Total selenium and selenium species in irrigation drain inflows to the Salton Sea, California, October 2008 and January 2009
Open-File Report
2009-1123
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Abstract
This report presents the results for two sampling periods (October 2008 and January 2009) during a 4-year monitoring program to characterize selenium concentrations in selected irrigation drains flowing into the Salton Sea, California. Total selenium, selenium species (dissolved selenite, selenate, organoselenium), and total suspended solids were determined in water samples. Total selenium also was determined in water column particulates and in sediment, detritus, and biota that included algae, plankton, midge larvae (family, Chironomidae), and two fish species (western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, and sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna). In addition, sediments were analyzed for percent total organic carbon and particle size. Mean total selenium concentrations in water for both sampling periods ranged from 1.00 to 33.6 micrograms per liter, predominately as selenate, which is typical of waters where selenium is leached out of selenium-containing marine shales and associated soils under alkaline and oxidizing conditions. Total selenium concentrations (micrograms per gram dry weight) ranged as follows: algae, 1.52 to 8.26; plankton, 0.79 to 3.66; midges, 2.68 to 50.6; fish, 3.09 to 30.4; detritus, 1.78 to 58.0; and sediment, 0.42 to 10.0.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Total selenium and selenium species in irrigation drain inflows to the Salton Sea, California, October 2008 and January 2009 |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2009-1123 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20091123 |
| Year Published | 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Columbia Environmental Research Center |
| Description | iv, 15 p. |
| Time Range Start | 2008-10-01 |
| Time Range End | 2009-01-31 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |