Table 9.03: Acute toxicity of selenium to freshwater invertebrates

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

Anadara granosa

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

96-h, change in enzyme activity

Patel and Chandy, 1987

(ark shell)

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

96-h, hematological changes

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.000

-

96-h LC₅₀, mortality

Aplexa hypnorum

adult

S,M,2

selenite

50.6

-

53.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

(snail)

adult

S,M,2

selenite

49.8

-

23.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

16.000

-

24-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

S,U,2

selenite

100.8

pH = 7.9; D.O. = 8.4 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC

0.600

-

48-h LC₅₀, offspring from organisms not previously exposed to Se

Owsley, 1984; Owsley and McCauley, 1986

-

S,U,2

selenite

100.8

pH = 7.9; D.O. = 8.4 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC

0.350

-

48-h LC₅₀, offspring from adults previously exposed (raised in conc. ranging from 0.018-0.36 mg Se/L for 18-19 days)

-

S,U,2

selenite

100.8

pH = 7.9; D.O. = 8.4 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC

0.760

-

24-h LC₅₀, offspring from organisms not previously exposed to Se

-

S,U,2

selenite

100.8

pH = 7.9; D.O. = 8.4 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC

0.390

-

24-h LC₅₀, offspring from adults previously exposed (raised in conc. ranging from 0.018-0.36 mg Se/L for 18-19 days)

12-13 day old-4th instar

SR,M,2

selenate

84.6

pH = 7.6-7.8; D.O. = 7.5 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC; Alkalinity = 64.3

0.010

96-h, significant reduction in larval growth at tissue concentrations ³ 2.55 ug Se/g dry wt; not detectable amounts in tissue at 24 and 48 h

12-13 day old-4th instar

SR,M,2

selenite

84.6

pH = 7.6-7.8; D.O. = 7.5 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC; Alkalinity = 64.3

0.010

96-h, significant reduction in growth seen only at 96 h; tissue conc. were below detection at 24 h, 3.11 ug Se/g at 48 h and 4.05 at 96 h.

12-13 day old-4th instar

SR,M,2

selenate

84.6

pH = 7.6-7.8; D.O. = 7.5 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC; Alkalinity = 64.3

0.040

24-96-h, significant reduction in larval growth is seen at both 24 and 96 h; not detectable amounts in tissue at 24 h, 3.34 ug Se/g dry wt at 48 h and 6.62 at 96 h

12-13 day old-4th instar

SR,M,2

selenite

84.6

pH = 7.6-7.8; D.O. = 7.5 mg/L; Temp. = 21.5 ûC; Alkalinity = 64.3

0.040

24-96-h, significant reduction in larval growth at 96 h; not detectable amounts in tissue at 24 h and 4.47 ug Se/g dry wt at 48 h and 8.60 at 96 h

-

-

selenate

-

-

25.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

50.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenomethionine

-

-

< 200.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

Chironomus plumosus

-

S,U,2

selenite

39.0

-

24.150

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Mayer and Ellersieck, 1986

(midge)

-

S,U,2

selenite

280.0

-

27.850

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1 ratio)

-

-

9.340-14.300

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

7.950-14.600

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

10.500-16.200

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1 ratio)

-

-

1.790-2.620

-

48-h LC₅₀

Colisa fasciata

-

-

selenite

-

-

9.990

-

24-h LC₅₀, mortality

Srivastava and Tyagi, 1985

(giant gourami)

-

-

selenite

-

-

5.770

-

48-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

4.340

-

72-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.650

-

96-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

-

-

-

<3.100

-

48-h LC₅₀

Daphnia magna

-

-

-

-

-

0.220

-

48-h LC₅₀, mortality

LeBlanc, 1980

(water flea)

-

-

-

-

-

0.660

-

24-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

S,U,2

selenite

72.0

-

0.430

-

48-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.430

-

48-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

-

-

-

-

2.620

-

48-h LC₅₀, immobility

-

-

-

-

-

9.340

-

48-h LC₅₀, immobility

-

-

selenate : selenite (6:1 ratio)

-

-

1.790-2.620

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.700-3.020

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

2.560-4.070

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.600

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

2.400

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

seleno-methionine

-

-

0.040

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.100

-

48-h LC₅₀

mid instar

-

selenite

329.0

pH = 7.3; S.O. = 5.3-6.2 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0ûC; Alkalinity = 332.0 mg/L

0.710

48-h LC₅₀, mortality (EC₅₀ (fed))

mid instar

-

selenite

329.0

pH = 7.3; S.O. = 5.3-6.2 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0ûC; Alkalinity = 332.0 mg/L

0.430

96-h LC₅₀, mortality (EC₅₀ (fed))

-

S,U,2

selenite

214.0

-

2.500

-

48-h EC₅₀ (river water)

Bringmann and Kuhn, 1959a,b

-

S,M,2

selenite

129.5

-

1.100

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

S,M,2

selenate

129.5

-

5.300

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

S,M,2

selenite

138.0

-

0.450

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Boyum, 1984

-

S,M,2

selenate

138.0

-

1.010

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

<24 hr

S,U,2

selenite

-

-

0.215

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Adams and Heidolph, 1985

<24 hr

-

selenite

-

-

0.685

-

48-h EC₅₀ (fed)

