Aquatic cycling of selenium: implications for fish and wildlife

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7253805

Lemly, A D; Smith, G J

Selenium, a non-metallic trace element, is readily accumulated by aquatic organisms. The degree of mobility or cycling rate of selenium in an aquatic ecosystem will largely determine whether toxicity occurs and how long the environmental hazard remains. The selenium cycle is made up of immobilization and mobilization processes that move the element between organisms, water, and sediment, with kinetics determined by chemical and physical factors related to the type of habitat present and its spatial variability. Because of its ability to bioaccumulate and cause adverse reproductive effects at low environmental concentrations, selenium should be recognized as a contaminant with the potential to severely impact fish and wildlife populations.

• Research Organization: National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center, Columbia, MO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7253805
• Report Number(s): PB-88-183058/XAB; FISH/WILDLIFE LEAFL-12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FISHES
HAZARDS
MASS TRANSFER
POLLUTION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION