Recent Developments

This section reports on recent developments related to selenium.

Plant Employee Dies after Exposure to Selenium Compound

In January Mauricio Lacayo, an employee at the Sabinsa Corp. plant in Payson, Utah, died only hours after being exposed to L-seleno-methionine, a selenium compound approved for use as a nutritional supplement. 

EPA limits on selenium levels cause dispute in West Virginia

Regulators and environmentalists are urging the EPA to toughen selenium level limits and have suggested treatments for removing selenium before it is released into waterways

Improper Coal Ash Disposal Leads to Unsafe Selenium Levels in Ground Water

A Huffington Post article indicates that New Mexico's San Juan Coal Company has been improperly disposing of millions of tons of toxic coal ash and scrubber sludge each year.  The article mentions that testing at the San Juan site revealed unsafe levels of selenium in ground and surface water near the site.

For more details, The Huffington Post article is available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-nilles/the-time-for-coal-ash-reg_b_387580.html.

Selenium Research Update 

This report provides an update of recent research on selenium, including environmental properties, aquatic toxicity, human exposure and livestock feeds and selenosis. (pdf)  Karen Hagelstein, April 30, 2009 

Swine Toxicity & Selenium in Grains 

The report and presentation provide an update of recent findings on elevated levels of selenium in certain feed grains and the resulting toxicity to swine herds.  Karen Hagelstein, April 30, 2009 

Swine toxicity and Se in Grains - April 30 2009 (pdf)

Case Study Swine selenosis April 2008 (pdf)

Scientists Warns Dredging May Release Selenium in Coal Ash, Poisoning Fish

On December 22, 2008, a sixty foot ash and earthen wall securing a retention pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant holding five decades of coal fly ash gave way causing a catastrophic wave of ash and slurry to cover 300 acres of nearby land and water. May 15, 2009

Selenium in Coal Fly Ash Forces Closure of Wildlife Nesting Area

The discovery of high levels of selenium in a cooling lake near a Duke Energy power plant in Gibson, IN forced the company to close the lake to fishing, and prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to drain a nearby moat that had been an important nesting area for an endangered species of tern.  March 11, 2009

Largest US Zinc Producer Faces Lawsuit over River Pollution

Horsehead Holding Corp. - the largest producer of zinc in the United States - is being sued by a local environmental group for polluting the Ohio River with excessive amounts of selenium and other pollutants. January 8, 2009

Latest Findings on Selenium

The latest findings on selenium and human health, selenium in food and studies in China have been compiled by SeleniumWatch contributor Dr. Karen Haglestein... April 7, 2008

Extensive Use of Selenium in Chinese Manganese Metal Production Confirmed

The metals industry newsletter Metals Bulletin reports that Chinese selenium prices have climbed in recent weeks due to strong demand by manganese metal producers.  Production of manganese... July 18, 2007

Pollution from Manganese Metal Plants Remains an Issue in China

In June, 2006, villagers from Xia Lei, Daxin county, Guangxi province, China, held a demonstration to bring to the attention of local authorities concerns regarding pollution… January 31, 2007

New study suggests selenium from coal power plants impacts wildlife

A recently published study reports maternal transfer of selenium to eggs in toads living near a coal-burning power plant.  The study also reports that viability of the offspring living near the power plant was 19% lower than in an uncontaminated area... June 28, 2006

US charges conspiracy for selenium excesses

The US Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency charged a Salt Lake City, Utah, metal refining company and its top managers with violations of the environmental law on selenium discharges to wastewater and conspiracy to conceal the violations. March 23, 2006

Chinese government takes action against manganese metal manufacturers

Reports indicate that the Chinese government has forced clean up of manganese metal plants (PDF, 7 kb). According to industry sources, a large number of manganese manufacturers have been forced to halt production so that government inspectors can check for pollution. The closed facilities will have to improve their environmental facilities and meet official requirements before being allowed to reopen. Non-government researchers reported in a preliminary investigation in 2004 that manganese metal plants were sources of pollution in China (see Environmental Site Investigation of Manganese Metal Production in China (PDF, 102 kb)).

Increasing source of selenium exposures - manganese metal

In recent years, an additional source of exposures is the presence of selenium in manganese metal exports from China, where selenium is added to speed processing and reduce costs in all but 5 of approximately 150 manganese metal plants. January 19, 2005

Selenium levels in wastes raise concerns

A case study presented at a professional symposium on aluminum processing showed how companies can unexpectedly find themselves facing major disposal costs and fines as a result of as little as 1 ppm of selenium in baghouse dust. November 30, 2004