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Selenium - Identification, toxicity, use, water pollution potential, ecological toxicity and regulatory information

Note: See Working with the Information on this Page section below for important notes about this data.

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Chemical ID
 Identifying information, including synonyms, ID numbers, use type, chemical classification, a link to a list of all products containing this chemical and a list of the top crops this pesticide is used on in California.
Poisoning Symptoms
 Signs and symptoms of poisoning, first aid, and links to treatment information for this chemical.
Toxicity
 Toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.
Regulatory
 Links to world-wide registration status as well as regulatory information for the U.S. and California.
Water
 Water quality standards and physical properties affecting water contamination potential.
Ecotoxicity
 Toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Related Chems
 List of chemicals in the same family, including breakdown products, salts, esters, isomers, and other derivatives.
 

Chemical Identification and Use for Selenium
Basic Identification Information About This Chemical
Chemical Name: Selenium
CAS Number: 7782-49-2
U.S. EPA PC Code: 072001
CA DPR Chem Code:
Molecular Weight: 78.96
Use Type:
Chem Class:
View Related Chemicals
 
Additional Resources About This Chemical Class and Use Type

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.
 
Other Names for this Chemical
About Chemical Synonyms
072001 (US EPA PC Code) , 7782-49-2 (CAS Number) , 7782492 (CAS Number) , Selenium , Selenium, elemental
 
Products Containing This Chemical
Current and historic U.S. registered products
View U.S. Products All Products Currently Registered Products
 

Signs and Symptoms of Selenium Poisoning

NOTE! There may be other diseases and chemicals that have similar symptoms.

If you have a poisoning emergency in the United States call 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed or is unconscious, call 911.

Symptoms of Selenium Exposure from the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)

Report a Poisoning
View full ICSC Cards: English   Español   Française   Chinese   Dutch   Finnish   German   Hungarian   Japanese   Swahili   Thai   Urdu  
NOTE! PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST! STRICT HYGIENE!

Route of Exposure

Symptoms

First Aid
Inhalation Irritation of nose. Cough. Dizziness. Headache. Laboured breathing. Nausea. Sore throat. Vomiting. Weakness. Symptoms may be delayed (see Notes). Fresh air rest. Refer for medical attention.
Skin Redness. Skin burns. Pain. Discolouration. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention. Remove and isolate contaminated clothes.
Eyes Redness. Pain. Blurred vision. First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible) then take to a doctor.
Ingestion Metallic taste. Diarrhoea. Chills. Fever. (Further see Inhalation). Rinse mouth. Induce vomiting (ONLY IN CONSCIOUS PERSONS!). Refer for medical attention.
Notes for ICSC Information
Do NOT take working clothes home.
 

Toxicity Information for Selenium

  Note: Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on humans. Why?

Summary Toxicity Information

PAN Bad Actor
Chemical 1 		Acute
Toxicity 2 		Carcinogen Cholinesterase
Inhibitor 		Ground
Water Contaminant 		Developmental or
Reproductive Toxin 		Endocrine
Disruptor
Not Listed
Unclassifiable No
 
Indicates high toxicity in the given toxicological category. Indicates no available weight-of-the-evidence summary assessment. For additional information on toxicity from scientific journals or registration documents, see the "Additional Resources for Toxicity " section of the chemical detail page.
1. PAN Bad Actors are chemicals that are one or more of the following: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant. NOTE! Because there are no authoritative lists of Endocrine Disrupting (ED) chemicals, EDs are not yet considered PAN Bad Actor chemicals.
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.

Additional Resources about the Toxicity of this Chemical

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.

Detailed Toxicity Information
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Acute Toxicity 2
 Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
WHO Acute Hazard
TRI Acute Hazard
Material Safety Data Sheets
Acute rating from U.S. EPA product label
U.S. NTP Acute Toxicity Studies
      View Studies
Cholinesterase Inhibitor		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Available
No Consensus Value
No NTP Studies

No 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Available
No Consensus Value
No NTP Studies

No
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.
 
Cancer Information
 Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
IARC Carcinogens
U.S. NTP Carcinogens
California Prop 65 Known Carcinogens
U.S. EPA Carcinogens
TRI Carcinogen		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
D, Unclassifiable, no reason given
Not Listed		 3, Unclassifiable
Not Listed
Not Listed
D, Unclassifiable, inadequate data
Not Listed
 
Endocrine Disruption
 Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
Illinois EPA list
Keith list
Colborn list
Benbrook list
Danish Inert list
EU list		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity
 Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
CA Prop 65 Developmental Toxin
U.S. TRI Developmental Toxin
CA Prop 65 Female Reproductive Toxin
CA Prop 65 Male Reproductive Toxin
U.S. TRI Reproductive Toxin 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Chemicals of Special Concern
 Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
PAN Bad Actors
PAN Dirty Dozen list		 Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
 

Water Pollution Potential and Criteria for Selenium

Water Pollution Potential

This Chemical
Parent Chemical
  Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
PAN Ground Water Contaminant Rating Insufficient Data Insufficient Data
 

