The Emerging Threat of Selenium Pollution: A Spatial Analysis of Its Sources and Vulnerable Areas in India

Abstract

Selenium is a trace element with a double-edged sword effect. The beneficial effect of selenium includes its vital role in physiological process of living organisms as well as a major component in various industrial and agricultural activities. The detrimental effect comes from the recognition of it as an emerging hazardous contaminant by global agencies. Selenium-rich soils, agricultural activities, mining, energy generation, and different industries contribute to the increasing water pollution levels of selenium worldwide. Selenium mainly acts as reproductive toxicant, with its safe concentration ranging between 40 and 400 μg/day. India also experiences deteriorating water quality with high selenium content owing to diverse economic activities. Further, since selenium is an emergent pollutant not much focus is placed on assessment. However, for the success of any mitigation measures an insight to pollution-vulnerable areas is urgently needed. This chapter, therefore, aims to spatially identify the potential vulnerable areas of selenium pollution. It also describes the basic concept of selenium, its uses, its sources, and its toxicity levels. It also tries to analyze its pollution level globally and in the Indian scenario. It also attempts to locate different selenium water pollution sources in an Indian context. Identifying pollution-vulnerable areas may serve as an promising tool for prioritizing mitigation measures for sustainable management of water resources. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.