Table 26.

Selenium uses and properties [39, 41,68,69].

Properties	•Density: 4.809 g/cm3, •67th most abundant metal, •Found as a silvery metal or a red powder • Found in rare minerals known as ◦ Clausthalite made of lead selenide, ◦ Crooksite made of copper, thallium and selenium •Photoconductive •Photovoltaic
Uses	•Electronics, •Colourant in glass, •Red pigment colour by some compounds, •Other compounds decolourise glassware, •Architectural selenium glass to reduce sunlight transmission, giving the glass a bronze tint. • Pigments from selenium used for: ◦ Glassware, ◦ Ceramics, ◦ Paint and ◦ Plastics. • Selenium selenite is included in: ◦ Animal feeds, ◦ Supplements, •Anti-dandruff shampoos
Effects on humans	• Inhalation causes: ◦ dizziness, ◦ mucous membrane irritations ◦ fatigue • significant exposure causes: ◦ bronchitis, ◦ contorted and loss of nails, ◦ fragile and loss of hair, ◦ rashes, ◦ severe pain, ◦ headaches and fever, ◦ skin lesions, ◦ hepatomegaly, ◦ tooth deterioration, ◦ conjunctivitis, ◦ skin swelling, ◦ vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, ◦ garlic breathe, ◦ pneumonia, ◦ nervous system disorders, ◦ reproductive failure, ◦ congenital disabilities, ◦ carcinogenic
Food source	•grains, •cereals, •meat, •Brazilian nuts