Pollutant Information: Selenium 

About Selenium

Category: Heavy metals and base cations

Acute exposure to selenium by inhalation results in respiratory effects such as irritation to the mucous membranes, severe bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia. Selenium emissions have declined by 87% since 1990. The majority of selenium emissions in earlier years were from coal-fired power stations in particular and coal combustion generally, but emissions from coal combustion have fallen by 96% as coal use has declined.  Coal remains a significant source in 2017, contributing 22% of UK emissions. In 2017, steelmaking is accounting for 26% of total emissions.  The use of selenium by the glass industry is also a significant source – 16% of emissions in 1990 and 12% in 2017, however the mass emitted has been reduced by 90% over that period by eliminating the use of selenium or control on particulate emissions from glass furnaces.

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