title: Lentic, lotic, and sulfate-dependent waterborne selenium screening guidelines for freshwater systems.
abstract: There is consensus that fish are the most sensitive aquatic organisms to selenium (Se) and that Se concentrations in fish tissue are the most reliable indicators of potential toxicity. Differences in Se speciation, biological productivity, Se concentration, and parameters that affect Se bioavailability (e.g., sulfate) may influence the relationship between Se concentrations in water and fish tissue. It is desirable to identify environmentally protective waterborne Se guidelines that, if not exceeded, reduce the need to directly measure Se concentrations in fish tissue. Three factors that should currently be considered in developing waterborne Se screening guidelines are 1) differences between lotic and lentic sites, 2) the influence of exposure concentration on Se partitioning among compartments, and 3) the influence of sulfate on selenate bioavailability. Colocated data sets of Se concentrations in 1) water and particulates, 2) particulates and invertebrates, and 3) invertebrates and fish tissue were compiled; and a quantile regression approach was used to derive waterborne Se screening guidelines. Use of a regression-based approach for describing relationships in Se concentrations between compartments reduces uncertainty associated with selection of partitioning factors that are generally not constant over ranges of exposure concentrations. Waterborne Se screening guidelines of 6.5 and 3.0 μg/L for lotic and lentic water bodies were derived, and a sulfate-based waterborne Se guideline equation for selenate-dominated lotic waters was also developed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2503-2513. © 2017 SETAC.
authors.affiliation: Windward Environmental, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: DeForest
authors.affiliation: EcoTox, Miami, Florida, USA.|Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Brix
authors.affiliation: Nautilus Environmental, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Elphick
authors.affiliation: CanmetMINING, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Carrie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rickwood
authors.affiliation: Golder Associates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Adrian M H
authors.initials: AMH
authors.lastname: deBruyn
authors.affiliation: Windward Environmental, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Lucinda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tear
authors.affiliation: Borealis Environmental, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gilron
authors.affiliation: Shell Health-Americas, Shell Oil, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Red Cap Consulting, Lake Point, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D007448:Invertebrates; D064586:Selenic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D064586:Selenic Acid
keywords: Selenium; Sulfate; Tissue-based guideline; Trophic transfer; Water quality guideline