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Biogeochemistry of selenium. A review

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Abstract

Selenium levels and speciation in environmental compartments and the dynamics of global Se cycling continue to be a subject of intense interest largely because Se is both an essential element and a toxicant at elevated levels. While Se containing amino acids and proteins are known to be critical for normal metabolic functions in many life forms, selenosis, poisoning due to chronic excessive Se intake, has been associated with neurological impairment. This paper reviews the current understanding of the biogeochemistry of selenium in the natural environment. The factors that affect Se speciation in natural environments are chemical, physical, and biological processes. Several inorganic species of Se (−2, 0, +4, and +6) and organic species (monomethylated and dimethylated) have been reported in aquatic systems. Both HSeO3 − and SeO3 2− would be present in natural waters. Under mild oxidizing conditions, HSeO3 − and SeO3 2− are the major species, while HSe− would be the dominant species at pH greater than 4 and strong reducing conditions. The biogeochemistry of selenium is discussed in terms of variation of speciation with pH and redox conditions, sorption on solid surfaces, role of reducing species under oxic/anoxic conditions, and interaction with natural organic matter.

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Acknowledgments

V.K. Sharma and R. Zboril acknowledge the support by the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovations–European Regional Development Fund (CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0058).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Virender K. Sharma & Thomas J. McDonald

  2. Department of Chemistry, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL, 32901, USA

    Mary Sohn & George A. K. Anquandah

  3. Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Salaria km 29,300 C.P. 10, 00015, Monterotondo (RM), Italy

    Maurizio Pettine

  4. Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacky University in Olomouc, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Radek Zboril

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  1. Virender K. Sharma
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  2. Thomas J. McDonald
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  4. George A. K. Anquandah
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Correspondence to Virender K. Sharma.

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Sharma, V.K., McDonald, T.J., Sohn, M. et al. Biogeochemistry of selenium. A review. Environ Chem Lett 13, 49–58 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0487-x

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