Sodium selenite

Synonyms

Disodium selenite; Disodium selenium trioxide; Natriumselenit [German]; Selenious acid (H2SeO3), disodium salt; Selenious acid, disodium salt; Selenite sodium; [ChemIDplus] UN2630

Category

Other Inorganic Compounds

Description

Hygroscopic solid; [ICSC] White solid; [HSDB] Beige odorless crystalline powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as a colorant in glass production; [Kanerva, p. 1501] Used in glass manufacturing to remove green color, as an alkaloidal reagent, to test seed germination, as a reagent in bacteriology, for decorating porcelain, and as a dietary supplement; [HSDB]

Comments

Reported to be a skin sensitizer, but insufficient controls were tested; [Kanerva, p. 1499] Decomposed by flames and hot surfaces producing toxic gases; A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; "The substance may cause effects on the liver, heart, nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system, bone, and blood." [ICSC] Nontoxic when fed to hamsters at 10 ppm for 42 days; Histological changes in liver at 20 ppm (0.7 mg selenium/kg body weight/day); [HSDB] May cause skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritation; [CAMEO] An eye and mild skin irritant; May cause skin sensitization; [eChemPortal: ESIS] May cause irritation; May cause skin sensitization; [MSDSonline] Sodium selenite is "orders of magnitude more toxic than many other selenium compounds." [NIOSH IDLH Documentation] See "Selenium."

Biomedical References

0.2 mg/m3, as Se

0.2 mg/m3, as Se

0.02 mg/m3, as Se, inhalable fraction

1 mg/m3, as Se

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Glass Manufacturing

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Ceramics making
• Enameling