The bioeffects of selenium on the growth of Spirulina platensis and the selenium distribution were investigated. S. platensis was batch cultured in Zarrouk medium containing increasing concentrations of sodium selenite. The biotransformation characteristic of selenium was analysed by the determination of the detailed selenium distribution forms. At 35 degreesC, 315.2 muEm(-2) s(-1), sodium selenite concentrations below 400 mg l(-1) were found to stimulate algal growth, especially in the range of 0. 5-40 mg l(-1). However, above 500 mg l(-1) sodium selenite was toxic to this alga with the toxicity being related to the sulfite level in the medium. S. platensis was found to resist higher selenite by reducing toxic Se(IV) to nonsoluble Se(0). Selenium was accumulated efficiently in S. platensis during cultivation with accumulated selenium increasing with selenite concentration in the medium. It was demonstrated that inorganic selenite could be transformed into organic forms through binding with protein, lipids and polysaccharides and other cell components. The organic selenium accounted for 85.1% of the total accumulated selenium and was comprised of 25.2% water-soluble protein-bound, 10.6% lipids-bound and 2.1% polysaccharides-bound selenium. Among the organic fractions lipid possessed the strongest ability to accumulate Se (6.47 mg kg(-1)). The 14.9% inorganic selenium in S. platensis was composed of Se(IV) (13.7%) and Se(VI) (1.2%). (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.