Unite J States
Environmental Protsction
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20*60
V/arer
                      Juno,
  invieonmenta
  t **R Jl*i' IsJ <**>'"*%' ^ g*«?
  SilQr' ncd^Sai
Selenium

-------
                                 PREFACE
     This document is one of  a  series  of preliminary assessments dealing
with  chemicals  of potential  concern  in municipal  sewage  sludge.   The
purpose of these  documents  is to:   (a)  summarize  the  available data for
the  constituents  of  potential  concern,  (b)  identify  the key environ-
mental  pathways  for  each  constituent  related  to  a reuse and disposal
option  (based on  hazard  indices),  and  (c) evaluate  the  conditions under
which such a pollutant may pose a  hazard.   Each document provides a sci-
entific basis  for making an  initial  determination  of whether  a pollu-
tant, at levels currently observed in  sludges, poses a  likely hazard to
human health  or  the  environment  when  sludge  is  disposed  of  by  any of
several methods.   These methods include landspreading on  food chain or
nonfood chain  crops, distribution  and marketing  programs, landfilling,
incineration and ocean disposal.

     These documents  are intended  to  serve as a rapid screening tool to
narrow an initial list of pollutants to those  of  concern.   If a signifi-
cant  hazard  is  indicated by  this  preliminary analysis,  a  more detailed
assessment will   be  undertaken  to  better  quantify the  risk  from  this
chemical and to  derive  criteria if warranted.   If a hazard  is shown to
be unlikely, no  further  assessment will be conducted at  this time;  how-
ever,  a reassessment will  be  conducted after  initial  regulations  are
finalized.  In  no case,  however,  will  criteria be  derived  solely on the
basis of information presented in this document.

-------
                            TABLE OP CONTENTS


                                                                     Page

PREFACE 	   i

1.  INTRODUCTION	  1-1

2.  PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS FOR SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE
      SLUDGE	  2-1

    Landspreading and Distribution-and-Marketing 	  2-1

    Landf illing	  2-2

    Incineration 	  2-2

    Ocean Disposal 	  2-2

3.  PRELIMINARY HAZARD INDICES FOR SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE
      SLUDGE	  3-1

    Landspreading and Distribution-and-Marketing	  3-1

         Effect on soil concentration of selenium (Index 1)  	  3-1
         Effect on soil biota and predators of soil biota
           (Indices 2-3) 	  3-2
         Effect on plants and plant tissue
           concentration (Indices 4-6)  	  3-4
         Effect on herbivorous animals  (Indices 7-8) 	  3-9
         Effect on humans (Indices 9-13) 	  3-12

    Landf illing 	  3-21

         Index of groundwater concentration increment  resulting
           from landfilled sludge (Index 1) 	  3-21
         Index of human tbxicity resulting from
           groundwater contamination (Index 2) 	  3-27

    Incineration 	  3-29

         Index of air concentration increment  resulting
           from incinerator emissions (Index 1) 	  3-29
         Index of human toxicity resulting from
           inhalation of incinerator emissions (Index  2)  	  3-31

    Ocean Disposal 	  3-33
                                   11

-------
                            TABLE OP CONTENTS
                               (Continued)
                                                                     Page
4.  PRELIMINARY DATA PROFILE FOR SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE
      SLUDGE	   4-1

    Occurrence 	   4-1

         Sludge 	   4-1
         Soil - Unpolluted 	   4-2
         Water - Unpolluted 	   4-2
         Air	   4-3
         Food	   4-4

    Human Effects 	   4-6

         Ingestion 	   4-6
         Inhalation 	   4-7

    Plant Effects 	   4-8

         Phytotoxicity 	   4-8
         Uptake 	   4-8

    Domestic Animal and Wildlife Effects 	   4-9

         Toxicity 	   4-9
         Uptake 	   4-10

    Aquatic Life Effects 	   4-10

    Soil Biota Effects 	;	   4-10

    Physicochemical Data for Estimating Fate and Transport  	   4-10

5 .  REFERENCES	   5-1

APPENDIX.  PRELIMINARY HAZARD INDEX CALCULATIONS FOR
    SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE SLUDGE 	   A-l
                                   111

-------
                                SECTION  1

                               INTRODUCTION
     This  preliminary  data  profile  is  one  of  a  series  of   profiles
dealing  with chemical  pollutants  potentially  of  concern  in municipal
sewage  sludges.    Selenium  (Se)  was  initially  identified as  being  of
potential concern  when sludge is  landspread (including distribution  and
marketing),  placed in a  landfill,  or  incinerated.*   This  profile is a
compilation  of information that  may be useful  in determining whether  Se
poses an actual hazard  to  human  health or the environment when sludge  is
disposed of by these methods.
     The  focus   of  this   document  is  the  calculation  of "preliminary
hazard  indices"  for  selected potential  exposure pathways, as  shown  in
Section  3.    Each  index  illustrates  the hazard that  could  result from
movement  of  a  pollutant  by a  given   pathway  to  cause  a  given  effect
(e.g., sludge •* soil •*  plant uptake •*•  animal uptake •*  human  toxicity).
The values  and assumptions employed in these calculations tend to  repre-
sent  a  reasonable  "worst  case";  analysis   of  error  or  uncertainty has
been  conducted to  a limited  degree.   The resulting  value  in most  cases
is  indexed  to unity;  i.e., values  >1 may  indicate  a  potential hazard,
depending upon the assumptions of the calculation.
     The data used  for  index calculation  have been selected or estimated
based  on   information  presented   in   the   "preliminary  data  profile",
Section 4.   Information in the profile is based on a compilation of the
recent  literature.   An  attempt  has been made  to  fill  out  the profile
outline to  the greatest  extent possible.   However, since this is a pre-
liminary analysis, the literature has not been exhaustively perused.
     The ."preliminary  conclusions"  drawn from  each  index in  Section 3
are  summarized  in  Section 2.   The preliminary hazard  indices  will   be
used as a  screening tool to determine  which pollutants and pathways may
pose a  hazard.   Where a potential  hazard is indicated  by interpretation
of  these  indices,  further  analysis  will  include a more  detailed exami-
nation  of   potential  risks as well as an   examination  of  site-specific
factors.    These  more rigorous  evaluations   may change  the  preliminary
conclusions  presented  in  Section  2,  which  are based  on a  reasonable
"worst case" analysis.
     The  preliminary   hazard  indices   for  selected   exposure  routes
pertinent to  landspreading and distribution and marketing, landfilling,
and  incineration  practices are included  in  this profile.   The  calcula-
tion formulae for  these  indices  are shown in  the Appendix.   The indices
are rounded to two significant figures.
* Listings  were  determined  by  a series  of "expert workshops  convened
  during  March-May,  1984  by   the   Office   of  Water  Regulations  and
  Standards  (OWRS)  to  discuss landspreading,  landfilling,  incineration,
  and ocean disposal, respectively, of municipal sewage sludge.
                                   1-1

-------
                                SECTION 2

     PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS FOR SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE SLUDGE
     The  following  preliminary  conclusions  have  been derived  from the
calculation of  "preliminary hazard  indices",  which  represent conserva-
tive or  "worst  case" analyses  of  hazard.   The indices and  their basis
and  interpretation  are  explained  in   Section  3.    Their  calculation
formulae are shown in the Appendix.

  I. LANDSPREADING AND DISTRIBUTION-AND-MARKETING

     A.   Effect on Soil Concentration of Selenium

          The concentration of  Se  in sludge-amended  soil  is  expected to
          increase as the concentration of  Se  in  sludge  and  the sludge
          application rate increase (see Index 1).

     B.   Effect on Soil Biota and Predators of Soil Biota

          Conclusions were  not  drawn because  index  values could  not be
          calculated due to lack of data (see Indices 2 and 3).

     C.   Effect on Plants and Plant Tissue Concentration

          A phytotoxic  hazard  due  to  Se in  sludge-amended soil  is  not
          expected to occur  (see Index  4).   The concentration  of  Se in
          tissues of plants grown  in sludge-amended  soil  is  expected to
          increase above  background by  a factor  ranging  from  1.2  when
          typical  sludge  is applied  at  5  mt/ha  to  73  when  the  worst
          sludge  is  applied  at  500  mt/ha.    These  factors   apply  for
          plants in  animal  and  human diets  (see Index 5).   The highest
          expected factor for the  increase of  Se in  plant  tissues is not
          expected to be precluded by phytotoxicity (see Index 6).

     D.   Effect on Herbivorous  Animals

          A hazard due  to Se  may exist  for animals  which  feed on plants
          grown  in  sludge-amended  soil  only  when  the  worst  sludge  is
          applied at a  high cumulative  rate  (500  mt/ha)  (see Index 7).
          No hazard due to Se is expected  for  animals which incidentally
          ingest sludge-amended  soil while grazing  (see Index 8).

     E.   Effect on Humans

          A health hazard due to Se from consumption  of plants grown in
          sludge-amended  soil is  expected for toddlers only  when sludge
          with  a  high   Se  concentration  is  applied  at  a  high  rate
          (500 mt/ha) and  for  adults when  typical or worst-case  sludge
          is applied at  a high rate (500 mt/ha) (see Index  9).

          Consumption of  animal  products derived from animals  which  had
          fed on plants grown in sludge-amended  soil  is  expected to  pose
                                   2-1

-------
          a health hazard due to Se for toddlers  when  typical  and worst-
          case sludge  is applied  at  a high  rate  (500  mt/ha),  and  for
          adults   when   typical  sludge   is  applied  at  a   high  rate
          (500 mt/ha)  and  when  the  worst-case  sludge  is  applied  at
          50 mt/ha or greater (see  Index  10).

          No human health hazard due  to  Se is expected  from  consumption
          of animal products derived from animals which  had  incidentally
          ingested sludge-amended  soil  while grazing (see Index 11).

          No  human health  hazard  due  to  Se  is  expected  when  either
          sludge-amended  soil   or   pure   sludge   is   ingested   (see
          Index 12).

          The aggregate  amount  of  Se  in  the human diet resulting  from
          landspreading of  sludge  is  expected  to  pose  a health  hazard
          when  sludge  containing  a   typical  concentration   of  Se  is
          applied at a  high  rate  or when  sludge  containing a  high  con-
          centration  of  Se is  applied  at  a rate  of 50 mt/ha  or greater
          (see Index  13).

 II. LANDPILLING

     An increase  in  the concentration  of  Se  in  groundwater at  the  well
     due to leaching from a  sludge landfill is expected  when  worst-case
     conditions occur for the  site parameters in the saturated  zone,  or
     for all conditions, simultaneously (see  Index  1).   No human  health
     risk due  to  Se  in groundwater at the  well  is  expected when  sludge
     is disposed  of in a landfill  (see  Index 2).

III. INCINERATION

     The concentration  of Se in air is expected  to moderately  increase
     above background  levels  when  sludge  is  incinerated  (see  Index  1).
     A human health hazard  due to  the release of  Se into  air when  sludge
     is incinerated is  not expected to  occur (see  Index 2).

 IV. OCEAN DISPOSAL

     Based on  the recommendations  of  the  experts  at  the OWRS  meetings
     (April-May,   1984),  an  assessment  of  this  reuse/disposal  option  is
     not being conducted at  this time.  The U.S.  EPA reserves  the  right
     to conduct such  an assessment  for  this  option in the  future.
                                  2-2

-------
                              SECTION 3

               PRELIMINARY HAZARD INDICES FOR SELENIUM
                      IN MUNICIPAL  SEWAGE  SLUDGE
I. LANDSPREADING AND DISTRIBUTION-AND-MARKETING

   A.   Effect on Soil Concentration of Selenium

        1.   Index of Soil Concentration Increment (Index 1)

             a.   Explanation - Shows degree  of  elevation of pollutant
                  concentration in  soil  to  which  sludge  is  applied.
                  Calculated  for  sludges  with   typical  (median  if
                  available) and  worst  (95th percentile  if available)
                  pollutant concentrations,  respectively, for  each  of
                  four sludge  loadings.   Applications (as  dry matter)
                  are chosen and explained as follows:

                    0 mt/ha  No sludge applied.   Shown for  all indices
                             for  purposes of  comparison,  to  distin-
                             guish hazard posed  by  sludge from  pre-
                             existing   hazard  posed   by   background
                             levels  or other  sources of the pollutant.

                    5 mt/ha  Sustainable yearly agronomic application;
                             i.e.,  loading   typical   of   agricultural
                             practice,  supplying   S5Q   kg   available
                             nitrogen per  hectare.

                   50 mt/ha  Higher  application as may be used on  pub-
                             lic  lands,   reclaimed   areas   or   home
                             gardens.

                  500 mt/ha  Cumulative    loading   after   years    of
                             application.

             b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Assumes  pollutant  is  dis-
                  tributed and retained within the upper  15  cm of  soil
                  (i.e.,   the  plow  layer),  which has  an  approximate
                  mass (dry matter)  of 2 x 10-* mt/ha.

             c.   Data Used and Rationale

                    i. Sludge concentration of pollutant  (SC)

                       Typical    1.111  ug/g  DW
                       Wors\      4.848  Mg/g  DW

                       The typical and worst  sludge concentrations  are
                       the median and 95th  percentile values  statis-
                       tically derived  from  sludge concentration  data
                                 3-1

-------
               from  a  survey  of  40  publicly-owned  treatment
               works   (POTWs)    (U.S.    EPA,   1982).      (See
               Section 4, p. 4-1.)

           ii. Background  concentration of  pollutant  in  soil
               (BS) = 0.21 yg/g DW

               Yopp et al.  (1974)  reported  that  the Se content
               for  most  soils  ranges   from  0.1  to 0.2  yg/g.
               Allaway  (1968)  reported  an  average Se  concen-
               tration  in  soils of  0.5 yg/g  with a  range  of
               0.1  to 2.0  yg/g.    Se  content in seleniferous
               soils  normally   ranges   from  1.0  to  6.0  Ug/g
               (Yopp  et  al.,  1974); however,  these  soils  are
               not  considered  in  the  present  analysis  because
               of   their   limited   geographical   distribution.
               Cappon (1984) analyzed  garden  soil and reported
               a  concentration  of  0.21  yg/g  of  soil,   dry
               weight.   This value was  selected  as  the repre-
               sentative  background  Se  concentration  in  soil
               since  it  falls  within  the  ranges  reported  for
               normal soils  and  since it  was  the only  value
               specified as being on a dry weight basis.   (See
               Section 4, p. 4-2.)

     d.   Index 1 Values

                              Sludge Application  Rate (mt/ha)
              Sludge
          Concentration         0        5        50       500

              Typical         1.0       1.0       1.1       1.9
              Worst           1.0       1.1       1.5       5.4

     e.   Value Interpretation  -  Value equals factor  by  which
          expected  soil  concentration  exceeds background  when
          sludge is applied.   (A  value  of 2  indicates  concen-
          tration   is   doubled;   a  value   of   0.5   indicates
          reduction by one-half.)

     f.   Preliminary Conclusion -  The concentration of Se  in
          sludge-amended soil  is  expected to  increase as  the
          concentration   of  Se   in   sludge  and   the   sludge
          application rate increase.

Effect on Soil Biota and Predators of Soil  Biota

1.   Index of Soil Biota Toxicity (Index 2)

     a.   Explanation -  Compares  pollutant  concentrations  in
          sludge-amended soil  with soil  concentration  shown  to
          be toxic for some organism.
                         3-2

-------
b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Assumes pollutant  form  in
     sludge-amended  soil   is   equally  bioavailable  and
     toxic as form used  in  study where toxic effects were
     demonstrated.

c.   Data Used and Rationale

       i. Index of soil concentration increment (Index 1)

          See Section 3, p.  3-2.

      ii. Background concentration  of  pollutant  in soil
          (BS) = 0.21 Ug/g DW

          See Section 3, p.  3-2.

     iii. Soil  concentration  toxic to  soil  biota (TB) -
          Data not immediately available.

d.   Index 2  Values  -  Values were  not calculated  due  to
     lack of data.

e.   Value Interpretation -  Value equals factor  by which
     expected soil concentration  exceeds  toxic concentra-
     tion.   Value >1  indicates  a toxic hazard  may exist
     for soil biota.

f.   Preliminary  Conclusion -  Conclusion  was not  drawn
     because index values could  not  be calculated.

Index of Soil Biota Predator Toxicity (Index 3)

a.   Explanation  -  Compares   pollutant   concentrations
     expected in  tissues  of organisms  inhabiting  sludge-
     amended  soil with  food concentration  shown  to  be
     toxic to a predator on  soil organisms.

b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -   Assumes  pollutant  form
     bioconcentrated  by  soil  biota  is equivalent  in tox-
     icity to  form  used to  demonstrate  toxic effects  in
     predator.  Effect  level  in  predator may be  estimated
     from that in a  different  species.

c.   Data Used and Rationale

       i. Index of soil concentration  increment (Index 1)

          See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

      ii. Background  concentration  of pollutant  in  soil
          (BS) = 0.21 Ug/g DW

          See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

     iii. Uptake slope  of pollutant  in soil  biota  (UB)  -
          Data not immediately available.
                   3-3

-------
           iv. Background  concentration  in  soil  biota  (BB) -
               Data not immediately available.

            v. Peed  concentration  toxic  to  predator   (TR) -
               Data not immediately available.

     d.   Index 3  Values  -  Values  were not  calculated  due to
          lack of data.

     e.   Value Interpretation  - Value equals  factor by which
          expected  concentration  in  soil  biota  exceeds that
          which is  toxic  to predator.   Value >  1 indicates a
          toxic hazard may exist for predators of  soil biota.

     f.   Preliminary  Conclusion -  Conclusion  was  not  drawn
          because index values could not be calculated.

Effect on Plants and Plant Tissue Concentration

1.   Index of Phytotoxicity (Index 4)

     a.   Explanation  -  Compares  pollutant   concentrations  in
          sludge-amended    soil    with    the    lowest    soil
          concentration shown to be toxic for some plant.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations -  Assumes  pollutant  form  in
          sludge-amended  soil   is   equally   bioavailable  and
          toxic as form used in  study  where  toxic effects were
          demonstrated.

     c.   Data Used and Rationale

            i. Index of soil concentration increment (Index 1)

               See "Section 3, p. 3-2.

           ii. Background  concentration  of  pollutant in  soil
               (BS) = 0.21 ug/g DW

               See Section 3, p. 3-2.

          iii. Soil  concentration  toxic  to  plants  (TP)   =
               1.12 ug/g DW

               Yopp et  al.  (1974) reported  that  the  majority
               of   crops   of  economic  importance  in  Illinois
               were severely affected  by  Se  levels of  1.8  ppm
               in  soil solution  and  'recommended this  value  as
               the  maximum   permissible   level  for  Se.    The
               effects associated with this  concentration were
               leaf chlorosis  and  thickened  roots in  alfalfa
               and  growth  reduction  in  subterranean  clover.
               However,  phytotoxicity  in   terms  of   growth
               reduction  was  shown for  millet  at even  lower
                         3-4

-------
          concentrations  (0.9  ppm).   It is  assumed that
          the  Se  concentrations  were reported  on  a  wet
          weight  basis.    Assuming  that  the  saturated
          moisture content of  soil  is 20 percent,  conver-
          sion from wet weight  to  dry weight  yields an Se
          concentration of 1.12 Ug/g  DW  for millet.  (See
          Section 4, p. 4-12.)

d.   Index 4 Values

                        Sludge Application Rate (mt/ha)
         Sludge
     Concentration        0         5       50       500
Typical
Worst
0.19
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.21
0.29
0.35
1.0
e.   Value Interpretation  -  Value equals factor  by which
     soil concentration  exceeds  phytotoxic  concentration.
     Value > 1 indicates a phytotoxic hazard may exist.

f.   Preliminary Conclusion  -  A phytotoxic hazard  due to
     Se in sludge-amended soil is not expected to occur.

Index  of  Plant Concentration  Increment Caused  by  Uptake
(Index 5)

a.   Explanation -  Calculates  expected  tissue  concentra-
     tion  increment  in  plants  grown  in  sludge-amended
     soil,  using   uptake  data   for  the  most  responsive
     plant  species  in  the  following  categories:    (1)
     plants  included  in the  U.S.  human  diet;  and  (2)
     plants  serving as  animal   feed.    Plants  used  vary
     according to  availability of data.

b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -   Assumes  a  linear  uptake
     slope.   Neglects  the effect  of time; i.e.,  cumula-
     tive  loading  over  several  years  is treated  equiva-
     lently  to single  application  of   the  same  amount.
     The  uptake  factor  chosen  for  the animal  diet  is
     assumed  to  be  representative  of  all crops   in  the
     animal diet.    See also  Index 6 for consideration of
     phytotoxicity.

c.   Data Used and Rationale

       i. Index of soil concentration increment  (Index 1)

          See Section 3,  p. 3-2.

      ii. Background concentration of  pollutant  in  soil
          (BS) = 0.21 ug/g DW

          See Section 3,  p. 3-2.


                    3-5

-------
iii. Conversion  factor  between  soil  concentration
     and application rate (CO) = 2 kg/ha (ug/g)""1

     Assumes  pollutant  is  distributed and  retained
     within upper  15 cm  of  soil  (i.e. plow  layer)
     which  has  an approximate  mass  (dry matter)  of
     2 x 103.

 iv. Uptake slope of pollutant in plant tissue (UP)

     Animal diet:
     Wheat    7.8 ug/g  tissue DW (kg/ha)"1

     Human diet:
     Wheat    7.8 ug/g  tissue DW (kg/ha)"1

     The only  data  available for  direct  calculation
     of uptake  slopes were  from studies in  which  Se
     was  applied in  a  culture  solution  (Rosenfeld
     and Beath,  1964; see Table 4-2).   These studies
     are of limited  value in predicting uptake  from
     sludge-amended   soil   because  a  chemical   is
     usually  much more  highly  available  to  plant
     roots  when in  solution than when  applied  to
     soil.  To  calculate a  slope  in  units  of  Ug/g
     tissue DW  (kg/ha)"1,  it is necessary to  assume
     that the amount of Se  present in  a unit  volume
     of  solution is  equal to the  amount present  in
     an equal  volume of soil.   If  this assumption  is
     made, then  1 mg/L  of Se  in nutrient  solution  is
     equivalent  to   a  Se   loading   of  1.5  kg/ha.
     Slopes calculated  from  culture  solution  data
     (Table 4-2) and adjusted by a factor of 1.5  are
     21.2  for  corn  grain,  32.3  for  alfalfa,   and
     range  from 16  to   107  for   wheat,   varying
     inversely with  solution sulfur concentration.

     Since the assumptions involved in applying  data
     from culture solution  to  the  field are  unsup-
     ported,  available   information    from   several
     sources was used   to  indirectly   compute  uptake
     slopes from field  data.    Yopp   et  al.  (1974)
     report that Se  content of  seleniferous  soils
     normally  ranges from 1.0 to  6.0  Ug/g«    Taking
     the   geometric    midpoint    of    this    range
     (2.45 Ug/g)> subtracting the  background concen-
     tration (0.21 Ug/g)  and applying  the conversion
     factor, CO,  stated  above,  an application  rate
     of 4.5 kg/ha is  estimated  to represent  seleni-
     ferous soils.   The  following ranges  are  given
     by  the  National  Academy  of   Sciences   (NAS)
     (1983) for  background  concentrations of  Se  in
     wheat,  alfalfa  meal, and  corn   used  as  animal
     feeds:    0.01  to 3.0,  0.01  to 2.0,  and 0.1  to
               3-6

-------
          1.0, respectively,  in Ug/g on  an  as-fed basis.
          Maximum Se  content for  these  crops  on  seleni-
          ferous soils were  30, 10, and  20  pg/g,  respec-
          tively (Rosenfeld  and  Beath,   1964).   Assuming
          an  approximate  15%  moisture  content for  each
          feedstuff (based on  values for wheat and  field
          corn in U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture  (USDA),
          1975), and   taking the   geometric  midpoint  of
          each background  concentration  range,  but  using
          maximum values for crop  content from selenifer-
          ous soils,  the following  maximum  uptake slopes
          are  obtained,   in  Ug/8   tissue  DW  (kg/ha)"1:
          wheat, 7.8;  alfalfa,  2.6;  and  corn,  5.2.  These
          indirectly  computed  slopes are considered  more
          reliable  than  those  derived from  culture  solu-
          tion  studies.    The  highest  of  these  slopes,
          that for  wheat,  will  be used  to  represent  all
          crops  in  both the human and animal diets.

       v. Background concentration in plant  tissue (BP)

          Animal diet:
          Wheat     0.20 ug/g DW

          Human  diet:
          Wheat     0.20 Ug/g DW

          The median  background  concentration  of Se  in
          wheat  was reported to  be  (J.16  Ug/g  WW by Wolnik
          et  al.  (1983).    This  value  agrees  well  with
          that derived from  NAS (1983),  0.17 ug/g WW,  as
          derived above.   Applying  a  correction  for  15%
          moisture  content,  a  value of  0.20  Ug/g DW  is
          obtained.   (See Section 4, p. 4-5.)

     Index 5 Values

                                   Sludge Application
                                      Rate (mt/ha)
                   Sludge
   Diet         Concentration    0     5     50     500
Animal
Typical
Worst
1.0
1.0
1.2
1.9
2.7
9.8
15
73
Human             Typical       1.0   1.2    2.7    15
                  Worst         1.0   1.9    9.8    73

e.   Value Interpretation -  Value equals factor  by  which
     plant tissue  concentration  is  expected to  increase
     above background when grown in sludge-amended soil.

f.   Preliminary Conclusion  -  The concentration  of  Se  in
     tissues   of  plants  grown  in  sludge-amended  soil  is
                    3-7

-------
     expected  to  increase  above background  by  a  factor
     ranging from  1.2 when  typical  sludge is  applied at
     5 mt/ha to  73 when  the worst  sludge is  applied at
     500 mt/ha.  These factors  apply for  plants in animal
     and human diets.

Index  of  Plant   Concentration  Increment  Permitted  by
Phytotozicity (Index 6)

a.   Explanation -  Compares maximum plant  tissue concen-
     tration  associated  with  phytotoxicity  with  back-
     ground  concentration  in  same  plant  tissue.    The
     purpose is to  determine  whether the  plant concentra-
     tion  increments  calculated   in   Index  5  for  high
     applications  are truly  realistic,  or whether  such
     increases would be precluded by phytotoxicity.

b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Assumes  that   tissue  con-
     centration  will   be   a  consistent  indicator   of
     phytotoxicity.

c.   Data Used and Rationale

       i. Maximum  plant   tissue concentration  associated
          with phytotoxicity (PP)

          Animal diet:
          Wheat    429 ug/g DW

          Human diet:
          Tomato   191 Ug/g DW

          Yopp et al.  (1974)  reported  that concentrations
          of 380 Ug/g Se  in wheat was  not  accompanied by
          injury  to  the   plant.    Rosenfeld  and  Beath
          (1964) reported  the appearance  of  chlorosis in
          wheat containing 322  Ug/g  DW  when grown in low-
          sulfur  culture   solutions,  but  no  effect  was
          noted for  wheat containing 328  to  396 Ug/g DW
          when  grown  in   culture   solutions   containing
          higher sulfur concentrations.   Since  all  wheat
          containing Se concentrations  of  429 Ug/g  DW Se
          or .more  showed  signs  of  chlorosis,  this  value
          was    chosen    to    represent    the    tissue
          concentration associated with phytotoxicity  for
        .  wheat.    Yopp  et  al.  (1974)  reported  that  a
          concentration of  191 Ug/g  DW  in tomatoes  was
          accompanied  by  growth  reduction   and  visual
          symptoms  of Se  phytotoxicity.    Tomatoes were
          chosen  because   both  background  concentration
          and  a  concentration  associated  with  toxicity
          were available.   (See Section  4,  p.  4-12.)
                    3-8

-------
                ii. Background concentration in plant tissue (BP)

                    Animal diet:
                    Wheat     0.20 ug/g DW

                    Human diet:
                    Tomato    0.2  Ug/g DW

                    The  value  for  wheat  was  based on  a  study  by
                    Wolnik et  al.  (1983)  (see  Section 3,  p.  3-7).
                    Rosenfeld and Beath (1964)  reported  minimum and
                    maximum  concentrations  of  Se  in  tomatoes  grown
                    in Se  contaminated  areas.   The value  chosen  is
                    the minimum  concentration,  since  the  soils con-
                    tain   higher  Se  concentrations  than  normal
                    soils.  (See Section 4, p.  4-5.)

          d.   Index 6 Values

                   Plant              Index Value

               Wheat                     2100
               Tomato                     960

          e.   Value  Interpretation  -  Value   gives   the  maximum
               factor  of  tissue   concentration   increment  (above
               background)  which  is  permitted  by  phytotoxicity.
               Value is  compared with  values for  the  same or  simi-
               lar plant  tissues given by  Index  5.   The  lowest  of
               the two indices  indicates the maximal  increase  which
               can occur at any given application rate.

          f.   Preliminary Conclusion - The  highest expected factor
               for  the  increase of  Se  in plant tissues  is  not
               expected to be precluded by  phytotoxicity.

D.   Effect on Herbivorous Animals

     1.   Index of Animal  Toxicity  Resulting from Plant  Consumption
          (Index 7)

          a.   Explanation   -   Compares   pollutant   concentrations
               expected  in plant  tissues   grown   in  sludge-amended
               soil with  food   concentration  shown to be   toxic  to
               wild or domestic  herbivorous animals.   Does not  con-
               sider  direct  contamination  of  forage  by  adhering
               sludge.
       r
          b.   Assumptions/Limitations   -  Assumes  pollutant   form
               taken up by plants is equivalent  in toxicity to  form
               used to demonstrate toxic effects  in animal.  Uptake
               or  toxicity in  specific  plants  or animals  may  be
               estimated from other  species.
                              3-9

-------
     c.   Data Used and Rationale

            i. Index  of plant  concentration  increment  caused
               by uptake (Index 5)

               Index  5 values  used  are those  for  an  animal
               diet (see Section 3, p. 3-7).

           ii. Background concentration  in  plant  tissue  (BP) =
               0.20 pg/g DW

               The background  concentration value  used  is for
               the  plant  chosen  for  the  animal  diet  (see
               Section 3, p. 3-7).

          iii. Peed concentration  toxic to  herbivorous  animal
               (TA) = 7 Ug/g DW

               Swine fed 7  Ug/g  DW Na2SeC>3  for 108 days  showed
               decreased  weight  gain,  cracked  hooves,  hair
               loss and  emaciation (Wahlstrom et  al.,  1956  in
               NAS, 1980).   (See Section 4,  p. 4-16.)

     d.   Index 7 Values

                             Sludge Application Rate (mt/ha)
              Sludge
          Concentration        0         5-50       500
Typical
Worst
0.029
0.029
0.034
0.054
0.078
0.28
0.43
2.1
     e.   Value Interpretation  -  Value equals  factor  by which
          expected  plant  tissue  concentration  exceeds  that
          which is 'toxic to  animals.   Value  > 1  indicates  a
          toxic hazard may exist for herbivorous animals.

     f.   Preliminary  Conclusion  -  A  hazard  due  to  Se  may
          exist  for   animals  which  feed  on  plants  grown  in
          sludge-amended  soil  only  when  the  worst sludge  is
          applied at  a high cumulative rate (500 mt/ha).

2.   Index of  Animal  Toxicity Resulting  from  Sludge Ingestion
     (Index 8)

     a.   Explanation -  Calculates  the amount  of  pollutant  in
          a grazing animal's  diet resulting from  sludge adhe-
          sion  to  forage  or  from  incidental  ingestion  of
          sludge-amended  soil  and  compares   this -with  the
          dietary toxic  threshold concentration for a  grazing
          animal.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Assumes  that  sludge  is
          applied over  and  adheres to growing  forage,  or that
                         3-10

-------
sludge  constitutes  5  percent  of dry  matter  in  the
grazing  animal's  diet,  and that  pollutant  form  in
sludge  is  equally  bioavailable  and  toxic  as  form
used to  demonstrate  toxic effects.   Where  no sludge
is applied  (i.e.,  0 mt/ha),  assumes diet  is  5  per-
cent soil as a basis tor comparison.

Data Used and Rationale

  i. Sludge concentration of pollutant (SC)

     Typical    1.111 Ug/g  DW
     Worst      4.848  Ug/g  DW

     See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

 ii. Background concentration  of pollutant  in  soil
     (BS) = 0.21 Ug/g DW

     See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

iii. Fraction of animal diet assumed to  be  soil  (GS)
     = 5%

     Studies  of sludge  adhesion to growing  forage
     following applications of  liquid  or filter-cake
     sludge  show  that  when  3  to 6  mt/ha  of  sludge
     solids  is  applied,   clipped  forage  initially
     consists of  up  to 30  percent  sludge  on  a  dry-
     weight  basis (Chaney and Lloyd,  1979; Boswell,
     1975).   However,  this contamination  diminishes
     gradually  with  time and  growth,  and  generally
     is not  detected in the  following  year's  growth.
     For example, where pastures amended  at  16  and
     32 nit/ha were  grazed throughout a  growing  sea-
     son (168 days), average  sludge content  of  for-
     age   was    only    2.14    and    4.75 percent,
     respectively (Bertrand et al.,  1981).   It seems
     reasonable to  assume  that  animals  may  receive
     long-term dietary  exposure  to   5  percent  sludge
     if maintained  on  a  forage to  which  sludge  is
     regularly applied.   This  estimate of  5  percent
    .sludge  is  used  regardless of application rate,
     since the  above  studies  did not  show  a  clear
     relationship  between application  rate and  ini-
     tial  contamination,  and  since  adhesion  is  not
     cumulative yearly  because of die-back.

     Studies  of  grazing animals  indicate  that  soil
     ingestion,  ordinarily <10 percent of dry weight
     of diet,  may reach  as  high as  20  percent  for
     cattle  and 30  percent for  sheep  during  winter
     months  when  forage  is  reduced  (Thornton   and
     Abrams,   1983).    If  the   soil  were  sludge-
              3-11

-------
               amended, it is  conceivable  that  up to 5 percent
               sludge may  be  ingested in  this  manner as well.
               Therefore,  this value  accounts  for  either  of
               these scenarios, whether  forage  is harvested or
               grazed in the field.

           iv. Peed  concentration  toxic to  herbivorous animal
               (TA) = 7 Ug/g DW

               See Section 3,  p. 3-10.

     d.   Index 8 Values

                             Sludge Application Rate (mt/ha)
              Sludge
          Concentration        0         5       50       500

             Typical         0.0015   0.0079   0.0079   0.0079
             Worst           0.0015   0.035    0.035    0.035

     e.   Value Interpretation  -  Value equals  factor  by which
          expected dietary concentration  exceeds  toxic concen-
          tration.   Value  >   1  indicates a  toxic  hazard  may
          exist for grazing animals.

     f.   Preliminary  Conclusion   - No  hazard  due  to Se  is
          expected   for   animals    which   incidentally  ingest
          sludge-amended soil  while grazing.

