Selenium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Selenium,  ₃₄Se

General properties
Name, symbol	selenium, Se
Pronunciation	/sɨˈliːniəm/ si-LEE-nee-əm
Appearance	black and red allotropes
Selenium in the periodic table
S ↑ Se ↓ Te arsenic ← selenium → bromine
Atomic number	34
Standard atomic weight (±)	78.971(8)[1]
Element category	polyatomic nonmetal, sometimes considered a metalloid
Group, block	group 16 (chalcogens), p-block
Period	period 4
Electron configuration	[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4
per shell	2, 8, 18, 6
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Melting point	494 K ​(221 °C, ​430 °F)
Boiling point	958 K ​(685 °C, ​1265 °F)
Density near r.t.	gray: 4.81 g·cm−3 alpha: 4.39 g·cm−3 vitreous: 4.28 g·cm−3
when liquid, at m.p.	3.99 g·cm−3
Critical point	1766 K, 27.2 MPa
Heat of fusion	gray: 6.69 kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization	95.48 kJ·mol−1
Molar heat capacity	25.363 J·mol−1·K−1
vapor pressure P (Pa) 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T (K) 500 552 617 704 813 958
Atomic properties
Oxidation states	6, 4, 2, 1,[2] −2 ​(a strongly acidic oxide)
Electronegativity	Pauling scale: 2.55
Ionization energies	1st: 941.0 kJ·mol−1 2nd: 2045 kJ·mol−1 3rd: 2973.7 kJ·mol−1
Atomic radius	empirical: 120 pm
Covalent radius	120±4 pm
Van der Waals radius	190 pm
Miscellanea
Crystal structure	​hexagonal
Speed of sound thin rod	3350 m·s−1 (at 20 °C)
Thermal expansion	amorphous: 37 µm·m−1·K−1 (at 25 °C)
Thermal conductivity	amorphous: 0.519 W·m−1·K−1
Magnetic ordering	diamagnetic[3]
Young's modulus	10 GPa
Shear modulus	3.7 GPa
Bulk modulus	8.3 GPa
Poisson ratio	0.33
Mohs hardness	2.0
Brinell hardness	736 MPa
CAS Registry Number	7782-49-2
History
Naming	after Selene, Greek goddess of the moon
Discovery and first isolation	Jöns Jakob Berzelius and Johann Gottlieb Gahn (1817)
Most stable isotopes
Main article: Isotopes of selenium
iso NA half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 72Se syn 8.4 d ε – 72As γ 0.046 – 74Se 0.87% – (β+β+) 1.2094 74Ge 75Se syn 119.779 d ε – 75As γ 0.264, 0.136, 0.279 – 76Se 9.36% 76Se is stable with 42 neutrons 77Se 7.63% 77Se is stable with 43 neutrons 78Se 23.78% 78Se is stable with 44 neutrons 79Se trace 3.27×105 y β− 0.151 79Br 80Se 49.61% – (β−β−) 0.1339 80Kr 82Se 8.73% 1.08×1020 y β−β− 2.995 82Kr
Decay modes in parentheses are predicted, but have not yet been observed

Selenium is a chemical element with symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between those of its periodic table column-adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium. It rarely occurs in its elemental state in nature, or as pure ore compounds. Selenium (Greek σελήνη selene meaning "Moon") was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, who noted the similarity of the new element to the previously known tellurium (named for the Earth).

Selenium is found impurely in metal sulfide ores, copper where it partially replaces the sulfur. Commercially, selenium is produced as a byproduct in the refining of these ores, most often during production. Minerals that are pure selenide or selenate compounds are known, but are rare. The chief commercial uses for selenium today are in glassmaking and in pigments. Selenium is a semiconductor and is used in photocells. Uses in electronics, once important, have been mostly supplanted by silicon semiconductor devices. Selenium continues to be used in a few types of DC power surge protectors and one type of fluorescent quantum dot.

