roasted by coal-combustion were 0.034 mg/kg and 0.079 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the capsicum roasted by coal-combustion were 0.463 mg/kg and 1.088 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the fresh corn were 0.019 mg/kg and 0.051 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the corn roasted by coal-combustion were 0.058 mg/kg and 0.085 mg/kg respectively. Except for the average selenium content of the capsicum roasted by coal-combustion,others were all within the limits of arsenic and selenium in foods. Conclusion There is not only fluorine pollution in the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion,but also arsenic and selenium pollution. Furthermore,the selenium pollution level was higher than that of arsenic pollution. The arsenic and selenium pollution level in capsicum was higher than that in the corn. Though this arsenic pollution in the capsicum and corn may be harmful for the people living on these capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion to some extent,it was not harmful enough to result in arsenism. Comparing with the arsenic pollution,the selenium pollution in the capsicum and corn may be beneficial for the people eating the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion.