IUPAC

The aim is to review critically methods for the analysis of selenium species in environmental samples (as opposed to biological samples), to offer guidance on method in use, and to briefly indicate future developments. Selenium is one of the most important elements in terms of human, animal and plant nutrition, showing toxicity as well as being a modifier of geochemical cycling of trace elements. There is a growing demand for selenium speciation in the environment as the functions and the dynamics of selenium are to be understood on the basis of its chemical species. A critical review of analytical methods of selenium in the environment, and a guidance on the method use will be given in the project. The project is important for world chemists not only because of its scientific significance but also of its wide application in different fields. Although other international bodies and scientific bodies have shown their interest in this type of project, IUPAC is the most appropriate unit to do because of its capacity in science and good coverage of chemists of high quality and of geological distribution.

Project completed - Technical Report published in Pure Appl. Chem., 72(3), 447-461, 2000 entitled: 'Species-selective determination of selenium compounds in biological materials'.