Lemly A D
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1985 Dec;5(4):465-86. doi: 10.1016/0273-2300(85)90010-8.
Selenium can have severe ecological impacts on aquatic ecosystems even when waterborne concentrations are in the low microgram per liter (ppb) range. Episodes of environmental contamination have occurred that clearly illustrate the potential toxicity of this trace element to aquatic organisms. Wastes and effluents produced by the power industry are highly concentrated sources of selenium and constitute hazardous wastes when introduced into aquatic ecosystems. The continued use of a wet-basin system of coal-ash disposal at power plants is only feasible if several environmental variables are considered along with models of trace element cycling and accumulation, and pretreatment of effluents. Other power industry operations, such as coal gasification and liquifaction, must include provisions for treating effluents as an integral part of construction design. The ecological data base indicates that new, rigorous water quality criteria for selenium are needed; criteria presently proposed by EPA and others would not protect freshwater life if adopted as standards by regulatory agencies. This data base has been utilized by the State of North Carolina to develop sound, defensible environmental standards for selenium in surface waters. Ecological information can be used nationwide to establish reasonable and prudent regulations governing selenium-laden effluents from the power industry.
即使水中硒的浓度处于每升几微克（ppb）的低水平，它也会对水生生态系统产生严重的生态影响。已经发生的环境污染事件清楚地表明了这种微量元素对水生生物的潜在毒性。电力行业产生的废物和废水是高浓度的硒源，当排入水生生态系统时会构成危险废物。只有在考虑几个环境变量以及微量元素循环和积累模型以及废水预处理的情况下，继续在发电厂使用湿灰池系统处理煤灰才是可行的。电力行业的其他运营，如煤气化和液化，必须将废水处理作为建筑设计的一个组成部分。生态数据库表明，需要制定新的、严格的硒水质标准；如果监管机构将美国环境保护局（EPA）和其他机构目前提议的标准用作标准，将无法保护淡水生物。北卡罗来纳州利用这个数据库制定了关于地表水中硒的合理、可辩护的环境标准。生态信息可在全国范围内用于制定关于电力行业含硒废水的合理且审慎的法规。
