Table 9.04: Chronic 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

Acroperus harpae (water flea)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.025

-

514-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Anadara granosa (ark shell)

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

4-6-d, change in enzyme activity

Patel et al., 1988

Ceriodaphnia affinis (cladoceran daphnid)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.050-0.080

-

8-d, P1, F1, F2 and F3 generation showed changes in abundance

Owsley and McCauley, 1986

Chironomidae (midge family)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.002-0.025

-

513-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Chironomus decorus (midge)

larvae

SR,M,1

selenate

-

pH = 7.5; D.O. = 7.9 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0°C

>0.001

in diet of Ruppia maritima up to ~2.000

14-d study, decrease in weight from 0.22 mg of midges (dw) compared to 0.37 in control

Alaimo et al., 1994

larvae

SR,M,1

selenate-11%, selenite-11%, organic Se-78%

-

pH = 7.8; D.O. = 8.4 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0°C

0.004

in diet of Ruppia maritima up to ~16.000

14-d study, decrease in weight to 0.17 mg of midges (dw) compared to control of 0.37

larvae

SR,M,1

selenate-28%,selenite-62%, organic Se (10%)

-

pH = 7.4; D.O. = 7.9 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0°C

0.017

in diet of Ruppia maritima up to ~80

14-d study, decrease in weight of 0.12 mg of midges (dw) compared to control of 0.37

Chironomus decorus (midge) (cont.)

larvae

SR,M,1

selenate-81%, organic Se-19%

-

pH = 7.7; D.O. = 8.2 mg/L; Temp. = 20.0°C

0.032

in diet of Ruppia maritima below detection to ~105

14-d study, decrease in weight of 0.12 mg of midges (dw) compared to control of 0.37

Chironomus riparius

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (6:1 ratio)

137.6

pH = 7.98; Alkalinity = 71.2 mg/L

0.504

-

30-d, maximum acceptable toxicant concentration; change in the emergence from larval stage into the adult stage

Ingersoll et al., 1990

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (6:1 ratio)

137.6

pH = 7.98; Alkalinity = 71.2 mg/L

=0.837

-

30-d, emergence time of adult midges was delayed

Chydorus ovalis (water flea)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.010-0.025

-

~500-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Colisa fasciata (giant gourami)

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.250

-

5-d LC₅₀

Srivastava and Tyagi, 1985

Daphnia magna (water flea)

24 hr or less

S, M,1

selenate

-

Temp. = 23.0°C

0.050-1.000

-

28-d, decreased survival (50-70% after 28 days); reduced # of offspring and a lower intrinsic growth rate were seen

Boyum and Brooks, 1988

24 hr or less

S, M,1

selenate

-

Temp. = 23.0°C

0.050-1.000

in diet of C. reinhardtii (grown in 0.050-1.000 mg/L in water)

28-d, organically bound Se present appears to alter rate of incorporation of inorganic Se due to competition (supposedly), from less toxic form; much better success rate was seen in D. magna fed algae with Se; no offspring were produced at 1.0 mg Se/L

-

-

selenite

-

-

1.000

-

decreased reproduction

Davis et al., 1988

-

-

selenite

329.0

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

0.430

-

14-d LC₅₀, mortality (fed)

Halter et al., 1980

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (ratio 6 : 1)

283.0

pH = 7.8; Alkalinity = 255.0 mg/L

0.115

-

21-d, maximum acceptable toxicant concentration affecting growth

Ingersoll et al., 1990

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (ratio 6 : 1)

283.0

pH = 7.8; Alkalinity = 255.0 mg/L

0.085

-

21-d, reduction in adult dry wt

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (ratio 6 : 1)

283.0

pH = 7.8; Alkalinity = 255.0 mg/L

0.156

-

21-d, slight reduction in available female reproductive days; reduction in intrinsic rate of natural growth increase; reduction in adult dry wt and body length of offspring; abundance changes

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (ratio 6 : 1)

283.0

pH = 7.8; Alkalinity = 255.0 mg/L

0.348

-

21-d, abundance changes; reduction in percent survival and total young per female reproduction days and total young

less than 24 hrs

F,M,1

selenate : selenite (ratio 6 : 1)

283.0

pH = 7.8; Alkalinity = 255.0 mg/L

0.711-1.410

-

21-d, mortality

Daphnia magna (water flea) (cont.)

