What was the element selenium named after

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Some animal studies have shown that selenium may help protect against cancer, but that taking a supplement is not a good idea, according to the American Cancer Society.

There is very little room for error in dosage and just a little more than needed can be toxic. High doses can cause these side effects, according to the University of Maryland :. Selenium is found in many different foods. Other foods that have selenium include muscle meats, grains and dairy products.

It can also be found in drinking water in some places. The amount of selenium found in the soil affects the amount of selenium found in the food that is grown in it, though soil PH and other things factor into the selenium level, as well.

Soil in the Central Northern states are particularly rich in selenium, according to the National Geochemical Survey. Some plants, such as garlic and Brazil nuts, tend to accumulate selenium if they are grown in selenium-rich soil.

One ounce of Brazil nuts — about six kernels — can provide as much as micrograms of selenium. People only need trace amounts, 55 micrograms or millionths of a gram , each day.

The American Cancer Society recommends that the maximum dose in a supplement not exceed micrograms of selenium per day. Other than internal human uses, selenium is also used in manufacturing. It is used to color and decolorize glass. Selenium is known as an essential element which means it is essential for life in some species, including humans. Selenium is a metallic main group element, found in Group VIb of the periodic table. It can exist in two forms; as a silvery metal or a red powder.

Selenium is relatively rare but occurs in trace amounts in pyrites. Selenium is mostly extracted from the anode mud formed during the electrolytic refining of copper.

Plants take up selenium from the soil and propagate it through the food chain. First identified as an essential trace element in , it has since been established that the all organisms require selenium. However selenium has a dual status due to its toxicity and there must be careful balance as there is around an 8-fold gap between the average requirement and levels considered at the upper limit of safe intake.