Abstract
The soil contents of trace elements selenium, chromium and manganese were measured to determine
their impact on the plasma levels of 160 healthy adult Nigerians in five different experimental locations
in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, South - South Nigeria. The mean (±SD) soil selenium, chromium
and manganese concentrations were 2.86 ± 3.97, 15.93 ± 3.35 and 90.33± 42.65 mg/kg, respectively.
Manganese soil concentration was the highest and selenium soil concentration was the lowest in all the
locations. The mean (±SD) plasma selenium, chromium and manganese concentrations were 0.006,
0.111 ± 0.031 and 0.028 ± 0.024 mg /1, respectively. There were no significant differences between the
concentrations of the trace elements in the soil and the plasma levels as determined by t-test. Plasma
levels of chromium and manganese according to the study were adequate but that of selenium was low.
Key words: Healthy adult Nigerians, trace elements, plasma level, soil content.
