Table 9.01: Acute toxicity of selenium to freshwater fish

Species

Life Stage

Data type

Chemical

Hardness (mg/L as CaCO₃)

Other Measured Parameters

Conc. in water (mg/L)

Conc. in diet (µg/g) dry wt

Effect

Reference

Brachydanio rerio (zebrafish)

-

-

selenite

-

-

20.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

Niimi and LaHam, 1976

-

-

selenate

-

-

82.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

Niimi and LaHam, 1975

Carassius auratus

-

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

26.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

(goldfish)

-

-

selenite

-

-

110.000

-

12-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a

-

-

selenite

-

-

76.500

-

18-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

71.300

-

24-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

60.200

-

36-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

46.500

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

41.200

-

60-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

36.600

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.250

-

48-h, quantifiable change in activity including trained behavior; conditional avoidance

Weir and Hine, 1970

-

-

selenite

-

-

36.600

-

96-h LC₅₀

Davis et al., 1988

Catostomus commersoni

-

-

-

-

-

48.600

-

48-h LC₅₀

Duncan and Klaverkamp, 1983

(white sucker)

-

F,M,1

selenite

18.0

-

31.400

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

F,M,1

selenite

29.0

-

29.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Klaverkamp et al., 1983

Cyprinus carpio

-

-

-

-

-

72.000

-

24-h LC₅₀

Sato et al., 1980

(common carp)

-

R,U

selenite

-

-

35.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

35.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

Spehar et al., 1982

Esox lucius (northern pike)

-

-

selenite

10.2

-

11.100

-

75-h LC₅₀

Klaverkamp et al., 1983

Etroplus maculatus

8.2-8.3 cm

-

selenite

28.4

pH = 7.2; D.O = 6.0 mg/L; Temp. = 29.0°C; Alkalinity = 46.0 mg/L

10.700

-

96-h LC₅₀, fish were lathargic, swimming with widely spread fins and were often found on the surface of the water-pinkish bellies were noted at time of death

Gaikwad, 1989

-

-

-

-

-

7.620

-

96-h LC₅₀

Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish)

-

-

-

-

-

10.700 Se + 1.830 Cu + 0.670 Hg

-

96-h, 95 % mortality with mixture

-

S,U,2

selenite

45.7

-

12.600

-

96-h LC₅₀

Reading, 1979

-

-

-

-

-

>6.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

Nassos et al., 1980

Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish) (cont.)

-

-

selenite

-

-

76.000

96-h LC₅₀

Davis et al., 1988

Ictalurus punctatus

juvenile

S,M,2

selenite

49.8

-

16.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Brooke et al., 1985

(channel catfish)

juvenile

S,M,2

selenate

51.0

-

66.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

juvenile

S,U,2

selenite

41.0

-

4.110

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Mayer and Ellersieck, 1986

-

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

13.600

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

-

-

selenite

-

-

46.700

-

23.04-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a

-

-

selenite

-

-

40.200

-

28.08-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

24.900

-

52.08-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

19.100

-

94.08-h LC₅₀

-

-

selente

-

-

18.200

-

96-h LC₅₀

Davis et al., 1988

Jordanella floridae (flagfish)

-

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

6.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

-

-

selenite

-

-

44.300

-

44.4-h LC₅₀, mortality

Cardwell et al., 1976a

-

-

selenite

-

-

27.900

-

55.44-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

16.900

-

67.2-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

21.800

-

68.4-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

11.200

-

83.04-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

9.300-33.200

-

24-h, measurable change in length and/or weight of test organism

-

-

selenite

-

-

9.300-33.200

-

24-h, ~mortality

Lepomis macrochirus

juvenile

S,M,2

selenite

50.5

-

12.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Brooke et al., 1985

(bluegill)

juvenile

S,M,2

selenate

50.4

-

63.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

-

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

28.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

-

-

selenite

-

-

126.600

-

7.92-h LC₅₀, mortality

Cardwell et al., 1976a

-

-

selenite

-

-

82.100

-

18-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

-

-

-

77.300

-

24-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

40.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

Davis et al., 1988

-

-

-

-

-

0.005

-

48-h, change in ventilatory rate or breathing activity

Lemly, 1983

Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass)

