Selenite toxicity and mercury-selenium interactions in Juvenile Fish. Klaverkamp, J., F., Hodgins, D., A., & Lutz, A. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 12(4):405-413, 1983.
Selenite toxicity and mercury-selenium interactions in Juvenile Fish [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Acute lethal toxicities of selenium and the effect of selenium and mercury accumulation were determined in freshwater fish species. Selenite concentrations required to produce 50% mortality were approximately 11 mg Se/L in northern pike (Esox lucius), 29 mg Se/L in white sucker (Catastomus commersoni), and 5 mg Se/L in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) after 75, 96, and 240 hr of exposure, respectively. Two approaches were used to determine effects of water-borne selenium on mercury concentrations in northern pike. In first, a trend of reduced mercury contamination at low selenium concentrations (1 mg Se/L) with maintenance at control mercury contamination levels at a higher selenium concentration (100 mg Se/L) was apparent. In the second, a similar responce of decreased CH3203Hg accumulation in muscle-skin at lower selenium concentrations (1 and 10 mg Se/L), but maintenance at control accumulation levels at a higher selenium concentration (100 mg Se/L) was observed. Results and knowledge requirements are discussed with emphasis on relevance to increasing deposition rates of these chemicals elements to freshwater ecosystems and using selenium to treat mercury-contaminated systems.

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