Effect on Humans

1.   Index of  Human Toxicity  Resulting  from  Plant Consumption
     (Index 9)

     a.   Explanation -  Calculates dietary intake  expected  to
          result  from  consumption  of  crops  grown  on  sludge-
          amended soil.   Compares   dietary intake  with accept-
          able daily intake (ADI)  of the pollutant.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations  - Assumes that  all crops  are
          grown on sludge-amended  soil and that  all those  con-
          sidered to be  affected  take up  the pollutant at  the
          same rate as the most responsive plant(s) (as chosen
          in Index 5).   Divides possible  variations in dietary
          intake  into  two  categories:   toddlers  (18 months  to
          3 years) and individuals  over 3 years  old.

     c.   Data Used and Rationale

            i. Index of  plant  concentration increment caused
               by uptake (Index 5)

               Index 5 values  used are those for  a human  diet
               (see Section 3.  p.  3-7).
                        3-12

-------
 ii. Background concentration in  plant  tissue (BP) =
     0.20 ug/g DW

     The background  concentration value used  is  for
     the  plant  chosen  for  the  human   diet  (see
     Section 3, p.  3-7).

iii. Daily  human  dietary  intake  of  affected  plant
     tissue (DT)

     Toddler     74.5 g/day
     Adult      205   g/day

     The intake value  for adults  is  based on  daily
     intake of crop  foods  (excluding  fruit)  by vege-
     tarians  (Ryan  et  al.,  1982); vegetarians  were
     chosen to represent  the  worst case.   The  value
     for toddlers   is based on the  FDA  Revised  Total
     Diet  (Pennington,  1983)  and   food  groupings
     listed by  the  U.S.  EPA (1984a).   Dry  weights
     for individual  food  groups  were estimated  from
     composition data  given  by  the U.S.  Department
     of  Agriculture  (USDA)  (1975).    These  values
     were   composited   to   estimated    dry-weight
     consumption of all non-fruit  crops.

 iv. Average daily human dietary  intake of pollutant
     (DI)
     Toddler     46.3
     Adult       110.7 ug/day

     The Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  Total
     Diet  Studies  reported  that  the  average  daily
     intake  of  Se  for  adults  was  110.7  Ug/day  in
     fiscal  year  (FY) 1977  based on  market  basket
     studies representing major food groups  and  bev-
     erages  (FDA, 1980a).  Values for the  three  pre-
     vious   years  were   slightly  higher   with   Se
     intakes of 169.0, 169.7, and 135.6 ug/day  in  FY
     1974,  FY 1975,  and  FY 1976,  respectively.  The
     value  for FY  1977  was  chosen  to  represent the
     most   current   data   available.     MAS   (1983)
     reported   a  similar   Se   intake   value   of
     132 ug/day  for  the  state  of Maryland.   In   a
     comparison  study of toddler and  infant  diets,
     FDA reported  that  the  average daily intake  of
     Se  for  toddlers was  46.3   Ug/day  in  FY  1977
     (FDA,  1980b).   Intake values for FY  1975 and  FY
     1976  were 58.4  and 45.0  ug/day,   respectively.
     As   for  adults, the   value  for   FY  1977  was
     selected   to represent  the  most   current   data
     available.   (See Section 4, p. 4-4.)
              3-13

-------
       v. Acceptable  daily  intake  of  pollutant  (ADI)  =
          455 Ug/day

          An  ADI   of  455  Ug/day   was   recommended  by
          U.S. EPA  (1984b)..  This value,  was  chosen based
          on a  study  by Bowen (1966)  in  which young mon-
          keys were exposed to drinking  water containing
          1  ppm  Se for 5  years  to  study the  impact  of  a
          low  level  of Se  on  the   formation of  dental
          caries.   Carious  lesions  developed  more often
          and faster  in Se-treated  monkeys than  in  con-
          trols.   Assuming  a weight  of 3.5  kg for monkeys
          and consumption  of  450 mL  water/day,  an intake
          of 0.13  mg/kg/day was  calculated.   Multiplying
          the intake  rate  by  70  kg,  the assumed average
          human weight, and dividing  by an  uncertainty of
          20 (a  factor of  5  for interspecies extrapola-
          tion,  a  factor  of 2 to protect  sensitive popu-
          lations,  and a   factor  of  2.  to convert  from
          LOAEL   to   NOAEL),   the    resulting   ADI   was
          455 pg/person/day.  (See Section  4,  p. 4-7.)

d.   Index 9 Values

                                  Sludge Application
                                     Rate  (mt/ha)
                  Sludge
     Group     Concentration    0      5  '   50     500
Toddler
Typical
Worst
0.10
0.10
0.11
0.13
0.16
0.39
0.56
2.5
     Adult       Typical      0.24   0.26   0.40   1.5
                 Worst        0.24   0.32   1.0    6.8

     Value Interpretation  -  Value equals factor  by 'which
     expected  intake  exceeds ADI.   Value >1  indicates  a
     possible  human  health  threat.   Comparison  with  the
     null index  value at 0 mt/ha indicates  the  degree  to
     which any hazard  is  due  to  sludge application,  as
     opposed to pre-existing dietary sources.

     Preliminary Conclusion  - A health  hazard due to  Se
     from consumption of  plants  grown  in  sludge-amended
     soil is  expected for  toddlers only when  sludge  with
     a high  Se  concentration  is  applied at  a high  rate
     (500 mt/ha)  and  for  adults  when  typical or worst-
     case sludge is applied  at  a high rate  (500 mt/ha).
                    3-14

-------
2.   Index  of Human  Toxicity  Resulting  from Consumption  of
     Animal Products  Derived  from Animals  Feeding on  Plants
     (Index 10)

     a.   Explanation  -   Calculates   human  dietary   intake
          expected  to  result   from  consumption   of   animal
          products  derived  from  domestic  animals  given  feed
          grown on  sludge-amended  soil (crop  or  pasture land)
          but   not  directly  contaminated  by  adhering  sludge.
          Compares expected  intake with ADI.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations  - Assumes  that  all  animal
          products are  from animals receiving all  their  feed
          from sludge-amended soil.   The uptake  slope of  pol-
          lutant  in animal  tissue  (UA)  used is  assumed to  be
          representative  of  all animal tissue  comprised  by the
          daily human dietary  intake  (DA) used.   Divides  pos-
          sible variations in dietary  intake into  two  categor-
          ies:     toddlers   (18   months   to   3   years)   and
          individuals  over 3 years old.

     c.   Data Used and  Rationale

            i. Index  of  plant  concentration  increment  caused
               by uptake  (Index 5)

               Index  5  values  used are  those for  an  animal
               diet (see  Section 3, p.  3-7).

           ii. Background  concentration in  plant  tissue  (BP)  =
               0.20 ug/g DW

               The background concentration  value used  is  for
               the  plant  chosen  for   the  animal   diet  (see
               Section 3,  p.  3-7).

          iii. Uptake  slope  of pollutant  in  animal  tissue  (UA)
               =  3.75  ug/g tissue  DW (ug/g  feed DW)"1

               The  only  available  data  on tissue  uptake  in
               species consumed by humans are for swine (NAS,
               1980;   see  Section  4,   p.   4-18).    Changes-  in
               dietary Se from  sodium selenite or  natural  Se
               content gave  similar uptake slopes  in  muscle
               tissue  (0.9 and 1.05 Ug/g tissue  WW (ug/g  feed
               DW)"1); liver and kidney slopes were lower.   In
               the  only   other  study  where  both  muscle   and
               liver were examined,  a  study with guinea  pigs
               fed-Swiss  chard  (Furr et  al.,  1976), the liver
               slope was  about 5  times higher than the  muscle
               slope (10.1 and 2.07 Ug/g tissue  DW (ug/g  feed
               DW)"1,  respectively).    However,  the  range  of
               feed concentrations was   too  narrow  (0.05  to
               0.08  Ug/g  DW)  not  to   cast  doubt  on   the
                        3-15

-------
          meaningfulness of  the results.   Therefore, the
          highest value for  swine  muscle is chosen as the
          most   conservative  and   realistic   value  to
          represent meats  in the human  diet.   To convert
          the wet-weight  slope  to  a dry-weight  basis,  a
          moisture  content  of  28 percent  was  assumed.
          Thus,   1.05  divided  by  0.28  yields  3.75  Ug/g
          tissue DW (ug/g feed DW).

      iv. Daily  human  dietary  intake  of  affected animal
          tissue (DA)

          Toddler     51.1  g/day
          Adult       133   g/day

          The  intake  values  presented,  which  comprise
          meat,  fish, poultry, and  eggs, are derived from
          the FDA  Revised  Total Diet  (Pennington,  1983),
          food groupings listed  by U.S.  EPA (1984a), and
          food  composition   data  listed  by USDA  (1975).
          Adult   intake  of  meats is  based on males  25  to
          30  years  of  age,  the  age-sex  group with the
          highest daily intake  (Pennington, 1983).

       v. Average daily human  dietary  intake of pollutant
          (DI)

          Toddler     46.3  Ug/day
          Adult       110.7  Ug/day

          See Section 3, p.  3-13.

     . vi. Acceptable daily   intake  of   pollutant  (ADI)  =
          455 ug/day

          See Section 3, p.3-14.

d.   Index 10 Values
             V             ^

                                  Sludge Application
                                     Rate (mt/ha)
                  Sludge
     Group     Concentration     0      5     50      500
Toddler
Typical
Worst
0.10
0.10
0.12
0.18
0.25
0.84
1.3
6.2
     Adult       Typical       0.24    0.28    0.62     3.3
                 Worst         0.24    0.44    2.2     16

e.   Value Interpretation - Same  as  for  Index  9.

f.   Preliminary  Conclusion  -   Consumption   of   animal
     products  derived  from  animals which  had   fed   on
                   3-16

-------
          plants grown  in sludge-amended  soil  is  expected to
          pose  a  health  hazard due  to Se  for  toddlers  when
          typical and  worst-case sludge is  applied at  a  high
          rate  (500 mt/ha), and  for  adults  when typical sludge
          is applied at  a high  rate  (500  mt/ha) and  when the
          worst-case sludge is applied at 50 mt/ha or greater.

3.   Index  of   Human  Tozicity  Resulting from  Consumption  of
     Animal  Products  Derived   from   Animals   Ingesting  Soil
     (Index 11)

     a.   Explanation  -   Calculates   human   dietary   intake
          expected to  result  from consumption  of animal prod-
          ucts  derived   from  grazing  animals   incidentally
          ingesting  sludge-amended   soil.    Compares  expected
          intake with ADI.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations -   Assumes that  all  animal
          products  are  from  animals  grazing   sludge-amended
          soil, and  that  all  animal  products consumed  take up
          the  pollutant   at   the  highest   rate  observed  for
          muscle of  any   commonly  consumed   species  or  at  the
          rate  observed   for  beef   liver   or  dairy  products
          (whichever is higher).   Divides  possible variations
          in  dietary  intake  into  two  categories:    toddlers
          (18 months to  3 years)  and  individuals  over  three
          years old.

     c.   Data Used and Rationale

            i. Animal tissue  = Swine  muscle

               See Section 3,  p. 3-15.

           ii. Background  concentration of  pollutant   in  soil
               (BS) = 0.21 pg/g. DW

               See Section 3,  p. 3-2.

          iii. Sludge concentration  of pollutant (SC)

               Typical     1.111 Ug/g DW
               Worst      4.848 ug/g DW

               See Section 3,  p. 3-1.

           iv.  Fraction of animal diet  assumed  to be  soil  (GS)
               = 5%

               See Section 3,  p. 3-11.
                        3-17

-------
            v. Uptake slope of  pollutant  in animal  tissue (UA)
               = 3.75 Ug/g tissue DW (ug/g  feed DW)"1

               See Section 3,  p. 3-15.

           vi. Daily human  dietary  intake  of affected  animal
               tissue (DA)

               Toddler     35.95 g/day
               Adult      104.3  g/day

               These intake  values  are  for  meat only  (beef,
               pork,  lamb,   and  veal),   based  on   data  from
               Pennington  (1983).    This  is  a  slightly  more
               limited choice  than that  for Index  10  because
               only grazing animals are considered.

          vii. Average daily human  dietary  intake of pollutant
               (DI)

               Toddler     46.3 Ug/day
               Adult      110.7 ug/day

               See Section 3,  p. 3-13.

         viii. Acceptable daily intake  of  pollutant  (ADI)  =
               455 Ug/day

               See Section 3,  p. 3-14.

          Index 11 Values

                                       Sludge Application
                                          Rate (mt/ha)
Group
Toddler
Adult
Sludge
Concentration
Typical
Worst
Typical
Worst
0
0.10
0.10
0.25
0.25
5
0.12
0.17
0.29
0.45
50
0.12
0.17
0.29
0.45
500
0.12
0.17
0.29
0.45
     e.   Value Interpretation - Same as for Index 9.

     f.   Preliminary Conclusion -  No human health hazard  due
          to Se  is expected  from  consumption  of animal  pro-
          ducts  derived  from  animals  which  had  incidentally
          ingested sludge-amended soil while grazing.

4.   Index of Human Toxicity from Soil Ingestion (Index 12)

     a.   Explanation - Calculates  the amount  of pollutant  in
          the diet  of  a child  who  ingests  soil (pica  child)
          amended with  sludge.   Compares this amount with ADI.

                        3-18

-------
b.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Assumes   that   the  pica
     child  consumes  an  average  of  5 g/day of  sludge-
     amended soil.  If an ADI  specific for a child is not
     available,  this  index  assumes  that  the  ADI  for  a
     10 kg child  is the  same as  that for a  70  kg adult.
     It is thus  assumed  that uncertainty  factors  used in
     deriving  the  ADI provide  protection for  the child,
     taking  into  account the  smaller  body  size  and any
     other differences in sensitivity.

c.   Data Used and Rationale

       i. Index of soil concentration increment (Index 1)

          See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

      ii. Sludge concentration of pollutant (SC)

          Typical   ' 1.111  Ug/g DW
          Worst      A. 848  Ug/g DW

          See Section 3,  p.  3-1.

     iii. Background  concentration  of  pollutant  in  soil
          (BS) = 0.21 ug/g DW

          See Section 3,  p.  3-2.

      iv. Assumed amount  of  soil in human  diet (DS)

          Pica child   5     g/day
          Adult        0.02  g/day

          The  value of  5  g/day  for  a  pica  child   is  a
          worst-case  estimate  employed   by   U.S.  EPA's
          Exposure  Assessment   Group   (U.S.  EPA,  1983a).
          The  value of  0.02 g/day  for  an   adult is  an
          estimate from U.S.  EPA (1984a).

       v. Average daily human dietary intake  of  pollutant
          (DI)

          Toddler     46.3 Ug/day
          Adult      110.7 ug/day

          See Section 3,  p.  3-13.

      vi. Acceptable  daily  intake  of  pollutant   (ADI)  =
          455
          See Section 3,  p.  3-14.
                   3-19

-------
     d.   Index 12 Values
                                Sludge Application
                                   Rate (mt/ha)
Group
Toddler
Adult
e.
f.
Sludge
Concentration 0
Typical
Worst
Typical
Worst
0.10
0.10
0.24
0.24
Value Interpretation -
Preliminary
Conclusion
0.
0.
0.
0.
Same
5
10
10
24
24
50
0.
0.
0.
0.
as for
- No
human
10
11
24
24
Index
500
0.
0.
0.
0.
9
health
11
11
24
24
•
Pure
Sludge
0.
0.
0.
0.

hazard
11
16
24
24

due
          to Se is expected when  either  sludge-amended soil or
          pure sludge is ingested.

5.   Index of Aggregate Human Toxicity (Index 13)

     a.   Explanation  -  Calculates   the  aggregate  amount  of
          pollutant in  the  human  diet resulting  from pathways
          described in  Indices  9  to  12.   Compares  this  amount
          with ADI.

     b.   Assumptions/Limitations  - As described  for  Indices 9
          to 12.

     c.   Data Used and Rationale - As described  for  Indices 9
          to 12.
     d.    Index 13 Values
                                       Sludge Application
                                          Rate (mt/ha)
Group
Toddler
Adult
Sludge
Concentration
Typical
Worst
Typical
Worst
0
0.11
0.11
0.25
0.25
5
0.14
0.28
0.35
0.73
50
0.32
1.2
0.82
3.2
500
1.8
8.6
4.6
23
     e.    Value Interpretation -  Same  as  for  Index 9.

     f.    Preliminary Conclusion - The  aggregate amount of  Se
          in the  human diet  resulting  from landspreading  of
          sludge  is  expected  to  pose   a  health  hazard  when
          sludge containing a typical concentration  of Se  is
          applied  at a  high  rate or  when  sludge containing  a
          high  concentration  or  Se  is   applied  at a  rate  of
          50 mt/ha or greater.
                        3-20

-------
II. LANDFILLING

    A.   Index  of  Groundwater  Concentration  Increment  Resulting  from
         Landfilled Sludge (Index 1)

         1.   Explanation -  Calculates  groundwater  contamination  which
              could occur  in a potable  aquifer  in  the  landfill  vicin-
              ity.     Uses  U.S.  EPA  Exposure  Assessment  Group  (EAG)
              model,  "Rapid  Assessment of  Potential  Groundwater Contam-
              ination Under  Emergency Response  Conditions"  (U.S.  EPA,
              1983b).  Treats landfill leachate as a pulse input,  i.e.,
              the application of a  constant source  concentration  for a
              short time period relative to  the time frame of the  anal-
              ysis.   In order  to  predict  pollutant movement  in  soils
              and groundwater, parameters  regarding  transport and  fate,
              and boundary or  source  conditions  are  evaluated.   Trans-
              port   parameters  include  the   interstitial  pore   water
              velocity  and  dispersion   coefficient.    Pollutant   fate
              parameters include the  degradation/decay  coefficient  and
              retardation factor.   Retardation is primarily  a  function
              of the  adsorption process,  which   is  characterized  by  a
              linear,  equilibrium   partition  coefficient   representing
              the  ratio  of   adsorbed  and  solution pollutant  concentra-
              tions.   This partition  coefficient, along with soil  bulk
              density and volumetric  water content,  are used  to  calcu-
              late  the   retardation  factor.   A  computer  program  (in
              FORTRAN) was developed  to facilitate  computation of  the
              analytical solution.   The program predicts pollutant  con-
              centration as a function of  time and location  in  both  the
              unsaturated and  saturated  zone.   Separate  computations
              and parameter  estimates are  required  for each  zone.   The
              prediction  requires   evaluations  of   four  dimensionless
              input  values   and  subsequent  evaluation of  the  result,
              through use of  the computer program.

         2.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  Conservatively assumes  that  the
              pollutant   is  100  percent  mobilized in  the  leachate  and
              that  all  leachate  leaks out  of  the landfill in  a  finite
              period  and undiluted  by precipitation.  Assumes  that  all
              soil  and aquifer properties  are  homogeneous  and isotropic
              throughout each zone;  steady, uniform  flow occurs only  in
              the  vertical direction  throughout  the unsaturated  zone,
              and  only  in  the  horizontal  (longitudinal)  plane in  the
              saturated  zone; pollutant  movement  is  considered only  in
              direction  of  groundwater flow for the  saturated zone;  all
              pollutants exist  in  concentrations  that  do  not  signifi-
              cantly  affect  water movement;  the  pollutant  source  is  a
              pulse input;  no dilution of  the  plume  occurs by  recharge
              from  outside the  source area; the  leachate  is undiluted
              by aquifer flow within  the saturated  zone;  concentration
              in the  saturated  zone  is attenuated  only by dispersion.
                                 3-21

-------
3.   Data Used and Rationale

     a.   Unsaturated zone

          i.   Soil type and characteristics

                (a) Soil type

                    Typical    Sandy loam
                    Worst      Sandy

                    These  two  soil types  were  used by  Gerritse et
                    al.  (1982)  to measure partitioning  of elements
                    between  soil  and   a   sewage  sludge  solution
                    phase.   They are used here  since  these  parti-
                    tioning measurements (i.e.,  Kj  values) are con-
                    sidered  the  best  available  for  analysis  of
                    metal  transport   from  landfilled  sludge.    The
                    same soil types are  also  used for  nonmetals for
                    convenience and consistency of analysis.

                (b) Dry bulk, density (Pdry)

                    Typical    1.53  g/mL
                    Worst      1.925  g/mL

                    Bulk density  is the  dry mass  per unit volume of
                    the medium (soil), i.e.,  neglecting  the mass of
                    the water  (Camp  Dresser  and  McKee,  Inc.  (CDM),
                    1984).

                (c) Volumetric water content  (9)

                    Typical    0.195  (unitless)
                    Worst      0.133  (unitless)

                    The volumetric water  content  is  the  volume  of
                    water  in  a  given   volume   of   media, usually
                    expressed as a fraction or  percent.   It depends
                    on properties  of  Che  media  and  Che  wacer  flux
                    estimated by  infilcration or  net recharge.   The
                    volumetric water  content  is  used in  calculating
                    the water movement through  Che  unsaturated  zone
                    (pore  water   velocity)   and  the   retardation
                    coefficient.   Values  obtained from  CDM, 1984.

          ii.  Site parameters

               (a)  Landfill  leaching time  (LT)  = 5  years

                    Sikora   et    al.    (1982)   monitored  several
                    landfills  throughout  Che  Uniced   States   and
                    estimated time of landfill  leaching  to be  4  or
                    5  years.   Other  types of  landfills may  leach
                             3-22

-------
     for longer periods  of  time;  however, the use of
     a value  for  entrenchment  sites  is  conservative
     because   it   results   in  a   higher  leachate
     generation rate.

(b)  Leachate generation rate  (Q)

     Typical    0.8 m/year
     Worst      1.6 m/year

     It   is   conservatively   assumed   that   sludge
     leachate enters  the unsaturated  zone undiluted
     by  precipitation or  other  recharge, that  the
     total volume  of  liquid  in  the  sludge  leaches
     out  of  the   landfill,  and  that  leaching  is
     complete  in   5   years.     Landfilled  sludge  is
     assumed to be  20 percent  solids  by volume,  and
     depth of  sludge  in the  landfill is  5m  in  the
     typical case and  10 m  in  the  worst  case.   Thus,
     the initial depth of  liquid  is  4  and 8  m,  and
     average yearly  leachate  generation is 0.8  and
     1.6 m, respectively.

(c)  Depth to groundwater (h)

     Typical    5  m
     Worst      0  m

     Eight  landfills  were  monitored   throughout  the
     United States  and  depths  to groundwater  below
     them  were  Listed.   A  typical depth  of  ground-
     water  of   5 m  was  observed   (U.S.   EPA,   1977).
     For the worst  case, a  value  of  0 m  is used  to
     represent  the situation where the  bottom  of  the
     landfill  is occasionally  or  regularly below  the
     water table.   The  depth to groundwater must  be
     estimated   in  order  to  evaluate   the  likelihood
     that  pollutants  moving through  the unsaturated
     soil will  reach  the  groundwater.

(d)  Dispersivity  coefficient (a)

     Typical     0.5 m
     Worst      Not  applicable

     The dispersion  process  is exceedingly  complex
     and difficult  to quantify,  especially for. the
     unsaturated zone.   It  is  sometimes  ignored  in
     the unsaturated  zone,  with  the  reasoning  that
     pore water velocities  are usually  large  enough
     so  that   pollutant  transport   by   convection,
     i.e.,  water movement,  is  paramount.  As  a rule
     of  thumb,  dispersivity  may  be  set  equal   to
     10 percent  of the  distance measurement  of  the
              3-23

-------
               analysis  (Gelhar  and  Axness,  1981).    Thus,
               based on depth  to  groundwater listed above, the
               value for the  typical case is 0.5  and that for
               the  worst  case  does not  apply  since leachate
               moves directly to the unsaturated zone.

     iii. Chemical-specific parameters

          (a)  Sludge concentration of pollutant (SC)

               Typical    1.111 mg/kg DW
               Worst      4.848 mg/kg DW

               See Section 3,  p. 3-1.

          (b)  Degradation rate (u)  = 0 day~l

               The degradation rate  in  the  unsaturated zone is
               assumed to be zero for all  inorganic chemicals

          (c)  Soil sorption coefficient (Kj)

               Typical    14.9  mL/g
               Worst       5.91 mL/g

               K.£  values  were  obtained  from Gerritse et  al.
               (1982) using sandy loam  soil  (typical) or  sandy
               soil (worst).  Values shown  are  geometric, means
               of  a  range  of  values   derived  using  sewage
               sludge solution  phases  as the  liquid  phase  in
               the adsorption  experiments.

b.   Saturated zone

     i.   Soil type- and characteristics

          (a)  Soil type

               Typical     Silty sand
               Worst      Sand

               A silty sand having  the  values of  aquifer  por-
               osity and hydraulic  conductivity defined  below
               represents  a typical  aquifer  material.  A  more
               conductive  medium  such  as sand  transports  the
               plume more readily and with less dispersion  and
               therefore represents  a reasonable worst case.

          (b)  Aquifer porosity (#)

               Typical    0.44  (unitless)
               Worst     0.389  (unitless)
                        3-24

-------
          Porosity is that portion  of  the total volume of
          soil that  is  made  up of  voids  (air)  and water.
          Values  corresponding to  the  above  soil  types
          are  from  Pettyjohn  et  al.   (1982)  as presented
          in U.S. EPA (1983b).

     (c)  Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer (K)

          Typical    0.86 m/day
          Worst      4.04 m/day

          The hydraulic conductivity  (or  permeability) of
          the aquifer is needed to  estimate flow velocity
          based on Darcy's Equation.   It is  a  measure of
          the  volume  of liquid  that   can flow  through  a
          unit area  or  media with  time;  values  can  range
          over nine  orders of magnitude  depending on  the
          nature  of  the media.   Heterogenous  conditions
          produce  large spatial  variation  in  hydraulic
          conductivity,   making  estimation  of  a  single
          effective  value  extremely   difficult.    Values
          used  are   from  Freeze  and   Cherry  (1979)    as
          presented in U.S. EPA (1983b).

ii.  Site parameters

     (a)  Average hydraulic gradient between landfill  and
          well (i)

          Typical    0.001  (unltLess)
          Worst      .0.02   (unitless)

          The  hydraulic gradient   is   the   slope  of  the
          water  table  in an  unconfined  aquifer,  or  the
          piezbmetric  surface  for  a   confined  aquifer.
          The  hydraulic   gradient   must   be  known   to
          determine   the   magnitude   and   direction   of
          groundwater flow.   As  gradient increases,  dis-
          persion is  reduced.   Estimates  of typical  and
          high gradient values  were provided by  Donigian
          (1985).

     (b)  Distance from well  to landfill (Ai)

          Typical    100 m
          Worst       50 m

          This  distance   is   the  distance  between   a
          landfill and  any functioning public  or  private
          water supply or  livestock  water  supply.
                   3-25

-------
          (c)  Dispersivity coefficient (a)
               Typical    10 m
               Worst       5 ra

               These  values  are  10 percent  of   the  distance
               from  well  to  landfill  (AS,),  which is  100 and
               50 m,   respectively,   for   typical   and  worst
               conditions.

          (d)  Minimum thickness of  saturated  zone  (B) =  2 m

               The  minimum  aquifer  thickness represents  the
               assumed  thickness   due   to  preexisting  flow;
               i.e., in the  absence  of  leachate.   It is  termed
               the  minimum  thickness  because  in  the  vicinity
               of  the  site  it  may be  increased  by  leachate
               infiltration  from  the  site.   A  value of  2 m
               represents   a   worst   case   assumption   that
               preexisting  flow is very  limited  and .therefore
               dilution  of   the plume  entering  -the  saturated
               zone is negligible.

          (e)  Width of landfill (W) = 112.8 m

               The  landfill   is   arbitrarily  assumed  to  be
               circular with an area of 10,000 m^.

     iii. Chemical-specific parameters

          (a)  Degradation rate (ji)  = 0 day"*

               Degradation  is  assumed  not to  occur  in  the
               saturated zone.

          (b)  Background   concentration   of   pollutant   in
               groundwater (BC) = 8 Ug/L

               No  information  was  available on  the concentra-
               tion  of Se  in  groundwater.   Taylor   (1963  as
               cited in  NAS,  1977)  reported  that  the mean  Se
               concentration  from   194   samples   of   finished
               drinking water was  8  Ug/L.  It is  assumed that
               groundwater concentrations  are  equal  to  or less
               than this value.  (See Section  4, p. 4-3.)

          (c)  Soil sorption coefficient (K
-------
     5.   Value  Interpretation  -  Value  equals  factor  by  which
          expected groundwater  concentration  of pollutant at   well
          exceeds  the  background  concentration (a  value  of  2.0
          indicates the  concentration  is  doubled,  a  value of  1.0
          indicates no change).

     6.   Preliminary Conclusion -  An  increase  in  the  concentration
          of Se  in  groundwater at  the  well  due to leaching from a
          sludge  landfill  is  expected  when  worst-case  conditions
          occur   for   the   site  parameters   only,   and  for   all
          parameters simultaneously.

B.   Index   of   Human   Toxicity    Resulting    from    Groundwater
     Contamination (Index 2)

     1.   Explanation  -  Calculates  human   exposure   which   could
          result from groundwater contamination.  Compares  exposure
          with acceptable daily intake (ADI)  of  pollutant.

     2.   Assumptions/Limitations - Assumes   long-term  exposure  to
          maximum concentration at well  at  a  rate of  2  L/day.

     3.   Data Used and Rationale

          a.   Index of groundwater concentration increment  result-
               ing from landfilled sludge (Index 1)

               See Section  3,  p. 3-28.

          b.   Background concentration of pollutant in groundwater
               (BC) = 8 pg/L

               See Section  3,  p. 3-26.

          c.   Average human  consumption of   drinking  water  (AC)  =
               2 L/day

               The value of  2  L/day  is a standard value  used  by
               U.S.  EPA in  most risk assessment  studies.

          d.   Average daily human dietary intake of pollutant  (DI)
               = 110.7 Ug/day

               See Section  3,  p. 3-13.

          e.   Acceptable  daily   intake  of   pollutant   (ADI)   —
               455 Ug/day

               See Section  3,  p. 3-14.

     4.   Index 2 Values  -  See  Table 3-1.

     5.   Value Interpretation - Value  equals factor  by which pol-
          lutant intake exceeds ADI.  Value >1  indicates a possible
                             3-27

-------
           TABLE  3-1.   INDEX  OF  GROUNDWATER  CONCENTRATION  INCREMENT RESULTING FROM LANDFILLED SLUDGE (INDEX 1) AND
                       INDEX  OF  HUMAN  TOXICITY  RESULTING FROM GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION  (INDEX 2)
     Site Characteristics
                                                        Condition of
                                                    34
Co
I
00
Sludge concentration        T

Unsaturated Zone

  Soil type and charac-     T
    teristics^
  Site parameters6          T

Saturated Zone

  Soil type and charac-     T
    teristics^
  Site parameters**          T

Index 1 Value              1.0

Index 2 Value              0.24
 W


   4

 T

 T




 T

 T

1.0

0.24
 T



 W

 T



 T

 T

1.0

0.24
 NA

 W



 T

 T

1.0

0.24
 T

 T



 W  .

 T

1.0

0.24
 T

 T



 T

 W

1.2

0.25
 W



 NA

 W



 W

 W

4.5

0.37
 N

 N



 N

 N

 0

0.24
     aT = Typical values used; W = worst-case values used; N = null condition,  where no landfill exists,  used as
      basis for comparison; NA = not applicable for this condition.

     "Index values for combinations other than those shown may be calculated using the formulae in the Appendix.

     cSee Table A-l in Appendix for parameter values used.

     ^Dry bulk density (Pdry) an(* volumetric water content (9).

     eLeachate generation rate (Q), depth to groundwater (h), and dispersivity  coefficient (a).

     ^Aquifer porosity (0) and hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer (K).

     SHydraulic gradient (i), distance from well to landfill (Aft,), and dispersivity coefficient (a).

-------
               human  health  threat.    Comparison  with  the  null  index
               value indicates the degree  to  which any hazard  is  due to
               landfill  disposal,  as  opposed  to  preexisting  dietary
               sources.

          6.   Preliminary Conclusion  -  No human  health  risk due  to Se
               in groundwater  at  the  well is expected when sludge  is
               disposed of in a landfill.

III. INCINERATION

     A.   Index   of   Air   Concentration  Increment   Resulting   from
          Incinerator Emissions (Index 1)

          1.   Explanation  -  Shows   the  degree   of  elevation  of  the
               pollutant concentration in  the air  due  to  the  incinera-
               tion  of  sludge.   An input sludge with thermal  properties
               defined  by  the  energy parameter (EP)  was analyzed  using
               the BURN model  (CDM,  1984).  This  model uses  the  thermo-
               dynamic  and  mass  balance relationships  appropriate  for
               multiple hearth  incinerators  to relate  the  input  sludge
               characteristics to  the stack  gas   parameters.   Dilution
               and dispersion of these stack gas releases were  described
               by the   U.S.  EPA's Industrial  Source  Complex  Long-Term
               (ISCLT)  dispersion  model  from  which  normalized   annual
               ground  level   concentrations  were  predicted  (U.S.   EPA,
               1979).  The predicted pollutant concentration can  then be
               compared to  a  ground  level concentration  used to  assess
               risk.

          2.   Assumptions/Limitations  -  The   fluidized  bed  incinerator
               was  not  chosen   due  to  a  paucity  of   available  data.
               Gradual plume rise, stack tip downwash, and building  wake
               effects  are  appropriate  for  describing  plume  behavior.
               Maximum  hourly  impact  values  can   be   translated   into
               annual average  values.

          3.   Data  Used and Rationale

               a.    Coefficient  to correct  for mass and time units  (C) =
                    2.78 x  10~7 hr/sec  x  g/mg

               b.    Sludge  feed rate  (DS)

                      i. Typical  =  2660 kg/hr  (dry  solids input)

                        A  feed  rate  of 2660  kg/hr  DW represents an
                        average  dewatered  sludge  feed  rate  into   the
                        furnace.   This feed rate  would  serve a  commun-
                        ity  of  approximately  400,000 people.   This  rate
                        was  incorporated into the  U.S.  EPA-ISCLT model
                        based on the following input data:
                                  3-29

-------
               EP = 360  Ib H20/mm BTU
               Combustion zone  temperature  -  1400°F
               Solids content - 28%
               Stack height  - 20 m
               Exit gas  velocity - 20 m/s
               Exit gas  temperature  - 356.9°K (1838F)
               Stack diameter - 0.60 m

      ii. Worst = 10,000 kg/hr  (dry  solids  input)

          A  feed rate  of  10,000 kg/hr  DW  represents a
          higher  feed  rate  and would serve  a major U.S.
          city.  This rate  was  incorporated  into the U.S.
          EPA-ISCLT  model   based  on the  following  input
          data:

               EP = 392 Ib H20/mm BTU
               Combustion zone  temperature  -  1400°F
               Solids content - 26.6%
               Stack height  - 10  m
               Exit gas velocity  - 10 m/s
               Exit gas temperature  - 313.8°K  (105°F)
               Stack diameter - 0.80 m

c.   Sludge concentration of pollutant (SC)

     Typical    1.111 mg/kg  DW
     Worst      4.848 mg/kg  DW

     See Section 3,  p.  3-1.

d.   Fraction of pollutant emitted through  stack (FM)

     Typical    0.01  (unitless)
     Worst    '  0.026 (unitless)

     Emission  estimates  may   vary  considerably  between
     sources; therefore,  the values  used  are based on a
     U.S.  EPA  10-city   incineration study  (Farrell  and
     Wall, 1981).  Where data were not  available from  the
     EPA  study,  a  more  recent  report  which  thoroughly
     researched heavy metal  emissions was  utilized  (COM,
     1983).

e.   Dispersion  parameter  for  estimating   maximum  annual
     ground level concentration (DP)

     Typical    3.4
     Worst     16.0

     The  dispersion  parameter  is derived  from  the U.S.
     EPA-ISCLT short-stack model.
                   3-30

-------
          f.   Background  concentration of  pollutant  in  urban air
               (BA) = 0.0009 Ug/m3

               An average  of  0.09 Ug  of Se  per  100 m3 of  air was
               reported in seven  samples  taken  during  the  summer in
               Cambridge,  Massachusetts (Lakin,  1973).    Se levels
               in  atmospheric  dust  collected  on air  conditioning
               filters  in  10  U.S.   cities  ranged  from  0.05  to
               10 Ug/g  (Lakin,  1973);  however,  no  information was
               given  on the  air  concentration.    (See  Section  4,
               p. 4-3.)

     4.   Index 1 Values

                                                   Sludge Feed
          Fraction of                             Rate  (kg/hr DW)a
          Pollutant Emitted    Sludge
          Through Stack     Concentration      0     2660  10,000
Typical
Typical
Worst
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.5
3.4
          Worst               Typical        1.0     1.1     2.4
                              Worst          1.0     1.4     7.2

          aThe typical (3.4 ug/m3) and worst (16.0 Ug/m3)    disper-
           sion parameters will always  correspond,  respectively,  to
           the typical (2660  kg/hr DW)  and worst (10,000  kg/hr DW)
           sludge feed rates.

     5.   Value  Interpretation  -  Value  equals  factor  by  which
          expected air concentration exceeds  background levels  due
          to incinerator  emissions.

     6.   Preliminary Conclusion  - The   concentration  of Se  in  air
          is  expected  to  moderately   increase  above  background
          levels  when sludge is incinerated.

B.   Index   of   Human  Toxicity   Resulting   from   Inhalation   of
     Incinerator  Emissions (Index 2)

     1.   Explanation - Shows  the  increase  in  human  intake expected
          to result  from  the   incineration  of  sludge.    For  noncar-
          cinogens, levels typically were derived from  the American
          Conference  of   Governmental   and  Industrial   Hygienists
          (ACGIH) threshold limit  values (TLVs) for  the  workplace.

     2.   Assumptions/Limitations   -  The   exposed   population   is
          assumed  to  reside  within   the  impacted  area   for   24
          hours/day.   A respiratory volume  of  20 m3/day is  assumed
          over a  70-year  lifetime.
                             3-31

-------
3.   Data Used and Rationale

     a.   Index of  air concentration  increment  resulting from
          incinerator emissions (Index 1)

          See Section 3, p. 3-31.

     b.   Background  concentration  of pollutant  in  urban air
          (BA) = 0.0009 Ug/m3

          See Section 3, p. 3-31.

     c.   Maximum   permissible   intake    of    pollutant   by
          inhalation (MPIH) = 70 yg/day

          U.S.  EPA  (1984b)  reported  an  MPIH  of 0.07  mg/day.
          This  value  was  derived based  on  results  of  a  study
          by Glover  (1967).   This  study reported that a uri-
          nary concentration of 0.1 Ug/L in workers  exposed to
          atmospheric  Se  corresponded roughly to an air con-
          centration of 0.1  mg/m3.   Assuming a  worker  inhaled
          10 m3 of air  during a  workday,  this  exposure  corres-
          ponds to a  daily intake  of  1  mg/day during  a  5-day
          work week.   The MPIH  was derived by multiplying  by
          5/7 to expand exposure  to a 7-day week and dividing
          by an uncertainty  factor  of 10 to protect  sensitive
          populations.  No  health  effects  were reported  to  be
          associated with the level reported by  Glover  (1967).
          (See Section 4,  p. 4-8.)

     d.   Exposure criterion (EC) = 3.5 Ug/m3

          The  exposure  criterion  is   the  level   at  which  the
          inhalation  of  the pollutant  is  expected  to exceed
          the  acceptable  daily  intake  Level  for  inhalation.
          The  exposure  criterion  is   calculated  using  the
          following  formula:

               Ec  =      MPIH
                     20 m3/day
                        3-32

-------
         4.   Index 2 Values
              Fraction of
              Pollutant Emitted    Sludge
              Through Stack     Concentration
                     Sludge Feed
                    Rate (kg/hr DW)a

                       2660  10,000
              Typical
              Worst
Typical     0.00026  0.00027  0.00040
Worst       0.00026  0.00029  0.00087

Typical     0.00026  0.00028  0.00062
Worst       0.00026  0.00035  0.0019
              aThe typical (3.4 ug/m3) and worst (16.0 Ug/m3)    disper-
               sion parameters will always  correspond,  respectively,  to
               the typical (2660  kg/hr  DW)  and worst (10,000  kg/hr DW)
               sludge feed rates.

         5.   Value  Interpretation  -  Value  equals  factor  by  which
            '  expected intake exceeds MPIH.   Value >1  indicates  a  pos-
              sible  human health  threat.    Comparison  with  the  null
              index value at  0 kg/hr DW  indicates  the  degree to  which
              any hazard  is  due  to sludge  incineration,  as opposed  to
              background urban air concentration.

         6.   Preliminary Conclusion - A human health hazard due  to the
              release of  Se  into  air  when sludge is incinerated  is not
              expected to occur.

IV. OCEAN DISPOSAL

    Based on  the recommendations  of  the  experts at  the  OWRS meetings
    (April-May,   1984),  an assessment  of  this reuse/disposal option  Is
    not  being conducted at this time.   The  U.S. EPA reserves  the  right
    to conduct such an assessment  for  this option  in the future.
                                 3-33

-------
                              SECTION 4

   PRELIMINARY DATA PROFILE FOR SELENIUM IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE  SLUDGE
I. OCCURRENCE

   A.   Sludge
        I.   Frequency of Detection

             Detected in 335 of 431 samples from
             40 POTWs (78%)

             Detected in 58 of 81 samples from
             10 POTWs (72%)

        2.   Concentration

             In 335 out of 431 samples  from
             40 POTWs Se values ranged  from 1 to
             140,000 Ug/L.

             Median = 1.111 ug/g DW
             95th percentile = 4.848 Ug/g DW
             In 58 out of 81  samples  from 10  POTWs,
             Se values ranged from 2  to  1718  Ug/L.

             Summary of sludge analysis  from  74
             cities in Missouri (ug/L).

             Min.     Max.     Mean    Median
                        U.S. EPA, 1982
                        (p. 41)

                        U.S. EPA, 1982
                        (p. 49)
                        U.S. EPA, 1982
                        (p. 41)
                        Statistically
                        derived from
                        sludge concen-
                        tration data
                        presented in
                        U.S. EPA, 1982

                        U.S. EPA, 1982
                        (p. 49)

                        Clevenger et
                        al., 1983
                        (p. 1472)
                      25
3.9
             Metro Denver anaerobically  digested
             sludge mean =2.5  Ug/g DW

             Louisville, KY sludge:   20  to  37  Ug/g
             Largo, FL sludge:   12  to 15 Ug/g

             1.7 to 8.7 ug/g (DW)
                        Baxter et al.,
                        1983 (p.  313)

                        Jones and Lee,
                        1977 (p.  313)

                        Furr et al., .
                        1976 (p.  684)
                                4-1

-------
Soil - Unpolluted

1.   Frequency of Detection

     Se is widely but unevenly distributed.


2.   Concentration

     "Normal" mean 0.5 Ug/g
     range 0.1 to 2.0

     Garden soil 0.21 yg/g (DW)
     Range for most soils 0.1 to 0.2 ug/g
     and the average may be as low as
     0.01
     Seleniferous soils range
     1.0 to 6.0 Ug/g with high of 82 Ug/g

Water - Unpolluted

1.   Frequency of Detection

     In an analysis of 194 public water
     supply sources, Se was "barely
     detectable" in most samples.

     In a seleniferous area of South Dakota,
     no Se was detected in 34 out of
     44 wells.

2.   Concentration

     a.   Freshwater
                                       •y
          "...surface water generally con-
          tains less than 10 Ug/L of Se."

          Freshwater levels average 20
          Average Se content  of  nine
          rivers is given as  0.2 Ug/L.
          Range:  0.114 to 0.348 ug/L.

          14  out of 43  surface water  samples
          from Colorado contained Se  at
          levels ranging from 10 to 400
          Ug/L.  Eleven of the samples
          exceeded 10 Ug/L allowable  in
          drinking water.
 Jenkins,  1980a
 (p.  34)
Allaway,  1968
(p.  242)

Cappon,  1984
(p.  100)

Yopp et al.,
1974 (p.  198)
Yopp et al.,
1974 (p.  198)
NAS, 1983
(p. 28)
NAS, 1983
(p. 28)
Harr, 1978
(p. 395)

Jenkins, 1980a
(p. 15)

Lakin, 1973
(pp. 102 and
104)

Lakin, 1973
(p. 102)
                         4-2

-------
D.   Air
               Water in lakes, including those
               in seleniferous areas, has been
               found to contain very little Se.

               Seawater

               27 seawater samples, worldwide,
               contained an average of
               0.09 yg/L.
               Range:  0.052 to 0.13 Ug/L.

               Drinking Water

               8 Ug/L in public finished
               drinking water (mean of 194
               samples)

               Se occurs as a minor constituent
               in drinking water in a concentra-
               tion range of 0.1 to 100 Ug/L.

               Upper limit for Se in drinking
               water is 10 Ug/L.
          Frequency of Detection

          The atmosphere is supplied with Se via
          soil dust,  volcanoes,   burning of  fos-
          sil fuels,  industrial  emissions and
          volatile products produced by plants
          and animals.

          Concentration

          0.05 to 10  Ug/g Se found in atmo-
          spheric dust collected on air condi-
          tioning filters in 10  U.S.  cities.

          7  air samples from Cambridge, MA con-
          tained an average of 0.9 ng/nr* Se
          in 1965.
NAS,  1983
(p. 29)
Lakin,  1973
(p.  105)
Taylor, 1963 in
NAS, 1977
NAS, 1983
(p. 28)
NAS, 1983
NAS, 1983
(p. 39)
Lakin, 1973
(p. 106)
Lakin, 1973
(p. 106)
                             4-3

-------
B.   Food

     1.   Total Average Intake

          Estimated human daily intake from
          diet
          Food
Selenium Intake
     (Ug/day)
Plant
Vegetables, fruit
sugars
Cereals
Animal
Dairy products
Meat, fish
Total

5.4

44.5

13.5
68.6
132.0
          Average Daily Se Intake - Adults
            FY 1977  - 110.7 Ug/day
            FY 1976  - 135.6 Ug/day
            FY 1975  - 169.7 Ug/day
            FY 1974  - 169.0 Ug/day

          Average Daily Se Intake - Toddlers
            FY 1977  - 46.3 Ug/day
            FY 1976  - 45.0 Ug/day
            FY 1975  - 58.4 Ug/day

          Concentration

          Higher Se  values may be expected in
          plant-derived foods  that are high in
          protein and from seleniferous regions,

          Se in food from seleniferous regions
          (Ug/g):
                       NAS, 1983
                       (p. 36)
                       FDA, 1980a
                       FDA,  1980b
                       NAS,  1983
                       (p.  30)
                       NAS,  1983
                       (p.  30)
          Bread
          Milk
          Eggs
          Meat
          Vegetables
    0.25  to 1.0
    0.16  to 1.27
    0.25"to 1.27
    1.17  to 8.0 (DW)
    2  to  100
U.S. EPA, 1980
(p. C-l)
                             4-4

-------
Selenium content in grains and vegetables grown in
seleniferous  areas
Rosenfeld and
Beath, 1964
(p. 106)

Wheat
Corn
Rye
Onions
Barley
Oats
Asparagus
Rutabagas
Selenium (ppm)
Minimum Maximum
Selenium (ppm)
Minimum Maximum
1.15 30.0 Cabbage 2.3 4.5
1.00 20.0 Peas and beans 0.2 2.0
0.90 25.0 Carrots
0.40 17.8 Tomatoes
1.70 17.0 Beets
2.00 15.0 Potatoes
2.70 11.0 Cucumbers
1..70 6.0
1.3 1.4
0.2 1.2
0.3 1.2
0.2 0.9
0.1 0.6
Se in food from nonselenif erous HAS, 1983
regions (ug/g): (pp. 30 to 33)










Milk 0.010 to
Butter & cream 0.003 to
Cheese 0.010 to
Eggs 0.20 to
Bread 0.28 to
Beef, chicken, lamb
Trout
Shrimp
Shellfish
Fish
Fruits & vegetables
Cucumbers, carrots, 0.015 to
onions
Mushrooms & garlic 0.060 to
0.021
0.006
0.123
0.52
0.68
0.22
0.36
2
0.63
0.63
<0.01
0.140

0.249
               Se  in  selected  vegetables  (ug/g  WW)

                         Mean Median  Minimum Maximum
Wheat
Lettuce
Peanuts
Potatoes
Soybeans
Sweet
corn
6.37
0.
0.
0.
0.

0.
0016
057
003
19

0064
0
0.
0.
0.
0.

0.
.16a
00066
036
Oil
75

0028
<0
<0.
0.
<0.
0.

.010
0004
002
002
010

<0.002
6000
0.011
0.91
0.055
2.5

0.086
       Wolnik et

       al.,  1983
              a Wet Weight  factor = 0.883
                                  4-5

-------
         Variation of selenium concentrations in       NAS, 1983
         various feed ingredients (as-fed basis) in    (p. 27)
         the United States
         Ingredient             Selenium (ppm)
Alfalfa meal
Barley
Bentonite
Blood meal
Brewers' grains
Corn
Dicalcium phosphate
Feather meal
Fish meals
Gluten food
Gluten meal
Linseed meal
Meat meal
Oats
Poultry by-product
Rapeseed meal
Soybean meal
Whole soybeans
Wheat
Wheat middlings
Wheat bran
0.01-2.00
0.05-0.50
1.00-20.00
—
0.15-1.00
0.01-1.00
0.15-1.00
1.00-5.00
0.15-0.50
0.10-1.50
0.50-1.20
0.08-0.50
0.01-1.00
0.50-1.00
0.06-1.00
0.07-0.90
0.01-3.00
0.15-1.00
0.10-3.00
II. HUMAN EFFECTS

    A.   Ingestion

         1.   Carcinogenicity

              a.   Qualitative Assessment
                   Se is reported to be carcinogenic   Jenkins,  1980a
                   and teratogenic to animals.

                   Available data on Se carcinogeni-   U.S.  EPA,  1980
                   city are considered to  be inade-    (p.  C-61)
                   quate to use carcinogenic risk as
                   a basis  for health criteria.   In
                   addition, there is evidence  that
                   Se has anticarcinogenic effects
                   in animals  and man.

                   Potency

                   Data not available.
                                  4-6

-------
          c.   Effects

               Malignant tumors such as spindle    U.S. EPA, 1980
               cell sarcoma, leukemia types,       (p. C-45)
               pleomorphic carcinoma found in
               selenate-supplemented animals.

     2.   Chronic Toxicity

          a.   ADI

               455 Ug/day                          U.S. EPA, 1984b

          b.   Effects

               Reported to cause the disease of    Browning, 1969
               "blind staggers" and "Alkali
               disease" in cattle.

               Lethal to animal when high dosages  Fishbein, 1977
               are administered.

               1 ppm Se in drinking water for 5    Bowen, 1966
               years produced an increase in num-
               ber of dental caries in monkeys.

               Chronic effects to animals include  Fishbein, 1977
               liver damage in the form of atro-
               phy, necrosis, cirrhosis, hemorrage,
               and progressive anemia.

     3.   Absorption Factor

          80 percent                               U.S. EPA, 1980
                                                   (p. C-9)

     4.   Existing Regulations

          Water quality criterion = 10 Ug/L        U.S. EPA, 1980
                                                   (p. C-67)

B.   Inhalation

     1.   Carcinogenicity

          a.   Qualitative Assessment

               No evidence of carcinogenesis
               induced by Se inhalation
                              4-7

-------
          2.   Chronic Toxicity

               a.   Inhalation Threshold or MPIH

                    Threshold limit value for Se con-
                    centrations in air for a normal
                    8-hour workday is 0.2 mg/m^

                    The limit is 0.0035 mg/m3
                    ambient air concentration.

                    MPIH = 0.07 mg/day

               b.   Effects

                    Marked irritation of the nasal
                    conjuactival,  and tracheobronchial
                    mucose occurs,  leading to ceryh,	
                    wheezing, dyspnea, chemical pneum-
                    onitis, and pulmonary edema.

          3.   Absorption Factor

               0.1 Ug/L in urine of workers exposed
               to Se in air corresponded to atmo-
               spheric concentration of 0.1

               80 percent
          4.   Existing Regulations

               Recommended TWA-TLV of 0.2 mg/m3 Se
               for Se hexafluoride was established.
III. PLANT EFFECTS
                                              ACGIH, 1977



                                              U.S. EPA, 1984b


                                              U.S. EPA, 1984b



                                              U.S. EPA, 1980
                                              U.S. EPA, 1980
                                              U.S. EPA, 1980
                                              (p. C-9)
                                              ACGIH, 1983
          Phytotoxicity

          1.8 ppm Se in soil solution severely affected Yopp et  al.,
          the majority of crops of economic importance  1974 (p.  200)
          in Illinois and is the recommended maximum
          permissible level.

          See Table 4-1.
     B.   Uptake
                                                  to
Primary Se accumulator plants require 1
50 Ug/g Se in either soil or water for
growth and may contain 100 to 10,000 Ug/g
Se as a glutamyl depeptide or salenocystan-
thionine.   Primary accumulator plants
include species of the genera Astragalas
Harr and Muth,
1972 (p. 177)
                                   4-8

-------
          (24 species can contain 1000 Ug/g Se),
          Oonoposis (800 Ug/g Se), Stanelya
          (700 ug/g Se), Zylorhiza (120 Ug/g Se),
          and Machaeranthera.  Secondary accumulator
          plants grow in either seleniferous or non-
          seleniferous soil and contain 25 to
          100 Ug/g Se:  Astor (72 Ug/g Se),
          Gutierrezia (60 Ug/g Se), Atriplex
          (50 ug/g Se), Grindelia (38 Ug/g Se),
          Castilleja and Comandra.  Nonaccumulator
          plants growing in seleniferous soils  contain
          1 to 25 ug/g Se.

          The form in which Se occurs often deter-
          mines the amount accumulated.  A greater
          uptake of Se by corn (1000 ug/g) and other
          crop plants occurs when Se is added as an
          organic rather than the selenite ion.
          Accumulation in wheat is greater
          (1000 Ug/g) in the presence of selenate
          rather than selenite.

          See Table 4-2.

IV.  DOMESTIC ANIMAL AND WILDLIFE EFFECTS

     A.   Toxicity

          Highly toxic >4 to 5 Ug/g  in animal  diets
          generally resulted in depressed growth
          rates, infertility of eggs or other
          undesirable effects.

          0.054 to 0.084 Ug/g threshold dietary con-
          centration.   Intake-below,  Se is conserved;
          intake above,  Se is excreted in proportion
          to intake.

          In general,  1  to 5 Ug/kg of body weight
          required to produce acute  toxicity  in
          animals.

          5 to 40 Ug/g "guideline of toxic exposure"
          to Se in natural feed  stuffs;  6 to  8  Ug/g
          minimal dietary lethal  dose in  semi-
          purified feeds.