Water Standards and Criteria
This Chemical
Parent Chemical
U.S. National Drinking Water Standards and Health Criteria
 µg/L unless noted  
  Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) 50.0  
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) 50.0  
One Day Exposure Health Advisory Level  
Ten Day Exposure Health Advisory Level  
Lifetime Exposure Health Advisory Level 50.0  
Reference Dose 5.00 (µg/kg/day)  
U.S. Drinking Water Equivalent Level 200.0  
Lifetime Estimated Cancer Risk (cases per 1,000,000)  
Canada Drinking Water Standards and Criteria
 µg/L unless noted  
Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) 10.0
Interim Maximum Acceptable Concentration (IMAC)
Aesthetic Objectives
U.S. National Water Quality Criteria
 µg/L unless noted  
  Selenium Selenium and selenium compounds
Fresh Water Quality Criteria Continuous Exposure 5.00 Notes: L,R,T  
Fresh Water Quality Criteria Maximum Peak Notes: L,R,T  
Salt Water Quality Criteria Continuous Exposure 71.0 Notes: D,bb,dd
Salt Water Quality Criteria Max 290.0 Notes: D,bb,dd
Human Consumption of Organisms from Water Source 11,000
Human Consumption of Water and Organisms from Water Source 170.0 Notes: Z
Taste and Odor Criteria
Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life
 µg/L unless noted  
Fresh Water Guidelines 1
Salt Water Guidelines
Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agricultural Water Uses
 µg/L unless noted  
Irrigation Water Guidelines 20Ð50 Notes: s
Livestock Water Guidelines 50
 

Regulatory Information for Selenium

International Regulatory Status
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Registration in Selected Countries Registration in Selected Countries:
Selenium
 Registration for Selected Countries:
Selenium and selenium compounds
 
UNEP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
UNEP Prior Informed Consent Chemical (PIC)
WHO Obsolete Pesticide		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 

U.S. and California Regulatory Status
U.S. EPA Registered
U.S. EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant
U.S. EPA Minimum Risk Pesticide (25b list)

CA Registered
CA Groundwater Contaminant
CA Toxic Air Contaminant 		No
Not Listed
No

No
Not Listed
Not Listed 		No
Yes
No

No
Not Listed
HAPTAC, Indus
 

Maximum Tolerance and Residue Levels
Codex Alimentarius
   (UN FAO Maximum Residue Limits)
U.S. Maximum Tolerance Levels
European Union Maximum Residue Levels 		Go to web site

Go to web site
Go to web site
 

Ecotoxicity for Selenium

Note! Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on the environment. Why? Click on underlined terms for definitions and additional information.

Aquatic Ecotoxicity
All Toxic Effects for Organism Group
Organism Group Effects Noted
Amphibians Mortality
Annelida Population
AquaticPlants Accumulation, Growth, Population
Crustaceans Population
Echinoderms Development, Genetics, Growth, Reproduction
Fish Accumulation, Behavior, Biochemistry, Cell(s), Development, Feeding Behavior, Growth, Histology, Morphology, Mortality, Physiology, Population, Reproduction
Insects Accumulation, Development, Growth, Intoxication, Population
Molluscs Accumulation, Behavior, Physiology, Population
NematodesandFlatworms Behavior
Phytoplankton Accumulation, Growth, Physiology, Population
Zooplankton Accumulation, Growth, Intoxication, Mortality, Population, Reproduction
~ Un-Assigned Accumulation
View All Aquatic Ecotoxicity Studies and References
 
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group
Organism Group Average Acute Toxicity Acute Toxicity Range
Amphibians Very Highly Toxic Very Highly Toxic
Fish Slightly Toxic Slight to High Toxicity
Insects Moderately Toxic Moderate Toxicity
Zooplankton Moderately Toxic Slight to High Toxicity
View All Acute Summaries
 

Terrestrial Ecotoxicity

We are seeking funding to incorporate terrestrial ecotoxicity data analogous to the aquatic ecotoxicity data in the space above. Watch this space!

Related Chemicals for Selenium
CAS Number Relation Reason Chemical Name Chem Detail Registration Symptoms California Use Chem Use Type U.S. EPA Reg PAN Bad Actor
x7782-49-2 Parent P Selenium and selenium compounds View View View View No Not Listed
7782-49-2 Related 3 Selenium View View View View No Not Listed
7488-56-4, 7446-34-6 Related 3 Selenium disulfide View View View View No Yes
13410-01-0 Related 3 Sodium selenate View View View View No Yes
 
Working with the Information on this Page

Click on underlined terms for definitions or go to the Pesticide Tutorial overview page.

Any underlined term with a book icon has additional information.

* Data marked with an asterisk indicates that this chemical is not explicitly listed on the corresponding list. Instead, it belongs to a group of chemicals that IS designated on the list. For example, if an agency assigns a classification of reproductive toxicant to "mercury compounds", that classification is applied to all mercury compounds in the PAN Pesticide database, which are then marked with an asterisk.

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Citation: Kegley, S.E., Hill, B.R., Orme S., Choi A.H., PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticide Action Network, North America (San Francisco, CA, 2009), http:www.pesticideinfo.org.
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