9543

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9543
• Author: DeForest, D. K., K. V. Brix and W. J. Adams
• Title: Critical Review of Proposed Residue-Based Selenium Toxicity Thresholds for Freshwater Fish
• USFW Year: 1999
• USFW - Doc Type: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment
• Copyright Material: YES

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Daniel W. Beyers

Critical Review of Proposed Residue-Based
Selenium Toxicity Thresholds for Freshwater Fish

David K. DeForest, I Kevin V. Brix, I and and William J. Adams'1
I Paramctrix. Inc., Kirkland, WA 98033;*.** 2Kennecott Utah Copper,
Magna, UT 840<14***

ABSTRACT

Proposed fish toxicity thresholds for interpreting the biological significance
of selenium concentrations measured in environmental media include 2 to
5 ).lg/L in waleI', 4 mg/kg dw in fish whole body tissue, 10 mg/kg dw in fish
ovarics, and 3 mg/kg dw in fish diets. Use of these thresholds would likely
identify !ish populations as being at risk at numerous sites across the U.S.
Howcvcr, selcnium effccts on fish populations in thc field have only been
conclusively dcmonstratcd at a few locations. Based on our critical review,
lhesc threshold valucs are not consistent with USEPA methodology for deriv-
ing critcria. in mauy cases are not supported by the scientific lilerature, and,
as a result, arc gencrally overly conservative. Based on currently available
infonnation, we believe the scicntific literature is not supportive of generic
sediment or water thrcsholds, but is supportive of alternative separate whole
body thresholds of ~ mg/kg dw for wanllwater fish and 6 mg/kg dw for larval
coldwater anadromous !ish, an ovary threshold of 17 mg/kg dw for warmwater
fish, and fish dietary thrcsholds of 10 and 11 mg/kg dw for warmwater fish and
larval coldwater anadromous fish, respectively.

Key Words: tissuc, fish, toxicity, guidelines, selenium

1 .

* l'aramclrix, Inc., 5808 Lake Washington Blvd. N.E. Suite 200, Kirkland, WA 98033
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]
** I'aramclrix, Inc., 5808 Lakc WashinglOll Blvd. N.E. Suite 200, Kirkland, WA 98033
Tcl: [phone], Fax: [phone]; E-mail: brix@parametrix,com
*** Kennccoll Ulah Copper, 8315 West 3595 SOlllh, Magna. UT 84044; Tel: (801)
252-3112, Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]

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