          5 to 10 ug/g Se in forages causes naturally
          occurring Se poisoning.

          0.1 to 0.3  Ug/g (DW)  in diet, is dietary
          requirement  for Se.
Yopp et al.,
1974
Allaway, 1968
(p. 262)
Harr, 1978
(pp. 369 to 387)
Ewan, 1978
(p. 447)
Harr, 1978
(p. 407)
Rosenfeld and
Beath, 1964

NAS, 1980
(p. 400)
                                  4-9

-------
     B.
2 Ug/g (DW) maximum tolerable limit for
all species

See Table 4-3.

Uptake

0.02 to 2.0 JJg/g (WW) in liver, kidney of
35 species of mammals
                                                        NAS, 1980
                                                        (p. 400)
                                                        Jenkins, 1980a
                                                        (p. 151)
          0.02 to 4.0 Ug/g (WW) in liver of 8 species   Jenkins, 1980a
          of birds

          0.28 to 0.42 ug/g (WW) muscle of cow
          0.18 Ug/g (WW) liver of cow
          1.70 Ug/g (WW) kidney of cow
          0.48 Ug/g (WW) milk of cow

          Se concentrations in the muscle on
          Se deficient natural diets

          Feed (ug/g DW)     Muscle (ug/g WW)
                                              (p. 151)

                                              Jenkins, 1980b
                                              (p. 1091)
                                              NAS, 1980
                                              (p. 339)
          0.027 to 0.493        0.034 to 0.521

          See Table 4-4.

  V. AQUATIC LIFE EFFECTS

     Data not immediately available.

 VI. SOIL BIOTA EFFECTS

     Data not immediately available.

VII. PHYSICOCHEMICAL DATA FOR ESTIMATING FATE AND TRANSPORT
     Atomic wt:   78.96
     Density:   4.28 to 4.81
     Solubility
       sodium  selenates:   very soluble
       silver  selenates:   16 to 33 mg/L
       heavy metal selenates:   insoluble
     Melting point (°C)
       Se:   170 to 217
       H2Se:  -66
     Boiling point (°C)
       Se:   684 to 688
       H2Se:  -41
     Distribution constant (K^,  mL/g)
       Sandy loam soil
         range:   8.89  to  25.0
         mean:   14.9
                                              U.S.  EPA,  1980
                                              (p.  A-l)
                                              Lakin,  1973
                                              (p.  98)
                                              Gerritse  et  al.,
                                              1982
                                  4-10

-------
  Sandy soil
    range:  2.97 to 11.8
    mean:   5.91

Se is oxidized to selenite and is bound in a       Lakin, 1973
very insoluble basic ferric selenite and is        (p. 99)
immobile.

Se is quantitatively precipitated as a basic       Lakin, 1973
ferric selenite at pH 6.3 to 6.7.  At a pH of      (pp. 102 to 103)
about 8, selenite may be oxidized to the soluble
selenate ion.
                             4-11

-------
                                                        TABLE 4-1.   PHYTOTOXICITY OF SELENIUM
Plant/Tissue
Soybean


Corn

Wheat

Wheat

Wheat

Millet

Buckwheat
i
>-• Alfalfa
ho
Clover

Wheat

Tomato


Wheat
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat
Chemical
Form
Applied
NR°


NR

Selenite

NR

NR

Selenate

Selenite

Selenite

Selenite

NR

NR


Na2Se(>4
Na2SeO^
NaoSeOA
Na2SeO<,
Growth
Medium
NR


NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR


NR
NR
NR
NR
Control
Tissue
Concentration
(Ug/g DW)
NR


NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR


0
0
0
0
Experimental Experimental
Soil Application
Concentration8 Rate
((ig/g DW) (kg/ha)
2.


2.

5.

2.

3.

1.

2.

2.

2.

NR

25 (1.8)


5 (2.0)

0 (.40)

5 (2.0)

75 (3.0)

12 (0.9)

5 (2.0)

25 (1.8)

25 (1.8)



NR








(2.0)^
(4.0)e
(12.0)8
(824. 0)h
NAC


NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA


NA
NA
NA
NA
Experimental
Tissue
Concentration'
(Mg/g DW) Effect
NR


NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

NR

380

191


322
429
538
1004
Leaf chlorosis,
. stem tumors, leaf
lesions
Reduced foliage

Leaf chlorosis,
reduction
Leaf chlorosis

Leaf chlorosis,
thickened roots
Growth reduction

Mottled leaf
chlorosis
Leaf chlorosis,
thickened roots
Growth reduction

No injury to plant

Growth reduction
and visual symptoms
of Se phytotoxicity
Chlorosis
Chlorosis
Chlorosis
Chlorosis
References
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)

Yopp et al . ,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al. ,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al . ,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 201)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 199)
Yopp et al.,
(p. 199)

Rosenfeld and
Beath, 1964
(p. 118)

1974


1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974






a All values represent minimum phytotoxic concentrations.
  weights are given in parenthesis.
b NR = Not reported.
c NA = Not applicable.
d Se applied in culture solution with 16 ppm sulfur.
e Se applied in culture solution with 32 ppm sulfur.
' Minimum phytotoxic concentration.
8 Se applied in culture solution with 96 ppm sulfur.
n Se applied in culture solution with 192 ppm sulfur.
Concentrations were converted to dry weight assuming a 202 soil moisture content.  Wet

-------
                                                             TABLE  4-2.   UPTAKE OF  SELENIUM  BY  PLANTS
Co
Plant/Tissue
Corn/roots

Corn/stems
Corn/leaves
Corn/grain
Corn/roots


Corn/stems


Corn/leaves


Corn/grain


Wheat
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat
Alfalfa

Chemical Form
Applied
Selenite

Selenite
Selenite
Selenite
Se as aqueous
extract of A.
bisulcatus
Se as aqueous
extract of A.
bisulcatus
Se as aqueous
extract of A.
bisulcatus
Se as aqueous
extract of A.
bisulcatus
Na2SeC>4 ( + 16 ppm S)
Na2Se(>4 (+32 ppm S)
Na2Se(>4 (+96 ppm S)
Na2SeC>4 ( + 192 ppm S)
Selenite

Soil Range of Tissue
Soil Concentration (N)a Concentration Uptake'1
pl| (pg/g) (pg/g DW) Slope References
Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (4) NRC

Nutrient solution 0-5-5.0 (4) NR
Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (4) NR
Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (4) NR
Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (4) NR


Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (A) NR


Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (A) NR


Nutrient solution 0.5-5.0 (A) NR


NR 0-2 (3) 0
NR 0-2 (3) 0
NR 0-2 (3) 0
NR 0-2 (3) 0
NR 0-2 (3) 0

A1.6 Rosenfeld and Beath, 196A
(p. 110)
5A.7
42.9
31.8
348 Rosenfeld and Beath, 1964
(p. 110)

157


136


135


151. (107)4 Rosenfeld and Beath, 1964
82.5 (55)d (p. 118)
25 (17)d
24 (16)d
48.5 (32.3)d Rosenfeld and Beath, 1964
(p. 109)
      a N = number of application rates.
      b Slope = y/x: y = tissue concentration; x = soil concentration.
      c NR = Not reported.
      d Value in parenthesis  represents  the  slope  after conversion to Mg/g DW (kg/ha)"'.

-------
TABLE 4-3.  TOXICITY OP SELENIUM TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
Feed Water
Chemical Concentration Concentration
Species (N)a Form Fed (fg/g) (mg/L)
Chicken (10) Se02 5 NRb
10 NR
Chicken, hen (20) Na2Se03 7 NR
Chicken, hen NaiSeOi 8 NR
4>
I
Daily
Intake
(mg/kg)
NR
NR
NR
NR
Duration
of Study
4-5 weeks
NR
16 weeks
2 weeks or
longer
Effects
Tendency for increased
mortality from S.
gallinarum infection.
Decreased gain and
increased mortality from
S. gallinarum infection.
None on egg production,
decreased egg weight
and hatchability.
Embryos incubated to 5
weeks showed no gross
References
Hill, 1979C
Ort and Latshaw, 1978C
Gruenwald, 1958C
                                                   logically there was path-
                                                   ologic regression of
                                                   previously well formed
                                                   parts; the nervous system,
                                                   limb buds, eyes exhibited
                                                   necrosis.
Rat (10)


Hamster (8) •

Seleniferous 4.4
wheat
8.8
17.5
Na2Se03 6
9
NR
NR
NR
NK
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
100 days
NR
NR
4 weeks
NR
Slightly decreased gain Moxon, 1937C
Moderately decreased gain
Markedly decreased gain and
weight loss after 70 days.
None on gain; water Hadjimarkos, 1970C
consumption reduced 30Z
Decreased gain and water
consumption 45Z

-------
                                                                     TABLE 4-3.  (continued)
Peed
Chemical Concentration
Species (N)a Form Fed (Mg/g)
Dog (10) Na2Se03 20



Seleniferous NR
corn


Swine (2) Na2Se03 0.1
Se-methionine NR
Se-methionine NR
Na2Se03 10
Water Daily
Concentration Intake Duration
(mg/L) (rag/kg) of Study
NR



NR



NR •
NR
NR
NR
NR Several weeks



NR NR



"NR 35-39 days
NR 35-38 days
NR 38 days
NR 56 days
Effects References
Decreased feed consumption Moxon, 1937C
and gain; dull'-eyed;
sluggish; wandered
aimlessly.
Decreased feed consumption
and gain; dull-eyed;
sluggish;- wandered
aimlessly.
No adverse effect Herigstad et al., 1973C
No adverse effect
No adverse effect
No adverse effect
 i
»-j
tn
Swine (2)
      Swine (2)
      Swine (5)
                 20
                   Se-methionine
                                          NR
Se-methionine

Seleniferous
corn
NR

 5
10
                                                     NR
                                                           NR
                                                           NR
                                                     NR

                                                     NR
                                                     NR
NR         84 days        Anorexia; emesis; weight
                          loss; depression; dyspnea
                          and death of one pig at
                          32 days; no effect on
                          second pig.

NR         63-84 days     Decreased weight gain
                          in one pig.

NR         63 days        Weight loss and death of
                          one pig at 3 days;
                          decreased weight gain and
                          toxic signs in second
                          pig.

NR         5-9 days       Weight loss and death

NR         NR             No. adverse effect
NR         NR             Signs of toxicosis in 60Z
                                                                                                                               Herigstad et al., 1973C
                                                                                                                               Schoening, 1936C

-------
TABLE 4-3.  (continued)
Chemical
Species (N)a Form Fed
Swine (4) Na2Se03



Swine females (10) Na2Se03





Swine (2) Na2Se03

Horse (1) Na2Se03





Chicken, hen (2) Na2Se03








Feed
Concentration
(pg/g)
7



10
Through
weaning of
2 litter


24

115





0.1
3
5


5
9


Water
Concentration
(mg/O
NR



NR





NR

NR





NR
NR
NR


NR
NR


Daily
Intake Duration
(rag/kg) of Study
NR 108 days



NR NR





NR 79 days

NR 5 weeks





NR 28 weeks
NR NR
NR NR


NR 16 weeks
NR NR


Effects
Decreased gain; hair loss;
cracked hooves; emacia-
tion (by 5 weeks); 1 death
at 10 weeks.
Decreased conception rate
increased services per
conception; more small,
weak, and dead pigs at
birth; fewer and lighter
pigs at weaning.
Anorexia; hair loss;
liver degeneration; death.
Emaciation; listlessness;
loose hair in mane and
tail; softening and
scaling of hoof wall;
hemorrhagic and cirrhotic
liver; death.
No adverse effects
No adverse effects
None on egg production,
egg weight, or fertility;
decreased hatchability.
No adverse effect
Decreased egg weight,
production^ and
hatchability.
References
Wahlstrom et al., 19S6C



Uahlstrom and Olson, 1959C





Miller and Schoening, 1938°

Miller and Williams, 1940C





Ore and Latshaw, 1978°


;






-------
                                                               TABLE 4-3.   (continued)
Feed
Chemical Concentration
Species (N)a Form Fed (pg/g)
Chicken, pullet Selenious acid 2
(SO)

Water Daily
Concentration Intake Duration
(mg/L) (mg/kg) of Study Effects
NR NR 76 weeks None, except possibly
increased weight at
20 weeks.

References
Thapar et al., 1969C

Chicken
Chicken, hen       Seleniferous corn,  2.5
                   barley, and wheat
Chicken, pullet    Na2SeC>3
Chicken
6.5, 3.2S
    a
Chicken, hen       Seleniferous corn, 10
                   barley, and wheat
Chicken, pullet    Seleniferous corn, IS
                   barley, and wheat
NR




NR

NR




NR



NR

NR



NR
NR         NR             Reduced body weight, egg
                          weight, production, hatch-
                          ability, and progency
                          growth.

NR         Several weeks  No adverse effects          Hoxon, 1937C

NR         NR             None on hatchability;
                          wiry down on many hatched
                          chicks and increased
                          mortality.

NR         NR             Decceased feed consumption
                          and weight; deformed
                          embryos.

NR         NR             Decreased weight gain.

NR         NR             Embryonic deformities and   Noxon, 1937C
                          hatchability declined to
                          zero.

NR         5 weeks        Decreased feed consumption,
                          weight; no decrease in egg
                          production or fertility;
                          deformed embryos and
                          hatchability declined to
                          zero.

-------
                                                                     TABLE 4-3.   (continued)
 I
t->
CO
Species (N)a
Chicken (60)




Honkey (11)
cynomolgus
(macaca fascicu-
laris)

Rats





Horses

Rats

Cattle, sheep

Cattle, sheep,
horses
Pig

Feed Water Daily
Chemical Concentration Concentration Intake
Form Fed (Mg/g) (mg/L) (mg/kg)
Se02 2.5
5
10
20
40
Na2Se(>3 10




Se 10 (in 10Z
protein diet)
Se 10 (in 20Z
protein diet)
Se salts 1

SQ salts 44

Se 4-6
Se 5
Primary Se- 100-10,000
indicator plants
Forage 20-50

Se 12-18

NR
NR
NH
NR
NR
NR




NR

NR

0.5

2.0

NR
NR
NR

NR

NR

NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR




NR

NR

0.5

1.0

NR
NR
NR

NR

NAd

Duration
of Study
2 weeks
NR
NR
NR
NR
40 days




NR

NR

NR

NR

60-100 days
NR
NR

NR

Single Dose

Effects
No adverse effect
No adverse effect
Cain 72Z of controls
Cain 30Z of controls
Cain 2Z of controls
Tongue erosions; crusty,
hemorrhagic tail derma-
tosis; loss of nails
(onychoptosis); anorexia;
lassitude; leukopenia.
Highly toxic

Tolerated

Chronic poisoning

Chronic poisoning

Lethal
Subacute selenosis
Se poisoning syndrome

Subacute selenosis
"alkali disease"
Minimum per acute
lethal dose
References
Hill, 1974C




Loew et al . ,




Euan, 1978 (p



Harr and Muth
(p. 176)
Harr and Muth
(p. 176)
Harr, 1978 (p

Harr and Nuth
(p. 177)
Harr and Muth
(p. 178)
Harr, 1978






1975C




. 449)



, 1972

, 1972

. 408)

, 1972

, 1972



      a N = Number of animals/treatment group.
      0 NR = Not reported.
      c Obtained from NAS (1980), Table 29, pp. 402 to 415.
      d NA = Not applicable.

-------
                                           TABLE  4-4.   UPTAKE  OF  SELENIUM  BY  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
Chemical
Species Form Fed
Rats Se
Mice Selenite

Selenate

Guinea pigs Se in
Swiss chard
Pigs Sodium selenite

Pigs Natural diets
Rang<* (N)a
of Feed Tissue
Concentration
(Mg/g DW)
0-0.25 (4)
0.1-3 (2)

0.1-3 (2)

0.05-0.08 (3)
0.04-0.44 (2)e

0.027-0.493 (2)
Tissue
Analyzed
Liver
Heart
Liver
Kidney
Spleen
Heart
Liver
Kidney
Spleen
Liver
Muscle
Liver
Muscle
Kidney
Muscle
Control Tissue
Concentration
(Mg/g UW)
0.40
0.24
0.54
1.19
0.8
0.19
0.22
0.56
0.19
1.12C
0.38C
NRf
NR
NR
NR
Uptake6
Slope References
2.75 . Uarr et al., 1978 (p. 430-431)
0.33 Schroeder and Mitchner, 1972 (p. 69)
0.69
0.24
1.31
0.09 Schroeder and Mitchner, 1972 (p. 70)
0.18
0.11
0.13
10. ld Purr et al., 1976 (pp. 87 to 88)
2.07d
0.575 HAS, 1980 (p. 399)
0.9
0.075
1.058 HAS, 1980 (p. 399)
a N = Number of feed rates.
b Slope = y/x:  y = tissue concentration; x = plant concentration.
c Mg/g tissue DW.
d y and x both in DW.
e 0.04. represents an Se deficient diet, 0.44 represents Se sufficient diet.
f NR = Not reported.
8 Only the ranges of dietary and tissue concentrations were reported.  Since diet and tissue levels were highly correlated (r = 0.95), it was
  assumed that the highest tissue concentration occurred with the highest diet, and the lowest with the lowest, so that a slope could be computed
  from these ranges.

-------
                                SECTION 5

                                REFERENCES
Abramowitz,  M.,  and  I.  A.   Stegun.    1972.    Handbook  of  Mathematical
     Functions.  Dover Publications, New York, NY.

Allaway, W. H.   1968.   Agronomic Controls  Over the Environmental Cycling
     of Trace  Elements.   In;  Norma,  A. G. (ed.),  Advances  in Agronomy,
     Vol. 20.  Academic Press, New York, NY.

American  Conference of  Governmental  and  Industrial  Hygienists.   1977.
     Threshold  Limit  Values  for Chemical  Substances  and  Physical Agents
     in the Work Environment.  Cincinnati,  OH.

American  Conference of  Governmental  and  Industrial  Hygienists.   1983.
     Threshold  Limit  Values  for Chemical  Substances  and  Physical Agents
     in   the   Work  Environment  with  Intended   Changes  for  1983-84.
     Cincinnati, OH.

