Respiratory Excretion of Selenium. ∗

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

The current experiments demonstrate that the formation and excretion of volatile selenium compounds occur soon after administration of ⁷⁵SeO₃= and L-seleno-75 methionine. The rate of excretion of volatile substances through the lungs when administered either as inorganic (⁷⁵SeO₃=) or organic (L-seleno-75 methionine) selenium is more rapid during the first 6 hours than during any subsequent 6-hour period up to 24 hours. On the basis of mg selenium per kg body weight, larger amounts of selenium are excreted when administered as inorganic than as organic selenium. It is apparent that the mechanism of methylation and rapid excretion via the respiratory gases assumes a more significant detoxification role when amounts of selenium approaching the lethal levels are administered.