How much Selenium is produced and released to the environment?
Production in 1985 was reported to be 429,515 pounds. Selenium compounds are released to the air during the combustion of coal and petroleum fuels, and during the smelting and refining of other metals. From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release Inventory selenium releases to land and water totaled over 1 million lbs. These releases were primarily from copper smelting industries. The largest releases occurred in Utah. The largest direct releases to water occurred in Indiana. What happens to Selenium when it is released to the environment? The toxicity of selenium depends on whether it is in the biologically active oxidized form, which occurs in alkaline soils. These conditions can cause plant uptake of the metal to be increased. It is known that selenium accumulates in living tissues. How will Selenium be detected in and removed from my drinking water? The regulation for selenium became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water s