Baxter,  J.,  M.  Aguilar,  and  K.  Brown.     1983.    Heavy  Metals  and
     Persistent Organics  at  a Sewage  Sludge Disposal Site.   J.  Environ.
     Qual. 12:311.

Bertrand,  J.  E. ,  M.  C.  Lutrick,  G.  T.  Edds, and R.  L.  West.   1981.
     Metal  Residues in Tissues,  Animal Performance and  Carcass  Quality
     with Beef  Steers  Grazing Pensacola Bahiagrass Pastures  Treated with
     Liquid Digested Sludge.  J. Ani.  Sci.  53:1.

Boswell,  F.  C.    1975.   Municipal  Sewage Sludge  and  Selected  Element
     Applications  to  Soil:   Effect  on Soil  and  Fescue.   J.  Environ.
     Qual. 4(2):267-273.

Bowen, H. J. M.   1966.   Trace Elements  in  Biochemistry.   Academic Press.
     New York, NY.

Browning, E.   1969.  Toxicity of Industrial Metals.  2nd  Ed.   Appleton-
     Century-Crofts, New York, NY.

Camp  Dresser  and  McKee,  Inc.  1983.   New   York City  Special  Permit
     Application  - Ocean Disposal  of  Sewage   Sludge.   Prepared  for  the
     City of New York Department of Environmental  Protection.

Camp  Dresser  and  McKee,  Inc.  1984.    Development  of Methodologies  for
     Evaluating  Permissible  Contaminant Levels  in Municipal  Wastewater
     Sludges.   Draft.   Office  of  Water Regulations and  Standards,  U.S.
     Environmental Protection Agency,  Washington,  D.C.

Cappon, C. J.   1984.   Content and Chemical Form  of Mercury and  Selenium
     in Soil,  Sludge,  and Fertilizer  Materials.    Water,  Air, and  Soil
     Pollution. 22:95.
                                   5-1

-------
Chaney,  R.  L.,  and  C.  A.  Lloyd.   1979.   Adherence  of Spray-Applied
     Liquid Digested  Sewage  Sludge  to Tall  Fescue.   J.  Environ. Qual.
     8(3):407-411.

Clevenger, T. E.,  D.  D.  Hemphill, K. Roberts,  and  W.  A. Mullins.  1983.
     Chemical   Composition   and   Possible  Mutagenicity   of  Municipal
     Sludges.  J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 55:1470.

Donigian, A. S.   1985.   Personal  Communication.  Anderson-Nichols & Co.,
     Inc., Palo Alto, CA.  May.

Ewan, R.  C.   1978.  Toxicology and  Adverse  Effects of Mineral Imbalance
     with Emphasis  on Selenium and  Other Minerals.   In:   Oehme,  R.  W.
     (ed.),  Toxicities  of  Heavy Metals  in  the  Environment.    Marcel
     Dekker, Inc., New York,  NY.

Farrell, J. B., and H. Wall.   1981.   Air Pollutional Discharges from Ten
     Sewage Sludge Incinerators.   Draft  Review Copy.   U.S. Environmental
     Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH.  February.

Fishbein, L.   1977.   Toxicology  of  Selenium  and Tellurium.    Adv.  Med.
     Toxicol. 2:191.

Food and  Drug Administration.  1980a.  FY 77  Total  Diet Studies  - Adult
     (7320.73).  FDA Bureau of Foods.  December 11.

Food and  Drug  Administration.  1980b.   FY77 Diet  Studies  -  Infants  and
     Toddlers (7420.73).   FDA Bureau of Foods.  October 22.

Freeze, R.  A.,  and J. A.  Cherry.   1979.    Groundwater.   Prentice-Hall,
     Inc., Englewood Cliffs,  NJ.

Furr, A. K., A. W. Lawrence,  S. S. Tong  et al.   1976.   Multi-Element  and
     Chlorinated  Hydrocarbon Analysis  of  Municipal   Sewage  Sludges  of
     American Cities.   Env. Sci. & Technol. 10:683.

Gelhar,  L.   W.,   and  C.  J.  Axness.    1981.     Stochastic  Analysis -of
     Macrodispersion  in  3-Dimensionally  Heterogeneous  Aquifers.   Report
     No.  H-8.    Hydrologic  Research Program,  New Mexico Institute  of
     Mining and Technology, Soccorro, NM.
                                                                    -'j

Gerritse, R. G.,  R. Vriesema, J.  W.  Dalenberg, and H. P.  DeRoos.   1982.
     Effect of  Sewage Sludge on  Trace  Element Mobility  in  Soils.    J.
     Environ. Qual. 2:359-363.

Glover, J.  R.    1967.   Selenium  in  Human Urine:   A Tentative  Maximum
     Allowable  Concentration  for  Industrial  and   Rural   Applications.
     Ann. Occup. Hyg.  10:3.   (As cited in U.S.  EPA,  1984a.)

Gruenwald, P.   1958.   Malformations Caused by Necrosis in  the  Embryo.
     Illustrated by the  Effect  of Selenium  Compounds  on  Chick  Embryos.
     Am. J.  Pathol. 34:77.   (As  cited in  NAS, 1980.)
                                   5-2

-------
Hadjimarkos,  D.  M.    1970.    Toxic  Effects  of  Dietary  Selenium  in
     Hamsters.  Nutr. Rep. Inc.  1:175.   (As cited  in NAS, 1980.)

Harr, J.  R.   1978.   Biological Effects  of  Selenium.    In:   Oehm, F. W.
     (ed.), Toxicity of Heavy  Metals  in the Environment.  Marcel Dekker,
     Inc., New York, NY.

Harr, J.  R., and  0. H.  Muth.   1972.   Selenium Poisoning  in Domestic
     Animals and Its Relationship to Man.  Clin. Toxicol. 5:175.

Harr, J.  R.,  J. H.  Exon,  P. H. Heswig,  and  P.  D. Whanger.   1978.   The
     Relationship  of  Dietary  Selenium  Concentration,  Chemical  Cancer
     Induction,   and  Tissue  Concentration  of  Selenium  in Rats.    In;
     Oehme,  F.  W.   (ed.),  Toxicity of  Heavy  Metals in  the Environment.
     Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY.

Herigstad, R. R., C. K. Whitehar,  and 0. E.  Olson.  1973.   Inorganic and
     Organic  Selenium   Toxicosis  in   Young  Swine:      Comparison   of
     Pathologic   Changes  with   Those  in  Swine  with Vitamin  E-Selenium
     •Deficiency.  Am. J. Vet. Res. 34:1227.   (As cited in NAS,  1980.)

Hill, C.  H.   1974.  Reversal  of Selenium Toxicity  in  Chicks  by Mercury
     and Cadmium.  J. Nutr.  104:593.  (As cited in NAS, 1980.)

Hill, C.  H.   1979.   The  Effects of  Dietary Protein Levels  on Mineral
     Toxicity in Chicks.  J.  Nutr. 109:501.   (As cited in NAS,  1980.)

Jenkins,  D.  W.    1980a.   Biological  Monitoring  of  Toxic  Trace Metals.
     Vol. 1.  Biological  Monitoring and Surveillance.   EPA 600/3-80-089.
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV.

Jenkins,  D.  W.   1980b.   Biological  Monitoring of Toxic-Trace  Metals  in
     Plants  and  Animals  of   the  World.     EPA  600/3-80-092.    U.S.
     Environmental Protection Agency,  Las Vegas, NV.

Jones, R. A., and F. G. Lee.  1977.   Chemical Agents of Potential  Health
     Significance  for  Land  Disposal  of  Municipal  Wastewater  Effluents
     and  Sludges.    In:   Sagek,  B.   P.,  and  Sorber C.  A.   (eds.),  Risk
     Assessment   and Health  Effects  of  Land Application  of  Municipal
     Wastewater   and Sludges.    University  of Texas  Center for  Applied
     Research and Technology, San Antonio, TX.

Lakin, H.   1973.   Selenium  in  Our  Environment.   In;  Kothny,  E.  (ed.),
     Trace Elements  in the  Environment.   Advances  in  Chemistry  Series
     #123.

Loew, F.  M., E. D.  Olfert,  and  B.  Schiefer.   1975.    Chronic  Selenium
     Toxicosis  in  Cynomologus  Monkeys.   Lab.  Primate  Newsl. 14:7.   (As
     cited in NAS,  1980.)

Miller,  W. T.,  and  H. W.  Schoening.   1938.   Toxicity of Selenium  Fed  to
     Swine in the  Form  of Sodium Selenite.   J.  Agric.  Res. 56:31.   (As
     cited in NAS,  1980.)
                                   5-3

-------
Miller, W.  T.,  and K.  T.  Williams.   1940.   Effect  of Feeding Repeated
     Small Dose of  Selenium as Sodium Selenite.   J.  Agric. Res.  61:353.
     (As cited in NAS, 1980.)

Moxon,  A.  L.   1937.    Alkali Disease  of Selenium  Poisoning.   S. Dak.
     Agric.  Exp.  Stn.  Bull.  No.  311.   South  Dakota State  College of
     Agriculture  and  Mechanical  Arts,  Agricultural  Experiment Station,
     Brookings, SD.  (As cited in NAS, 1980.)

National  Academy  of   Sciences.     1977.     Drinking   Water and   Health.
     National  Research   Council.     Safe  Drinking   Water   Committee,
     Washington, D.C.

National  Academy  of  Sciences.    1980.    Mineral Tolerances  of Domestic
     Animals.   Subcommittee on Mineral Toxicity in  Animals, Washington,
     D.C.

National Academy  of Sciences.  1983.   Selenium  in Nutrition.   National
     Research Council  Subcommittee on Selenium, Washington, D.C.

Ort,  J. F.,  and  J.  D.  Latshaw.   1978.   The Toxic  Level   of.  Sodium
     Selenite in  the  Diet  of  Laying Chickens.   J.  Nutr.  104:306.   (As
     cited in NAS, 1980.)

Pennington, J. A. T.  1983.   Revision  of  the Total  Diet Study Food Lists
     and Diets.  J. Am.  Diet. Assoc. 82:166-173.

Pettyjohn, W. A.,  D.  C. Kent, T. A.  Prickett,  H. E.  LeGrand,  and F.  E.
     Witz.    1982.    Methods  for  the  Prediction  of  Leachate  Plume
     Migration and  Mixing.   U.S.  EPA  Municipal Environmental Research
     Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH.

Roseofeld, .1.,  and  0.  A.   Beath.     1964.     Selenium:    Geobotany,
     Biochemistry,  Toxicity,  and  Nutrition.   Academic Press,  New York,
     NY.

Ryan,  J.  A.,  H. R. Pahren, and  J.  B.  Lucas.    1982.   In;   Controlling
     Cadmium in the Human  Food Chain:   A Review and  Rationale Based  on
     Health Effects/  Environ. Res.  28:251-302.

Schoening, H. W.   1936.   Production of So-Called Alkali  Disease  in Hogs
     by Feeding Corn  Grown in Affected  Area.    N. Am. Vet. 17:22.   (As
     cited in NAS, 1980.)

Schroeder, H.  A.,  and  M.  Mitchner.   1972.    Selenium and  Tellerium  in
     Mice.  Arch.  Env. Health 24:66-71.

Sikora, L.  J.,  W.  D. Burge,  and  J. E.  Jones.    1982.   Monitoring  of  a
     Municipal Sludge  Entrenchment   Site.    J.  Environ. Qual.  2(2):321-
     325.

Taylor, F. B.   1963.   Significance  of Trace Elements  in  Public Finished
     Water Supplies.   J. Am.  Water Works Assoc. 55:619.   (As cited  in
     NAS, 1977.)
                                   5-4

-------
Thapar,  N.  T.,  E.  Guenthner,  C.  W. Carlson,  and 0.  E.  Olson.   1969.
     Dietary Selenium and Arsenic Additions  to  Diets  for Chickens Over a
     Half Cycle.  Poult. Sci. 48:1988.  (As cited in NAS, 1980.)

Thornton, I., and P. Abrams.   1983.   Soil  Ingestion - A Major Pathway of
     Heavy Metals  into  Livestock Grazing Contaminated  Land.   Sci. Total
     Environ. 28:287-294.

U.S. Department  of  Agriculture.  1975.   Composition  of Foods.   Agricul-
     tural Handbook No. 8.

U.S. Environmental  Protection  Agency.   1977.   Environmental Assessment
     of  Subsurface Disposal  of Municipal  Wastewater  Sludge:    Interim
     Report.     EPA  530/SW-547.     Municipal   Environmental   Research
     Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH.

U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency.   1979.   Industrial  Source Complex
     (ISC)  Dispersion   Model  User  Guide.    EPA  450/4-79-30.   Vol.  1.
     Office  of   Air  Quality  Planning  and  Standards,  Research  Triangle
     Park, NC.  December.

U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency.  1980.    Ambient  Water  Quality
     Criteria for Selenium.   EPA 440/5-80-070. Washington,  D.C.

U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency.     1982.     Fate   of   Priority
     Pollutants  in  Publicly-Owned  Treatment  Works.    EPA  440/1-82-303.
     U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency.   1983a.    Assessment  of  Human
     Exposure  to  Arsenic:     Tacoma,  Washington.    Internal  Document.
     OHEA-E-075-U.    Office  of  Health   and  Environmental   Assessment,
     Washington, D.C.  July 19-.

U.S.  Environmental   Protection  Agency.    1983b.    Rapid  Assessment  of
     Potential   Groundwater • Contamination   Under   Emergency   Response
     Conditions.  EPA 600/8-83-030.

U.S. Environmental  Protection  Agency.   1984a.  Air Quality  Criteria  for
     Lead.   External Review  Draft.   EPA  600/8-83-028B.   Environmental
     Criteria  and   Assessment   Office,   Research  Triangle  Park,   NC.
     September.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  1984b.   Health Effects Assessment
     for  Selenium  (and  Compounds).    Draft.   Environmental  Criteria  and
     Assessment Office,  Cincinnati,  OH.

Wahlstrom, R.  C.,  L. D.  Kamstra,  and 0.  E.  Olson.   1956.   Preventing
     Selenium Poisoning  in  Growing  and Fattening  Pigs.   S.   Dak.  Agric.
     Exp. Etn. Bull. No.  456.  ' South Dakota  State  College,  Agricultural
     Experiment Station, Brookings,  SD.   (As cited in  NAS,  1980.)

Wahlstrom, R.  C.,  and   0. E.  Olson.   1959.   The  Effect of   Selenium  on
     Reproduction in Swine.   J.  Ani. Sci.  18:141.    (As  cited in  NAS,
     1980.)
                                   5-5

-------
Wolnik, K.,  F.  L. Fricke; S.  G.  Caper et al.   1983.   Element  in Major
     Raw Agricultural Crops in the USDA.   2.   Other Elements  in Lettuce,
     Potatoes,  Soybeans,  Sweet Corn,  and Wheat.    J.  Agr.  Food.  Chem.
     31:1244.

Yopp,  J.  H., W.  F.  Schmid,  and R.  W. Hoist.   1974.   Determination  of
     Maximum  Permissible  Levels  of  Selected  Chemicals  that Exert  Toxic
     Effects  on Plants  of  Economic  Importance in  Illinois.    Illinois
     Institute for Environmental  Quality.  IIEQ Doc. No.  74-33.
                                  5-6

-------
                              APPENDIX

         PRELIMINARY HAZARD  INDEX CALCULATIONS  FOR SELENIUM
                     IN MUNICIPAL SEWAGE  SLUDGE
I. LANDSPREADING AND DISTRIBUTTON-AND-MARKETING

   A.   Effect on Soil Concentration of Selenium

        1.   Index of Soil Concentration Increment (Index 1)

             a.   Formula

                  _ ,   .    (SC x AR) + (BS x MS)
                  IndeX L = 	BS (AR + MS)	

                  where:

                       SC = Sludge    concentration     of     pollutant
                            (Ug/g DW)
                       AR = Sludge application rate (mt  DW/ha)
                       BS = Background  concentration  of  pollutant  in
                            soil (ug/g DW)
                       MS = 2000 mt  DW/ha  =  Assumed  mass  of soil  in
                            upper 15 cm

             b.   Sample  calculation

            (1.111 ug/g DW x 5 mt/ha) f (0.21 Ug/g DW x 2000 mt/ha)
                       0.21 Ug/g DW (5 mt/ha + 2000 mt/ha)

   B.   Effect on Soil Biota and Predators of Soil Biota

        1.   Index of Soil Biota Toxicity (Index 2)

             a.   Formula

                            Ii  x BS
                  Index 2 = —-^g	


                  where:

                       1]^ = Index  1  =  Index  of  soil  concentration
                            increment  (unitless)
                       BS = Background  concentration  of pollutant  in
                            soil (ug/g DW)
                       TB = Soil  concentration   toxic   to   soil   biota
                            (Ug/g DW)

             b.   Sample  calculation -  Values  were not  calculated  due
                  to  lack of data.
                                A-l

-------
2.   Index of Soil Biota Predator Toxicity (Index 3)

     a.   Formula

                    (Ii - 1XBS x UB) + BB
          Index 3 = 	=^	


          where:

               II = Index  1  =  Index  of  soil  concentration
                    increment (unitless)
               BS = Background  concentration  of  pollutant  in
                    soil (ug/g DW)
               UB = Uptake  slope  of  pollutant   in  soil  biota
                    (Ug/g tissue DW [ug/g soil  DW]'1)
               BB = Background  concentration   in   soil   biota
                    (Ug/g DW)
               TR = Feed concentration toxic to  predator  (ug/g
                    DW)

     b.   Sample calculation  -  Values  were  not  calculated  due
          to lack of data.