-

S,U,2

selenite

40.0

-

0.870

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Mayer and Ellersieck, 1986

<24 hr

S,U,2

selenite

280.0

-

2.370

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

3.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

S,M,2

selenate

48.1

-

0.570

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

-

selenite

214.0

-

16.000

-

24-h LC₅₀

Bringmann and Kuhn, 1977a

-

-

selenite

214.0

-

0.010

-

24-h EC₅₀ (swimming)

Bringmann and Kuhn, 1977b

-

S,M,2

selenite

220.0

-

1.220

-

48-h LC₅₀ (fed)

Kimball, Manuscript

-

-

-

-

-

<0.250

-

48-h LC₅₀

neonate

SR,M,2

selenate

-

pH = 8.2; D.O. = 8.6 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0 ûC

2.840

-

48-h LC₅₀ (increasing sulfate conc. in later studies, was shown to decrease the toxicity)

neonate

SR,M,2

selenite

-

pH = 8.2; D.O. = 8.6 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0 ûC

0.550

-

48-h LC₅₀ (increasing sulfate conc. in later studies, was shown to vary the toxicity)

neonate

SR,M,2

seleno-DL-methionine

-

pH = 8.2; D.O. = 8.6 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0 ûC

0.310

-

48-h LC₅₀, immobilization was an acute sublethal response (increasing sulfate conc. in later studies, was shown not to effect the toxicity)

neonate

SR,M,2

seleno-DL-cystine

-

pH = 8.2; D.O. = 8.6 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0 ûC

2.010

-

48-h LC₅₀, immobilization was an acute sublethal response

neonate

SR,M,2

seleno-DL-methionine

-

-

0.045

-

48-h IC₅₀

neonate

SR,M,2

seleno-DL-cystine

-

-

0.520

-

48-h IC₅₀

adults

-

selenite

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

1.650

-

24-h LC₅₀

Johnston, 1987

adults

-

selenate

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

1.510

-

24-h LC₅₀

adults

-

selenite

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

0.680

-

48-h LC₅₀

adults

-

selenate

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

0.750

-

48-h LC₅₀

juveniles

-

selenate

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

0.550

-

48-h LC₅₀

eggs and embryos

-

selenate

-

pH = 8.4; Temp. = 22.0 ûC

1.400

-

72-h LC₅₀

adult

-

selenite

-

-

0.440

-

96-h LC₅₀

adult

-

selenate

-

-

0.580

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

5.300

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

S,M,2

selenite

46.4

-

3.870

-

96-h LC₅₀

Reading, 1979; Reading and Buikema, 1983

-

-

selenite

-

-

3.870

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.130

-

96-h LC₅₀, cellular damage

-

S,M,2

selenate

138.0

-

0.246

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Boyum, 1984

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.006

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

1.000-10.000

-

1-h, behaviour

Kapu and Schaeffer, 1991

Gammarus pseudolimnaeus

adult

S,M,2

selenite

48.3

-

4.500

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

(amphipod)

adult

S,M,2

selenate

46.1

-

0.075

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

adult

S,M,2

selenite

53.6

-

1.700

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Brooke, 1987

adult

S,M,2

selenate

51.0

-

0.057

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

2 mos

SR,M,2

selenite

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.67 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0 ûC; Alkalinity = 301.85 mg/L

1.003

-

48-h LC₅₀, effects were 4X more toxic than selenate at this time period

Brasher and Ogle, 1993

2 mos

SR,M,2

selenate

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.67 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0 ûC; Alkalinity = 301.85 mg/L

4.309

-

48-h LC₅₀

Brasher and Ogle, 1993 (cont.)

2 mos

SR M,2

selenite

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.67 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0 ûC; Alkalinity = 301.85 mg/L

0.676

-

96-h LC₅₀, effects were 3X more toxic than selenate at this time period

2 mos

SR,M,2

selenate

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.67 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0 ûC; Alkalinity = 301.85 mg/L

1.868

-

96-h LC₅₀

adult

F,M,1

selenite

329.0

pH = 7.3; S.O. = 5.3-6.2 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0ûC; Alkalinity = 332.0 mg/L

0.940

-

48-h LC₅₀, mortality

adult

F,M,1

selenite

329.0

pH = 7.3; S.O. = 5.3-6.2 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0ûC; Alkalinity = 332.0 mg/L

0.340

-

96-h LC₅₀ mortality

-

F,U

selenate

336.8

-

0.760

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

Adams, 1976

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

1.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

adult

S,M,2

selenite

-

-

1.700

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

adult

S,M,2

selenate

53.6

-

7.300

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

96-h, change in enzyme activity

3rd instar

S,M,2

selenate

49.4

-

20.000

-

LC₅₀ or EC₅₀

-

S,U,2

selenite

45.7

-

24.100

-

96-h LC₅₀

Reading, 1979

(snail)

-

-

-

-

-

>10.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

68.000

-

24-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

46.000

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

33.000

-

72-h LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

33.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

56.700

-

24-h LC₅₀, mortality

-

F,M,1

selenite

48.0

-

42.500

-

48-h LC₅₀

-

-

-

-

-

42.400

-

96-h LC₅₀

USEPA, 1980

Xenopus laevis

embryo

-

-

-

-

20.000

-

27-h LC₅₀

Browne and Dumont, 1979

(frog)

embryo

-

-

-

-

10.000

-

61-h LC₅₀

embryo

-

-

-

-

4.000

-

96-h LC₅₀

KEY

LC = Lethal Concentration

F = Flowthrough Test Method

EC = Effective Concentration

R = Renewal

1 = Primary

IC = Inhibition Concentration

M = Measured

2 = Secondary

S = Static Test Method