Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the geomedical aspects of selenium (Se), ranging from the soil through the plants to animal and human nutrition. Selenium has several essential functions in the animal and human body, and interactions occur with other elements and compounds. The beneficial effects of Se are obtained at different concentration levels, depending on the functions of Se and on interacting factors such as vitamin E, fatty acids, and sulfur. The nutritional minimum level for animals and humans is about 0.05–0.10 ppm Se in dry fodder/food, and intake below that cause severe deficiency diseases. At somewhat higher levels of Se intake, there are indications of a protective effect toward a number of human diseases, and toxic effects of Se occur with exposure to levels of 2–5 ppm Se or more, depending on the chemical form of the Se. Selenium toxicity in livestock is known in a few areas around the world, but Se deficiency has turned out to be much more common than Se toxicity. The Se deficiency problem is severe in New Zealand, in parts of China, in parts of North America, and in the Scandinavian countries.

Selenium in Soils and Plants and its Importance in Livestock and Human Nutrition

Selenium in environmental waters: Determination, speciation and concentration levels.

SELENIUM ii DISCLAIMER The use of company or product name(s) is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. A Toxicological Profile for selenium, Draft for Public Comment was released in September, 2001. This edition supersedes any previously released draft or final profile. Toxicological profiles are revised and republished as necessary, but no less than once every three years. For information regarding the update status of previously released profiles, contact ATSDR at: Toxicological Profiles are a unique compilation of toxicological information on a given hazardous substance. Each profile reflects a comprehensive and extensive evaluation, summary, and interpretation of available toxicologic and epidemiologic information on a substance. Health care providers treating patients potentially exposed to hazardous substances will find the following information helpful for fast answers to often-asked questions. Chapter 1: Public Health Statement: The Public Health Statement can be a useful tool for educating patients about possible exposure to a hazardous substance. It explains a substance's relevant toxicologic properties in a nontechnical, question-and-answer format, and it includes a review of the general health effects observed following exposure. Chapter 3: Health Effects: Specific health effects of a given hazardous compound are reported by type of health effect (death, systemic, immunologic, reproductive), by route of exposure, and by length of exposure (acute, intermediate, and chronic). In addition, both human and animal studies are reported in this section. NOTE: Not all health effects reported in this section are necessarily observed in the clinical setting. Please refer to the Public Health Statement to identify general health effects observed following exposure. The following additional material can be ordered through the ATSDR Information Center: Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Taking an Exposure History—The importance of taking an exposure history and how to conduct one are described, and an example of a thorough exposure history is provided. Other case studies of interest include Reproductive and Developmental Hazards; Skin Lesions and Environmental Exposures; Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Pesticide Toxicity; and numerous chemical-specific case studies. SELENIUM viii Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents is a three-volume set of recommendations for on-scene (prehospital) and hospital medical management of patients exposed during a hazardous materials incident. Volumes I and II are planning guides to assist first responders and hospital emergency department personnel in planning for incidents that involve hazardous materials. Volume III— Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures—is a guide for health care professionals treating patients …

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Toxicological profile for selenium

/pdf/toxicological-profile-for-malathion-35h2x4bufr.pdf

Toxicological profile for malathion

There is sufficient evidence today to assume that selenium has beneficial effects on the growth of plants, and that it is both an essential and toxic trace element for animal and man This review article intends to show the involvement of selenium in the environment and in biology Attention is paid, in large, to the occurrence, distribution and accumulation of the element in the eco- and biosphere, but also to toxic effects, interactions with concomitant elements and to the essentiality to animals and humans Special emphasis is, however, placed on the determination of selenium at trace levels with consideration of systematic errors in environmentally relevant materials A comprehensive literature search was carried out in order to provide an appropriate overview of the most commonly used analytical methods and their limitations

A Survey of selenium in the environment and a critical review of its determination at trace levels

Gas-chromatographic determination of selenium

Improvement of performance and economical utilization of automated preparative scale gas chromatography systems by incorporation of cut and backflush devices

James W. Young

Papers

Gas-chromatographic determination of selenium

Improvement of performance and economical utilization of automated preparative scale gas chromatography systems by incorporation of cut and backflush devices