<24 hr

-

selenite

240.0-310.0

-

0.162

-

21-d life cycle EC₅₀ (fed)

Adams and Heidolph, 1985

-

-

selenite

220.0

-

0.092

-

chronic value, life cycle

Kimball, Manuscript

-

-

selenate

129.5

-

1.870-2.000

-

7-d LC₅₀ (fed)

Dunbar et al., 1983

-

-

-

-

-

0.240

-

28-d LC₅₀

USEPA, 1980

-

-

-

-

-

0.070-0.120

-

life cycle LC₅₀

-

-

selenate

-

-

0.025-0.25

-

17-d-LC₅₀, growth measured over instars 1-5 was shown to be supressed and reproduction over instars 6-9 was shown to have reduced egg production

Johnston, 1987

Daphnia pulex (cladoceran)

-

-

selenite

46.4

-

0.693

-

chronic value, life cycle

Reading, 1979; Reading and Buikema, 1983

-

-

-

-

-

0.600-0.800

-

life cycle LC₅₀

USEPA, 1980

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.200-0.800

-

decrease in filtration rate

Davis et al., 1988

Entosiphion sulcatum (protozoan)

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.003

-

decreased reproduction

Davis et al., 1988

Ergasilus sp. (parasitic copepod)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.025

-

514-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Eurycercus lamellatus (water flea)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.002-0.025

-

514-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Gastrophryna carolineasis (narrow-mouthed toad)

embryo, larva

-

selenate

195.0

-

0.090

-

7-d EC₅₀, death and deformity

Birge, 1978; Birge and Black, 1977; Birge et al., 1979

Graptoleberis testudinaria (water flea)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.002-0.025

-

514-d, decrease in abundance

Crane et al., 1992

Hyalella azteca (scud)

-

-

selenite

329.0

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

0.070

in diet Cladophora which may have accumulated Se

14-d LC₅₀, mortality (fed)

Halter et al., 1980

2 mos

SR,M,2

selenite

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.7 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0°C; Alkalinity = 301.9 mg/L

0.502

-

10-d LC₅₀

Brasher and Ogle, 1993

Hyalella azteca (scud)

2 mos

SR,M,2

selenate

132.7

pH = 8.6; D.O. = 7.7 mg/L; Temp. = 25.0°C; Alkalinity = 301.9 mg/L

1.135

-

10-d LC₅₀

Brasher and Ogle, 1993 (cont.)

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.200

-

reproduction effects-caused significant reduction in # of young per female (no effect seen in conc. as high as 0.700 of selenate

Lymnaea stagnalis (snail)

-

-

selenite

-

-

3.000

-

7.5-d LC₅₀

Van Puymbroeck et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

-

-

15.000

-

6-d LC₅₀

Moinodaphnia macleayi (water flea)

-

-

-

-

-

0.002

-

5-d, 100% mortality

Hyne et al., 1993

Orconectes immunis (crayfish)

-

-

-

-

-

0.100-1.000

-

osmoregulatory changes

Davis et al., 1988

Tubifex tubifex (tubificid worm)

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.025

-

513-d, abundance decrease

Crane et al., 1992

Simocephalus espinosus

-

-

selenate : selenite (60:40 ratio)

-

-

0.002-0.025

-

513-d, abundance decrease

Crane et al., 1992

Xenopus laevis

tadpole

-

selenite

-

-

1.520

-

7-d LC₅₀

Browne and Dumont, 1979

(african clawed frog)

embryo

-

-

-

-

2.000

-

113-h LC₅₀

tadpole

-

-

-

-

8.000

-

3-d LC₅₀

tadpole

-

-

-

-

2.600

-

5-d LC₅₀

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.000

-

1-7-d, cellular damage

Browne and Dumont, 1980

KEY

LC = Lethal Concentration

M = Measured

EC = Effective Concentration

1 = Primary

S = Static Test Method

2 = Secondary

F = Flowthrough Test Method