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Article: Just a sprinkle makes the selenium go down.(Science Update)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Agricultural Research
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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While selenium is an essential nutrient for humans and other animals, an excess in drainage water can be toxic to wildlife. So researchers have been looking at using plants that absorb higher-than-average concentrations of selenium, which is a naturally occurring element in Earth's crust. They have done experiments to see whether kale and turnip plants could possibly take up the excess that sometimes builds up in drainage water from irrigation operations. Not only would this reduce selenium concentration in the water by providing a place to store the selenium, but the enriched crops could be used to supplement the diets of ...