Table 9.10: Toxicity of selenium to marine algae and macrophytes

Species

Life Stage

Data type

Chemical

Salinity (g/kg)

Other Measured Parameters

Conc. (mg/L)

Effect

Reference

Chlorella pyrenoidosa (green algae)

-

-

selenate

-

-

0.003

3-d study, conc. in algae reached 2,600-3,100 ug Se/g dry mass algae

Bennett et al., 1986

-

S

selenate

-

-

0.530-1.370

a near linear decrease in steady-state is seen with increase in conc. and a um

Bennett, 1988

-

S

selenate

-

-

0.800

um IC₅₀ value at sulfur conc. of 2.70 mg/L

Chlorella sp. (green algae)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010-10.000

14-d-5, 12% slight decrease in growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010

14-d, no effect on rate of cell growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100

reduced growth with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

1.000-10.000

100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

Cricosphaera elongata (marine unicellular algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.100-100.000

14-d study, log cell density as cells/ml show little diff. between control and 0.1; a low cell density was observed at 10.0 and a very significantly low cell density at 100.0; selenite was more toxic than selenate

Boisson et al., 1995

-

-

selenate

-

-

0.100-100.000

14-d study, (conc. of 0.01, 1.0, 10.0, and 100 mg Se/L) show little diff. at 0.1, 10.0 and control but low cell density was seen for 100.0; low toxicity compared with selenite

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.100-1.000

96-h study, accumulation is seen in exponentially growing cells (but decreased within first two hours) and

-

-

selenate

-

-

0.100-1.000

cells in the stationary phase which continued accumulating Se until a plateau was reached

cyanobacteria and mixed microbial ecosystem

-

F,M,1

-

-

pH = 3.0-9.0

5.000-150.000

stepwise increments of 5 mg Se/L are added; Tolerance of cyanobacteria was seen to be 70 mg Se/L; cyanobacteria used in bioremediation in conjunction with bacteria; removal of Se from the water column was rapid

Bender et al., 1991

Dunaliella minuta (algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

10.000

growth was affected above this conc.

Gotsis, 1980

Dunaliella primolecta (green algae)

-

selenite

-

-

4.600

20-d, increased growth; induced glutathione peroxidase

Gennity et al., 1985a,b

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010

14-d, no effect on rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-1.000

14-d, reduction in rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L); 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100

reduced growth with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-10.000

intermediate results with sulfate conc. comparable to normal seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

100.000

reduced growth with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

Fucus spiralis L. (brown algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.605

60-d, 1355% increase in growth of thalli

Fries, 1982

-

-

selenate

-

-

2.605

60-d, 160% increase in growth of thalli

Goniotrichum alsidii (macro-algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.600

increased growth

Fries, 1982

-

-

selenate

-

-

2.600

increased growth

Pavlova lutheri (algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

2.000

growth was affected above this conc.

Gotsis, 1980

Peridinopsis borgei (dinoflagellate)

-

-

selenite

-

-

0.00001-0.00005

70-75-d, maximum growth

Lindstrom, 1985

Platymonas sp. (green algae)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010

14-d, no effect on rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-1.000

14-d, reduction in rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Platymonas sp. (green algae) (cont.)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982 (cont.)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-10.000

100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-10.000

increased growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-100.000

intermediate results with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L); no mortality even at 100

Platymonas subcordiformis (green algae)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010

14-d, no effect on rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-1.000

14-d, reduction in rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

1.000-10.000

100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-10.000

increased growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-100.000

intermediate results with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L); no mortality even at 100

Porphyridium cruentum (red algae)

-

-

selenite

-

-

4.600

27-d, increase growth; induced glutathione peroxidase

Gennity et al., 1985a,b

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010-1.000

14-d study, 23-35% reduction in rate of cell population growth at sulfate concentration (850 mg/L) normally found in seawater;

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortality at sulfate concentration (850 mg/L) normally found in seawater

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

1.000-10.000

100% mortality with sulfate concentrations one tenth of what is normally found in seawater (ex. 85 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010-100.000

no inhibitory effects were seen with full sulfate (850 mg/L) equivalent to level found in seawater;

Porphyridium cruentum (red algae) (cont.)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

100.000

some intermediate decrease in growth at 100 mg Se/L and one tenth the conc. of sulfate normally found in seawater (ex. 85 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982 (cont.)

Skeletonema costatum (diatom)

-

-

selenite

-

-

7.930

96-h, EC₅₀ change in plant production (reduction in chlorophyll a)

USEPA, 1978

Thalassiosira aestivalis (diatom)

-

-

selenite

2.0-30.0

-

0.079

72-h, no effect on cell morphology

Thomas et al., 1980

Tetraselmis chui (diatom)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.010

14-d, no effect on rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

Wheeler et al., 1982

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-1.000

14-d, reduction in rate of cell population growth with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

10.000

4-5-d, 100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenate

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

1.000-10.000

100% mortaltiy with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-10.000

intermediate results with sulfate conc. comparable to seawater (850 mg/L)

-

-

selenite

32.0

Temp. = 20.0°C

0.100-100.000

intermediate results with sulfate conc. one tenth of normal seawater (85 mg/L); no mortality even at 100

KEY

LC = Lethal Concentration

1 = Primary

M = Measured

S = Static Test Method

2 = Secondary

F = Flowthrough Test Method