Selenium Detection Technology in Water: A Review

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that is essential for the human body and has dual significant biological effects. The boundary between its ‘beneficial dosage’ and ‘toxic level’ is extremely narrow. Se is prone to accumulate in the body. Even if the concentration in drinking water is very low but consistently exceeds the limit, it may cause long-term health problems and pose risks and hazards to humans. Therefore, the detection of selenium is of great importance. The distribution and pollution of Se in water, the impact of Se on health and the limit requirements for Se in drinking water are introduced. The development of Se detection techniques is presented, including atomic spectrometry, spectrofluorometry, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, voltammetry, among others. Different analytical methods for selenium have their own characteristics and different applicability. It is necessary to establish a safety monitoring mechanism that primarily relies on laboratory-based instrumental analysis, supplemented by on-site rapid screening methods, to provide effective technical support for environmental Se analysis.