-

-

-

-

-

0.005

-

48-h, change in ventilatory rate or breathing activity

Lemly, 1983

Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon)

swim up fry 8-12 weeks

S,M,2

selenite

211.0

pH = 7.82; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 87.2 mg/L

7.800

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

Hamilton and Buhl, 1990

advanced fry 15-21 weeks

S,M,2

selenite

333.0

pH = 7.79; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

13.600

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon) (cont.)

swim up fry 8-12 weeks

S,M,2

selenate

211.0

pH = 7.82; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 87.2 mg/L

32.500

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

Hamilton and Buhl, 1990 (cont.)

advanced fry 15-21 weeks

S,M,2

selenate

333.0

pH = 7.79; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

39.000

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (3.5:1)

-

-

21.800

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1)

-

-

24.500

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (14:1)

-

-

25.800

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (4.2:1)

-

-

16.900

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (3.5:1)

-

-

26.200

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1)

-

-

26.300

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (14:1)

-

-

28.000

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (4.2:1)

-

-

38.000

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

Oncorhynchus mykiss

-

-

-

-

-

8.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

Spehar et al., 1982

(rainbow trout)

-

-

-

-

-

12.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

USEPA, 1980

-

-

selenite

-

-

8.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

Hodson et al.,1980; Davis et al., 1988

-

-

selenite

135.0

-

7.200-8.800

-

96-h LC₅₀

Hodson et al.,1980

-

-

-

-

-

>3.000

may be toxic to rainbow trout

Hilton et al., 1980

-

S,U,2

selenite

330.0

-

4.200-4.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

Adams, 1976

-

F,M,1

selenite

30.0

-

12.500

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Goettl and Davies, 1976a

juvenile

S,M,2

selenate

51.0

-

24.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Brooke et al., 1985

F,M,1

selenate

45.0

-

47.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Spehar, 1986

Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) (cont.)

-

S,M,1

selenite

40.0

pH = 7.2; Temp. = 12.0 °C

1.800

-

96-h LC₅₀

Hunn et al., 1987

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (chinook salmon)

swim up fry 8-12 weeks

S,M,2

selenite

211.0

pH = 7.82; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 87.2 mg/L

13.800

-

96-h LC₅₀ for freshwater study

Hamilton and Buhl, 1990

advanced fry 15-21 weeks

S,M,2

selenite

333.0

pH = 7.79; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

23.400

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

0.31 g

S,M,2

selenite

-

-

100.000

-

24-h LC₅₀

0.31 g

S,M,2

selenite

-

-

27.300

-

96-h LC₅₀

0.46 g

S,M,2

selenite

-

-

65.800

-

24-h LC₅₀

0.46 g

S,M,2

selenite

-

-

13.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

swim up fry 8-12 weeks

S,M,2

seleno-DL-methionine

211.0

pH = 7.82; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 87.2 mg/L

<21.600

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

advanced fry 15-21 weeks

S,M,2

seleno-DL-methionine

333.0

pH = 7.79; Temp. = 12.0°C; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

21.600

-

96-h brackish water study, no mortalities were seen in any conc. but at 21.6, 50% showed pronounced surfacing behaviour

-

S,M,2

selenate : selenite (1:3.2)

41.7

pH = 7.57; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

13.900 selenite / 42.700 selenate

-

96-h LC₅₀ soft water study

-

S,M,2

selenate : selenite : B (1:3.2:18)

41.7

pH = 7.57; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

8.200 selenite / 26.200 selenate +146.000 B

-

96-h LC₅₀ soft water study

-

S,M,2

selenate : selenite : B : Mo (1:3.2 :18:?)

41.7

pH = 7.57; Alkalinity = 36.6 mg/L

6.900 selenite / 22.500 selenite + 123.000 B & Mo

-

96-h LC₅₀ soft water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (3.5:1)

-

-

46.600

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1)

-

-

50.900

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (chinook salmon) (cont.)

