title: Selenium exposure in subjects living in areas with high selenium concentrated drinking water: results of a French integrated exposure assessment survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium is an essential element which can be toxic if ingested in excessive quantities. The main human exposure is food. In addition, intake may be boosted by consumption drinking water containing unusual high selenium concentration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We measured the individual selenium level of people exposed to selenium concentration in drinking water greater than the maximum recommended limit which is 10 μg/L.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective cohort study on 80 adults (40 exposed subjects i.e. living in the involved area and 40 non-exposed ones i.e. living elsewhere) in western France. We used three different approaches: (1) direct measurement of ingested selenium by the duplicate portion method, (2) dietary reconstitution with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and (3) evaluation of the individual selenium status by measuring the selenium content in toenail clippings. Analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The association between toenail selenium concentration and area of residence was analyzed using linear regression with repeated measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated selenium intake from FFQ at 64±14 μg/day for exposed subjects as opposed to 52±14 μg/day for the non-exposed ones. On the basis of 305 duplicate diet samples, average intake was estimated at 64±26 μg/day for exposed subjects. Area of residence (p=0.0030) and smoking (p=0.0054) were independently associated with toenail selenium concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whatever method used for estimating selenium intake, the selenium level in this studied area with high selenium concentrated drinking water is much lower than in seleniferous areas.
authors.affiliation: Université de Poitiers, Laboratoire de Chimie et Microbiologie de l'Eau, UMR CNRS 6008, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France. Electronic address: emmanuelle.barron@u-bordeaux2.fr.
authors.forename: Barron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Emmanuelle
authors.affiliation: Université de Poitiers, Laboratoire de Chimie et Microbiologie de l'Eau, UMR CNRS 6008, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France; Université de Poitiers, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, 6 rue de la Milétrie, 86034 Poitiers Cedex, France. Electronic address: virginie.migeot@univ-poitiers.fr.
authors.forename: Migeot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virginie
authors.affiliation: Ultra Traces Analyses Aquitaine, Hélioparc Pau Pyrénées, 2 avenue du Président Angot, 64053 Pau Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Séby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabienne
authors.affiliation: Université de Poitiers, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, 6 rue de la Milétrie, 86034 Poitiers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Ingrand
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Isabelle
authors.affiliation: Université de Pau et de l'Adour, Equipe de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement, UMR CNRS/UPPA 5254, avenue de l'Université, 64000 Pau, France.
authors.forename: Potin-Gautier
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Martine
authors.affiliation: Université de Poitiers, Laboratoire de Chimie et Microbiologie de l'Eau, UMR CNRS 6008, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Legube
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.affiliation: Université de Poitiers, Laboratoire de Chimie et Microbiologie de l'Eau, UMR CNRS 6008, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France; Université de Poitiers, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, 6 rue de la Milétrie, 86034 Poitiers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Rabouan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sylvie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D018977:Micronutrients; D012643:Selenium