Chemical Substances
www.chemicalsubstances.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Group Profile for Selenium-Containing Substances1
October 2011
Group Description:
- The group is based on a common moiety of ecological concern (selenium).
- Twenty-nine substances are being considered for inclusion in this group and are identified in Table 1.
- Among the proposed group members are substances which may release other moieties of potential concern (including Cd, Co, Pb, Hg). These substances may be addressed through other approaches for these moieties.
- This group includes two organometallic substances, which may require subgrouping and/or individual consideration.
Selection Considerations:
- Potential environmental exposures of concern. Selenium-containing substances have a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer uses, including manufacture of electronics, ceramics and glass; as a component of pigments; and as an accelerator in rubber vulcanization2 . Various forms of selenium are also released from coal mines, uranium mines and other metal mines and is associated with multiple resource- and industrial- based sectors3,4.There are known instances where water concentrations have been in excess of Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment guidelines for the protection of aquatic life3.
- Potential ecological effects of concern. Adverse effects to some species of fish have been observed relative to low level effluent concentrations4 and there is some evidence of biomagnification in the environment5,6.
- Potential to leverage/align with international activity. Selenium-containing substances were prioritized for further assessment during categorization and have been identified both domestically and internationally to be priorities for assessment. This provides opportunities for efficiencies and collaboration.
- Several agencies have published relevant risk assessments.
- The US EPA is developing revised water quality criteria for selenium, to reflect current understanding of the effects of selenium on aquatic life and wildlife10.
- Potential risk assessment and risk management efficiencies.
To efficiently assess and effectively manage exposure and risk, all sources of the moiety need to be considered.
Potential Sectoral Involvement2
- Agriculture chemical manufacturing
- Dyes and Pigments manufacturing
- Electronics and Electrical Equipment
- Facilities using coal (coal-fired generating stations, cement plants) 11
- Metals and mining
- Pharmaceuticals manufacturing
- Rubber manufacturing
| CAS RN1 | Substance Name | Substance Category2 |
|---|---|---|
|
1 The Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number (CAS RN) is the property of the American Chemical Society and any use or redistribution, except as required in supporting regulatory requirements and/or for reports to the government when the information and the reports are required by law or administrative policy, is not permitted without prior, written permission of the American Chemical Society. 2 UVCB: Unknown or Variable Composition, Complex Reaction Products or Biological Materials. |
||
| 7446-08-4 | Selenium oxide (SeO2) | inorganic |
| 7446-34-6 | Selenium sulphide | inorganic |
| 7783-00-8 | Selenious acid | inorganic |
| 7791-23-3 | Seleninyl chloride | inorganic |
| 10102-18-8 | Selenious acid, disodium salt | inorganic |
| 56093-45-9 | Selenium sulfide | inorganic |
| 5819-01-2 | Dodecane, 1,1'-selenobis- | organometallic |
| 7488-56-4 | Selenium sulfide (SeS2) | inorganic |
| 13410-01-0 | Selenic acid, disodium salt | inorganic |
| 21559-14-8 | Selenium, bis(diethylcarbamodithioato-S)bis(diethylcarbamodithioato-S,S')- | organometallic |
| 12002-86-7 | Silver selenide (AgSe) | inorganic |
| 12069-00-0 | Lead selenide (PbSe) | inorganic |
| 12214-12-9 | Cadmium selenide sulfide (Cd2SeS) | inorganic |
| 12626-36-7 | Cadmium selenide sulfide (Cd(Se,S)) | inorganic |
| 12656-57-4 | C.I. Pigment Orange 20 | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 58339-34-7 | C.I. Pigment Red 108 | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 67711-98-2 | Slags, dore furnace | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 129618-35-5 | Electrolytes, copper-manufg. | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 152923-45-0 | Slimes and Sludges, mercury conc. roasting off gas condensate | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 69029-73-8 | Leach residues, tellurium | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 121053-28-9 | Electrolytes, cobalt-manufg. | UVCB-Inorganic |
| 10214-40-1 | Selenious acid, copper(2++) salt (1:1) | inorganic |
| 12137-76-7 | Palladium selenide (PdSe) | inorganic |
| 20405-64-5 | Copper selenide (Cu2Se) | inorganic |
| 1306-24-7 | Cadmium selenide (CdSe) | inorganic |
| 3425-46-5 | Selenocyanic acid, potassium salt | inorganic |
| 7782-49-2 | Selenium | inorganic |
| 7783-07-5 | Hydrogen selenide (H2Se) | inorganic |
| 144507-49-3 | Slimes and Sludges, sulfuric acid manuf., sulfur dioxide cooling tower, selenium-contg. | UVCBs-inorganic |
1 This document describes the considerations for development of a group of substances for assessment under CEPA 1999, and the rationale for considering them to be a priority. The composition of the group may change with additional information-gathering. More information on categorization results for these substances is available.
2 Hoffman JE, King MG. 2001. Selenium and selenium compounds. In: 
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, John Wiley and Sons. 33p.
3 Alberta Selenium Working Group. 2007. Acceptance of the Final Report of the Selenium Fish Science Panel Workshop and Report to the Selenium Working Group on the Selenium Fish Science Panel (PDF version 1.25 MB) (SeFSP) Workshop.
4 Muscatello O, Bennett P, Himbeault KT, Belknap AM, Janz DM. 2006. Larval deformities associated with selenium accumulation in Northern Pike (Esox lucius) exposed to metal mining effluent. Environ Sc. Technol. 40: 6506-6512.
5 Schummer ML, Badzinski SS, Petrie SA, Chen Y-W, Belzile, N. 2010. Selenium accumulation in sea ducks wintering at Lake Ontario. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 58, 854-862.
6 Petrie SA, Badzinski SS, Drouillard KG 2007. Contaminants in Lesser and Greater Scaup Staging on the Lower Great Lakes. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 52, 580-589.
7 United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2003. Toxicological Profile for selenium.
8 International Agency for Research on Cancer. 1999. WHO Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 9: Some Aziridines, N-, S- & O-Mustards and Selenium (PDF version - 76 K).
9 United States Environmental Protection Agency. C1991. Selenium and Compounds (CASRN 7782-49-2).
10 [USEPA] US Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Draft aquatic life criteria document for selenium. Fed Reg 69(242):75541-75546.
11 Sanei, H., Wang, F., Abraham, K., Komatsu, E. and F. Goodarzi, 2011. Geochemistry of Hg & Trace Elements in coal and Fly Ash during an Activated Carbon Injection Test Trial by a Western Canadian Coal-Fired Power Generating Station (report of the Geological Survey of Canada and Environment Canada, 2011).