-

-

selenate : selenite (14:1)

-

-

85.500

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

Hamilton and Buhl, 1990 (cont.)

-

-

selenate : selenite (4.2:1)

-

-

67.100

-

96-h LC₅₀ freshwater study

-

-

selenate : selenite (3.5:1)

-

-

51.900

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1)

-

-

76.900

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (14:1)

-

-

67.000

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

-

-

selenate : selenite (4.2:1)

-

-

96.800

-

96-h LC₅₀ brackish water study

Oreochomis mossambicus (Peters)

4.5 to 9.0 cm

S,M,1

selenate

-

-

16.365

-

48-h LC₅₀ acute toxicity, from conc. tested ranging from 0-24 mg Se/L

Chidambaram and Sastry, 1991

(teleost)

4.5 to 9.0 cm

S,M,1

selenate

-

-

11.572

-

96-h LC₅₀ acute toxicity, from conc. tested ranging from 0-15 mg Se/L

Perca flavescens (yellow perch)

-

F,M,1

selenite

10.2

-

11.700

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Klaverkamp et al., 1983

Pimephales promelas

-

-

selenite

-

-

31.200

-

18.48-h LC₅₀, mortality

Cardwell et al., 1976a

(fathead minnow)

-

-

selenite

-

-

27.900

-

21.6-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

28.600

-

22.08-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

24.300

-

24.48-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

19.500

-

30-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

15.600

-

42-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

10.900

-

72-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

7.300

-

96-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.900

-

96-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

9.300-33.200

-

24-h, measurable change in length and/or weight of test organism

adult

S,U,2

selenite

292.0-323.0

Temp. = 13.0 - 25.0 °C

2.200-12.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

Adams, 1976

-

S,U,2

selenate

323.0

-

11.800

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

-

S,U,2

selenate

323.0

-

11.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

-

S,U,2

selenate

323.0

-

12.500

-

96-h LC₅₀

30 d

S,M,2

selenite

51.1

-

1.700

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Brooke et al., 1985

Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) (cont.)

juvenile

S,M,2

selenate

47.9

-

2.300

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Brooke et al., 1985 (cont.)

juvenile

S,U,2

selenite

40.0

-

7.760

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Mayer and Ellersieck, 1986

fry

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

2.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

juvenile

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

5.200

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

F,M,1

selenite

220.0

-

0.620

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Kimball Manuscript

-

F,M,1

selenite

220.0

-

0.970

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

-

F,M,1

selenate

46.0

-

5.500

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values

Spehar, 1986

adult

-

-

-

-

0.620-0.970

-

96-h LC₅₀

USEPA, 1980

adult

-

selenite

329.0

pH = 7.3; D.O. = 5.3-6.2 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0°C; Alkalinity = 332.0 mg CaCO₃/L

1.000

-

96-h LC₅₀ (fed)

Halter et al., 1980

-

-

selenite

-

-

40.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

Davis et al., 1988

-

-

-

-

-

82.000

-

24-h LC₅₀

Watenpaugh and Beitinger, 1985a

-

-

-

-

-

22.200

-

24-h reduced thermal tolerance

Watenpaugh and Beitinger, 1985b

-

-

-

-

-

1.100-7.300

-

96-h LC₅₀

Adams, 1976

Salvelinus fontinalis

adult

F,M,1

selenite

157.0

-

10.200

-

96-h LC₅₀

Cardwell et al., 1976a,b

(brook trout)

-

-

-

-

-

87.300

-

6-h LC₅₀

Caldwell et al., 1976a

-

-

-

-

-

70.300

-

6.96-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

36.300

-

24-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

23.800

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

14.300

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

S,M,1

selenite

40.0

pH = 7.2; Temp. = 12.0 °C

1.800

-

96-h LC₅₀

Hunn et al., 1987

Samotilus atromaculatus (creek chub)

-

-

selenite

-

-

12.000

-

48-h, mortality

Kim et al., 1977

KEY

LC = Lethal Concentration

EC= Effective Concentration

S = Static Test Method

F = Flowthrough Test Method

1 = Primary

M = Measured

2 = Secondary