Total selenium and selenium species in irrigation drain inflows to the Salton Sea, California, October 2007 and January 2008
Open-File Report
2008-1178
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Abstract
This report presents the results for two sampling periods (October 2007 and January 2008) during a 4-year monitoring program to characterize selenium concentrations in selected irrigation drains flowing into the Salton Sea, California. Total selenium, selenium species (selenite, selenate, organoselenium), and total suspended solids were determined in water samples, and total selenium was determined 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 0.97 to 64.5 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, 0.95 to 5.99; plankton, 0.15 to 19.3; midges, 1.39 to 15.4; fish, 3.71 to 25.1; detritus, 0.85 to 21.7; sediment, 0.32 to 7.28.
Suggested Citation
May, T.W., Walther, M., Saiki, M.K., Brumbaugh, W.G., 2008, Total selenium and selenium species in irrigation drain inflows to the Salton Sea, California, October 2007 and January 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1178, iv, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20081178.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Total selenium and selenium species in irrigation drain inflows to the Salton Sea, California, October 2007 and January 2008 |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2008-1178 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20081178 |
| Year Published | 2008 |
| 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 | 2007-10-01 |
| Time Range End | 2008-01-31 |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |