Comparative toxicity of selenate, selenite, seleno-DL-methionine and seleno-DL-cystine to Daphnia magna

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1897/1552-8618(1993)12[755:CTOSSS]2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6773707

Maier, K J; Foe, C G; Knight, A W ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis (United States)

Elevated concentrations of the trace element selenium (Se) have resulted in the degradation of several aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the comparative toxicity of several aqueous chemical species of selenium to an aquatic cladoceran, Daphnia magna. Responses to mixtures of these selenium forms, varying the sulfate concentration, were also examined. Initial experiments compared the toxicity of aqueous forms of selenate, selenite, seleno-DL-methionine, and seleno-DL-cystine to neonate Daphnia magna, resulting in 4-h LC50 values of 2.84, 0.55, 0.31, and 2.01 mg Se per liter, respectively. Immobilization was an acute sublethal response observed during exposure to the organic selenium forms only. The 48-h IC50 values were 0.045 and 0.52 mg Se per liter for seleno-DL-methionine and seleno-DL-cystine, respectively. Evaluation of the invertebrate response to various combinations of selenate, selenite, and seleno-DL-methionine demonstrated that the toxicities of these forms of selenium are additive. Increasing the concentration of sulfate decreased, varied, and left unaffected the toxicities of selenate, selenite, and seleno-DL-methionine, respectively. These results indicate that both the chemical form of selenium and the sulfate concentration can influence the toxicity of selenium.

• OSTI ID: 6773707
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 12:4; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
DAPHNIA
SENSITIVITY
SELENIUM
TOXICITY
SULFATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BRANCHIOPODS
CRUSTACEANS
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology