Year 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3
| Year : | 2016 |
| Volume : | 1 |
| Issue : | 3 |
| Authors : | Primož ZIDAR, Špela KRŽIŠNIK, Marta DEBELJAK, Suzana ŽIŽEK, Katarina VOGEL MIKUŠ |
| Title : | THE EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON MERCURY TRANSPORT ALONG THE FOOD CHAIN |
| Abstract : | More than 500 years of mercury (Hg) production in Idrija (Slovenia) resulted in a considerable pollution of Idrija region with Hg. Although the mine is closed for more than 20 years, the total soil concentration of Hg may still reach up to several hundred mgkg-1dry weightin local gardens and more that thousand inother urban regions. Hg in soil undergoesdifferent chemical transformations and in some formsit may enterplants and higher trophic levelsin food chains, also with biomagnification pattern.The local population is, besides air and dust, thus exposed to mercury also via consumption of locally produced food.Several studies showed that the increased level of selenium in soil may reduce the uptake of mercury in plants but very few include other trophic levels in a food chain as well.In our pilot study we followed an impact of Seon Hg transport from soil to plants (Lactucasativa) and further to soil dwelling animals (Porcellioscaber). Lettuce was planted in a contaminated soil from Idrija and in soil with added HgCl2. The leaves of half of the plants weresprayed with Sesolution (5µg L-1)threeand five weeks after planting.After six weeks plants were analyzed for Hg and Se and offered as food to terrestrial isopods for two weeks. Our preliminary results revealed that foliar treatment of plants with Se may affect Hg accumulation in plants and therefore further transport of Hg across the food chain. |
| For citation : | Zidar, P., Kržišnik, Š., Debeljak, M., Žižek, S., Vogel Mikuš, K. (2016). The effect of selenium on mercury transport along the food chain. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 1. Issue No. 3. pp. 119-126. DOI:10.7251/AGRENG1603119Z |
| Keywords : | mercury, selenium,isopods, Lactuca Sativa, food chain |
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ISSN 2490-3434 (Printed)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
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