Effect on Plants and Plant Tissue  Concentration

1.   Index of Phytotoxicity (Index 4)

     a.   Formula

                       x BS
          Index 4 =
          where:

               II  = Index  1   =  Index   of   soil   concentration
                    increment  (unitless)
               BS  = Background  concentration  of  pollutant  in
                    soil  (ug/g DW)
               TP  = Soil  concentration  toxic  to  plants  (ug/g
                    DW)

          Sample calculation

          . 'Q, _ 1.0107 x 0.21 ug/g DW
          °'1895 ~   1.12 ug/g  DW
                        A-2

-------
2.   Index  of  Plant  Concentration  Increment Caused  by Uptake
     (Index 5)

     a.   Formula

                     (Ii -  1) x BS
          Index 5 = —=	 x CO x  UP  + 1
                         BP

          where:

               II = Index  1  =  Index  of  soil  concentration
                    increment (unitless)
               BS = Background  concentration of  pollutant  in
                    soil (ug/g DW)
               CO = 2  kg/ha   (ug/g)"1   =   Conversion  factor
                    between soil concentration  and  application
                    rate
               UP = Uptake slope of  pollutant in plant  tissue
                    (Ug/g  tissue DW [kg/ha]'1)
               BP = Background  concentration in  plant  tissue
                    (Ug/g  DW)

     b.   Sample calculation

              _   (1.0107-1) x 0.21 ug/g  DW     2  kg/ha
                        0.20 ug/g DW        x ug/g soil

            7.8 Ug/g  tissue     .
          X      kg/ha          i

3.   Index  of  Plant  Concentration   Increment   Permitted  by
     Phytotoxicity (Index 6)

     a.   Formula

                    PP
          Index 6 = —


          where:

               PP = Maximum    plant     tissue     concentration
                    associated with  phytotoxicity  (Ug/g DW)
               BP = Background concentration  in  plant  tissue
                    (Ug/g DW)

     b.   Sample calculation

               s 429 Ug/g DW
                0.20 ug/g DW
                         A-3

-------
C.   Effect on Herbivorous Animals

     1.   Index of Animal Toxicity  Resulting from Plant Consumption
          (Index 7)

          a.   Formula

                         I5  x BP
               Index 7 = ——	


               where:

                    15 = Index  5 =  Index   of  plant  concentration
                         increment caused by uptake (unitless)
                    BP = Background   concentration in  plant  tissue
                         (Ug/g DW)
                    TA = Feed  concentration  toxic  to  herbivorous
                         animal (ug/g DW)

          b.   Sample calculation

               n m^A - 1.175 x 0.20 Ug/g DW
               °'°336 -      7 ug/g  DW

     2.   Index of Animal Toxicity  Resulting from Sludge  Ingestion
          (Index 8)

          a.   Formula

                                 BS  x GS
                                   TA

                                 SC x GS
If AR = 0,   Ig =


If AR ^ 0,   13 =


where:

     AR = Sludge application rate (mt DW/ha)
     SC = Sludge    concentration     of     pollutant
          (Ug/g DW)
     BS = Background  concentration   of  pollutant  in
          soil (Ug/g DW)
     GS = Fraction of animal diet assumed  to  be  soil
          (unitless)
     TA = Feed  concentration  toxic   to   herbivorous
          animal (ug/g DW)

Sample calculation

If AR = 0,    0.0015 =
               If  AR t  0,    0.0079 -  -

                             A-4

-------
B.   Effect on Humans

     1.   Index of  Human Toxicity Resulting  from Plant Consumption
          (Index 9)

          a.   Formula

                          [(Is - 1) BP x DT] + DI
               Index 9 =	
                                 ADI

               where:

                    15 = Index  5   =   Index  of  plant  concentration
                         increment caused by uptake (unitless)
                    BP = Background  concentration  in  plant  tissue
                         (Ug/g DW)
                    DT = Daily  human  dietary  intake  of  affected
                         plant tissue (g/day DW)  	  	
                    DI = Average  daily  human   dietary   intake  of
                         pollutant (ug/day)
                   ADI = Acceptable   daily    intake   of   pollutant
                         (Ug/day)

          b.   Sample calculation (toddler)

n ..,.  _ [(1.175 - 1) x Q.2Q ug/g DW x 74.5 g/day] + 46.3 Ug/day
U • A U / D  ~                      /cc     /i
                              455  ug/day

     2.   Index  of   Human  Toxicity  Resulting  from  Consumption  of
          Animal  Products  Derived  from Animals  Feeding on  Plants
          (Index 10)

          a.   Formula

                          [(Is - 1) BP x UA x DA] + DI
               Index 10 - —5	_	


               where:

                    15 = Index  5   =   Index  of  plant  concentration
                         increment caused  by uptake (unitless)
                    BP = Background  concentration in  plant  tissue
                         (jlg/g DW)
                    UA = Uptake  slope of pollutant in  animal  tissue
                         (Ug/g tissue DW [Ug/g  feed DW]'1)
                    DA = Daily  human  dietary  intake   of   affected
                         animal  tissue (g/day  DW)
                    DI = Average  daily  human  dietary  intake   of
                         pollutant (ug/day)
                  ADI = Acceptable   daily   intake   of   pollutant
                         (Ug/day)
                              A-5

-------
                           b.   Sample calculation (toddler)

                                0.1165 =

(1.175-1)  x 0.20 ue/g DW x  3.75  Ug/g tissue[ug/g feed]"1 x 51.1 g/day] + 46.3 ug/dav
                                        455  pg/day

                      3.   Index of  Human  Toxicity  Resulting from  Consumption  of
                           Animal  Products   Derived  from  Animals   Ingesting   Soil
                           (Index 11)

                           a.   Formula

                                If  AR - 0,   Index  11 =  (BS *  GS * U*p* DA)  * DI

                                If  AR * 0,   Index 11 = 
-------
          where:

               l± = Index  1  =  Index  of  soil  concentration
                    increment (unitless)
               SC = Sludge    concentration  .   of     pollutant
                    (yg/g DW)
               BS = Background  concentration of  pollutant  in
                    soil (ug/g DW)
               DS = Assumed  amount  of   soil   in   human  diet
                    (g/day)
               DI = Average daily  dietary intake of  pollutant
                    (Ug/day)
              ADI = Acceptable   daily   intake   of   pollutant
                    (Ug/day)

     b.   Sample calculation (toddler)

       - (1.0107 x 0.21 ug/g DW x 5 g soil/day)  + 46.3 Ug/day
       ~                  455 Ug/day

          .Pure sludge:

            _ (1.111 Ug/g DW x 5 g soil/day) •*• 46.3 Ug/day
     U • i .1 HU ~"               /re    / j
                            455  Ug/day

5.   Index of Aggregate Human Toxicity (Index 13)

     a.   Formula


          Index 13 = I9 + I10 + In + Ii2 ~  fff

          where:

                 Ig' = Index  9  =   Index   of   human   toxicity
                      resulting     from     plant    consumption
                      (unitless)
                    = Index  10   =  Index  of   human   toxicity
                      resulting   from  consumption  of   animal
                      products derived from animals feeding  on
                      plants (unitless)
                    = Index  11   =  Index  of   human   toxicity
                      resulting   from  consumption  of   animal
                      products derived  from  animals  ingesting
                      soil  (unitless)
                1^2 = Index  12   =  Index  of   human   toxicity
                      resulting  from soil  ingestion  (unitless)
                 DI = Average   daily   dietary   intake    of
                      pollutant  (ug/day)
                ADI = Acceptable  daily   intake   of   pollutant
                      (Ug/day)
                         A-7

-------
         b.   Sample calculation (toddler)

    0.141 = (0.1075 «• 0.1165 + 0.1182 + 0.1041) - (3 x 46.3 pg/day }
                                                    455 ug/day

II. LANDPILLING

    A.  Procedure

         Using Equation  1,  several values  of C/CO for  the  unsaturated
         zone are  calculated corresponding  to  increasing  values of  t
         until equilibrium  is  reached.   Assuming  a 5-year  pulse input
         from the landfill, Equation 3  is employed  to  estimate the con-
         centration  vs.   time   data   at   the   water   table.     The
         concentration vs. time curve  is  then transformed  into a square
         pulse  having  a  constant  concentration  equal  to  the  peak
         concentration, Cu, from  the  unsaturated zone,  and  a  duration,
         to,  chosen  so that  the  total  areas under the curve  and  the
         pulse are  equal, as illustrated  in  Equation  3.    This  square
         pulse is  then used  as  the  input   to the linkage  assessment,
         Equation 2, which estimates initial  dilution  in the aquifer to
         give the  initial  concentration,  Co,  for  the  saturated  zone
         assessment.   (Conditions for  B,  thickness  of  unsaturated zone,
         have been set such that  dilution is  actually  negligible.)   The
         saturated  zone   assessment  procedure  is   nearly  identical  to
         that for  the unsaturated  zone  except  for  the definition  of
         certain  parameters and choice of parameter values.   The maxi-
         mum concentration at the  well,  Cmax, is used to  calculate  the
         index values given in Equations 4 and 5.

    B.  Equation  1:  Transport Assessment


     C(y.t) = i  [exp(A]_)  erfc(A2)  + exp(Bj_) erfc(B2)] = P(x,t)


         Requires  evaluations  of   four dimensionless  input  values  and
         subsequent  evaluation  of  the  result.     Exp(A^)  denotes  the
         exponential   of    A^,    e  *,   where   erfc(A2)   denotes   the
         complimentary error function  of  A2.  Erfc(A2)  produces  values
         between  0.0 and  2.0 (Abramowitz and Stegun, 1972).

         where:
              A.  = X_  [V* - (V*2  + 40* x u*
              Al    20*

                 _ Y - t  (V*2 + 40* x  U*)?
                       [V* + (V*2 + 4D* x
                   20*

                   Y + t (V*2 + 40-=-- x U*)
              82          (4D* x t)?
                                  A-8

-------
 and where for the unsaturated zone:

      C0 = SC x CF = Initial leachate concentration   (ug/L)
      SC = Sludge concentration of pollutant (mg/kg DW)
      CF = 250 kg sludge solids/m3 leachate =

           PS x 103
           1 - PS

      PS = Percent  solids  (by  weight)  of  landfilled  sludge  =
           20%
       t = Time (years)
      X  = h = Depth to groundwater (m)
      D* = a x V*  (m2/year)
       a = Dispersivity coefficient (m)

      V* = — 2 — (m/year)
      V    0 x R
       Q = Leachate generation rate (m/year)
       0 = Volumetric water content (unitless)

       R = 1 +  dry x KJ = Retardation factor (unitless)
                 0
    pdry = Dry bulk density (g/mL)
      K^ = Soil sorption coefficient (mL/g)

                    (years)-l
                                 i
       U = Degradation rate (day"1)

 and where for the saturated zone:

      Co = Initial  concentration   of  pollutant  in  aquifer  as
           determined by Equation  2 (ug/L)
       t = Time (years)
       X = A2, = Distance from well to landfill (m)
      D* = a x V*  (m^/year)
       a = Dispersivity coefficient (m)

      V* = K x i  (m/year)
           
-------
     where:

          Co = Initial concentration  of  pollutant in  the saturated
               zone as determined by Equation 1 (ug/L)
          Cu = Maximum  pulse  concentration  from  the  unsaturated
               zone (ug/D
           Q = Leachate generation rate (m/year)
           W = Width of landfill (m)
           K = Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer (m/day)
           i = Average hydraulic gradient  between  landfill  and well
               (unitless)
           0 = Aquifer porosity (unitless)
           B = Thickness of saturated zone (m) where:

               B> - 9  *. W « • -   and  B > 2
                 —    K x  i  x  365              —

    Equation 3.  Pulse Assessment


          C(x?t) = P(x,t)  for  0  <  t < t0
             C                   -    -  o
             Co
                 = P(x,t) - P(X,t  -  C0)  for t > t
     where:
          to (for  unsaturated  zone)  = LT  = Landfill leaching  time
          (years )

          to (for  saturated zone)  =  Pulse duration at  the  water
          table (x = n) as determined by the following equation:

               t0 = (   J  °° C dt] t Cu

               P(X»t)  = — -~ — as determined by  Equation  1
                          co
E.   Equation  4.    Index  of  Groundwater  Concentration    Increment
     Resulting  from Landfilled  Sludge (Index 1)

     1.   Formula

          r ,   ,    Cmax  +  BC
          Index 1 =
          where:

               Cmax = Maximum concentration of  pollutant  at well  =
                      Maximum of  C(Afc,t)  calculated  in  Equation  1
                      (Ug/U
                 BC = Background   concentration   of   pollutant   in
                      groundwater (pg/L)
                             A-10

-------
          2.   Sample Calculation
,
1-
                     - 0-030 Ug/L + 8 ug/L
                     '      8 ug/L
     P.   Equation  5.      Index   of   Human   Toxicity   Resulting  from
          Groundwater Contamination (Index 2)

          1.   Formula

                          [(I 1 -  1)  BC  x  AC]   + DI
               index 2=  — i - — -


               where :

                    Ij_ = Index  1  =  Index  of  groundwater  concentration
                         increment resulting from Landfilled sludge
                    BC = Background   concentration   of   pollutant   in
                         groundwater (ug/L)
                    AC = Average  human   consumption  of  drinking  water
                         (L/day)
                    DI = Average daily human dietary  intake  of  pollutant
                         (Ug/day)
                   ADI = Acceptable daily  intake of pollutant (ug/day)

          2.   Sample Calculation

               _  ... _ [(1.004  - 1) x 8  ug/L x 2 L/davl + 110.7  Ug/day
               U • ^'t j ~~              iff    it
                                    455  Ug/day

III. INCINERATION

     A.   Index   of   Air   Concentration   Increment   Resulting   from
          Incinerator Emissions (Index 1)

          1.   Formula

               T  ,    .    (C x PS x SC x  FM x DP) + BA
               Index 1 = - - -


               where:

                   C = Coefficient to  correct   for  mass  and  time  units
                       (hr/sec  x g/mg)
                  OS = Sludge feed rate  (kg/hr  DW)
                  SC = Sludge concentration  of  pollutant  (mg/kg  DW)
                  FM = Fraction  of   pollutant   emitted  through   stack
                       (unitless)
                  DP = Dispersion   parameter   for   estimating    maximum
                       annual ground  level concentration  (ug/m^)
                  BA = Background  concentration  of  pollutant  in  urban
                       air  (yg/m-*)
                                  A-ll

-------
         2.   Sample Calculation

              1.031 = [(2.78 x 10~7 hr/sec x g/mg x 2660 kg/hr DW x

                        1.111 mg/kg DW x 0.01 x 3.4 yg/m3) +

                        0.0009 yg/m3] * 0.0009 ug/m3

    B.  Index   of  Human   Toxicity   Resulting   from   Inhalation   of
        Incinerator Emissions (Index 2)

        1.  Formula

                      [(Ii - 1) x BA] + BA
            Index 2 = 	
                                EC

            where:

              II =  Index 1 = Index of air concentration increment
                   resulting from incinerator emissions
                   (unitless)
              BA =  Background concentration of pollutant  in
                   urban air (yg/m3)
              EC =  Exposure criterion (yg/m3)

        2.  Sample  Calculation

            0 00027 = Kl.031 - 1) x 0.0009 Ug/m31 + 0.0009  Ug/m3
                                      3.5  Ug/m3

IV. OCEAN DISPOSAL

    Based on  the recommendations of  the experts at  the OWRS  meetings
    (April-May,   1984),  an assessment of  this  reuse/disposal option  is
    not being conducted at  this  time.   The U.S. EPA reserves the right
    to conduct such an assessment for this option in  the  future.
                                 A-12

-------
TABLE A-l.  INPUT DATA VARYING IN LANDFILL ANALYSIS AND RESULT FOR EACH CONDITION
Condition of Analysis
Input Data
Sludge concentration of pollutant, SC (pg/g DU)
Unsaturated zone
Soil type and characteristics
Dry bulk density, P,jry (g/mL)
Volumetric water content, 6 (unitless)
Soil sorption coefficient, Kj (mL/g)
Site parameters
Leachate generation rate, Q (in/year)
Depth to groundwater, h (m)
Dispersivity coefficient, a (m)
Saturated zone
Soil type and characteristics
Aquifer porosity, 0 (unitless)
Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer,
K (m/day)
Site parameters
Hydraulic gradient, i (unitless)
Distance from well to landfill, AH (m)
Dispersivity coefficient, a (m)
1
1.111


1.53
0.195
14.9

0.8
5
0.5


0.44
0.86

0.001
100
10
2
4.848


1.53
0.195
14.9

0.8
5
0.5


0.44
0.86

0.001
100
10
3
1.111


1.925
0.133
5.91

0.8
5
0.5


0.44
0.86

0.001
100
10
4 5
1.111 . 1.111


NAb 1.53
NA 0.195
NA 14.9

1.6 0.8
0 5
NA 0.5


0.44 0.389
0.86 4.04

0.001 0.001
100 100
10 10
6
1.111


1.53
0.195
14.9

0.8
5
0.5


0.44
0.86

0.02
50
5
7 8
4.848 Na


NA N
NA N
NA N

1.6 N
0 N
NA N


0.389 N
4.04 N

0.02 N
50 N
5 N

-------
                                                             TABLE A-l.   (continued)
 I
I-1
-p>
Condition of Analysis
Results
Unaaturated zone assessment (Equations 1 and 3)
Initial leachate concentration, C0 (pg/L)
Peak concentration, Cu (iig/L)
Pulse duration, to (years)
Linkage assessment (Equation 2)
Aquifer thickness, B (m)
Initial concentration in saturated zone, Co
(Mg/L)
1

278
10. B
129

126

10.8
2

1210
47. 0
129

126

47.0
3

278
21.5
64.6

126

21.5
4

278
278
5.00

253

278
5

278
10.8
129

23.8

10.8
6

278
10.8
129

6.32

10.8
7

1212
1212
5.00

2.38

1210
8

N
N
N

N

N
Saturated zone assessment (Equations 1 and 3)

  Maximum well concentration, Cmax ((jg/L)

Index of groundwater concentration increment
  resulting from landfilled sludge,
  Index 1 (unicleas) (Equation 4)

Index of human toxicity resulting from
  groundwater contamination, Index 2
  (unitless) (Equation 5)
                                                              0.030
                                                              1.00
                                                              0.243
0.132
1.02
0.244
0.030
1.00
0.243
0.030        0.161        1.20     28.1      N
1.00         1.02         1.15      4.51     0
                                                                                                      0.243        0.244        0.249     0.367   0.243
*N  = Null condition, where no landfill exists; no value is used.
"NA = Not applicable for this condition.

-------