Selenium salts are toxic in large amounts, but trace amounts are necessary for cellular function in many organisms, including all animals, and is an ingredient in many multi-vitamins and other dietary supplements, including infant formula. Selenium is a component of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase (which indirectly reduce certain oxidized molecules in animals and some plants). It is also found in three deiodinase enzymes, which convert one thyroid hormone to another. Selenium requirements in plants differ by species, with some plants requiring relatively large amounts, and others apparently requiring none.^[4]

Characteristics

Physical properties

Structure of hexagonal (gray) selenium

Selenium exists in several allotropes that interconvert upon heating and cooling carried out at different temperatures and rates. As prepared in chemical reactions, selenium is usually an amorphous, brick-red powder. When rapidly melted, it forms the black, vitreous form, which is usually sold industrially as beads.^[5] The structure of black selenium is irregular and complex and consists of polymeric rings with up to 1000 atoms per ring. Black Se is a brittle, lustrous solid that is slightly soluble in CS₂. Upon heating, it softens at 50 °C and converts to gray selenium at 180 °C; the transformation temperature is reduced by presence of halogens and amines.^[6]

The red α, β and γ forms are produced from solutions of black selenium by varying evaporation rates of the solvent (usually CS₂). They all have relatively low, monoclinic crystal symmetries and contain nearly identical puckered Se₈ rings arranged in different fashions, as in sulfur. The packing is most dense in the α form. In the Se₈ rings, the Se-Se distance is 233.5 pm and Se-Se-Se angle is 105.7 degrees. Other selenium allotropes may contain Se₆ or Se₇ rings.^[6]

The most stable and dense form of selenium is gray and has a hexagonal crystal lattice consisting of helical polymeric chains, where the Se-Se distance is 237.3 pm and Se-Se-Se angle is 130.1 degrees. The minimum distance between chains is 343.6 pm. Gray Se is formed by mild heating of other allotropes, by slow cooling of molten Se, or by condensing Se vapor just below the melting point. Whereas other Se forms are insulators, gray Se is a semiconductor showing appreciable photoconductivity. Unlike the other allotropes, it is insoluble in CS₂.^[6] It resists oxidation by air and is not attacked by non-oxidizing acids. With strong reducing agents, it forms polyselenides. Selenium does not exhibit the unusual changes in viscosity that sulfur undergoes when gradually heated.^[5][7]

Isotopes

Selenium has six naturally occurring isotopes, five of which are stable: ⁷⁴Se, ⁷⁶Se, ⁷⁷Se, ⁷⁸Se, and ⁸⁰Se. The last three also occur as fission products, along with ⁷⁹Se, which has a half-life of 327,000 years.^[8][9] The final naturally occurring isotope, ⁸²Se, has a very long half-life (~10²⁰ yr, decaying via double beta decay to ⁸²Kr), which, for practical purposes, can be considered to be stable. Twenty-three other unstable isotopes have been characterized.^[10]

Chemical compounds

Selenium compounds commonly exist in the oxidation states −2, +2, +4, and +6.

Chalcogen compounds

Selenium forms two oxides: selenium dioxide (SeO₂) and selenium trioxide (SeO₃). Selenium dioxide is formed by the reaction of elemental selenium with oxygen:^[5]

Se₈ + 8 O₂ → 8 SeO₂

Structure of the polymer SeO₂. The (pyramidal) Se atoms are yellow.

It is a polymeric solid that forms monomeric SeO₂ molecules in the gas phase. It dissolves in water to form selenous acid, H₂SeO₃. Selenous acid can also be made directly by oxidizing elemental selenium with nitric acid:^[11]

3 Se + 4 HNO₃ + H₂O → 3 H₂SeO₃ + 4 NO

Unlike sulfur, which forms a stable trioxide, selenium trioxide is thermodynamically unstable and decomposes to the dioxide above 185 °C:^[5][11]

2 SeO₃ → 2 SeO₂ + O₂ (ΔH = −54 kJ/mol)

Selenium trioxide is produced in the laboratory by the reaction of anhydrous potassium selenate (K₂SeO₄) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃).^[12]

Salts of selenous acid are called selenites. These include silver selenite (Ag₂SeO₃) and sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃).

Hydrogen sulfide reacts with aqueous selenous acid to produce selenium disulfide:

H₂SeO₃ + 2 H₂S → SeS₂ + 3 H₂O

Selenium disulfide consists of 8-membered rings of a nearly statistical distribution of sulfur and selenium atoms. It has an approximate composition of SeS₂, with individual rings varying in composition, such as Se₄S₄ and Se₂S₆. Selenium disulfide has been use in shampoo as an anti-dandruff agent, an inhibitor in polymer chemistry, a glass dye, and a reducing agent in fireworks.^[11]

Selenium trioxide may be synthesized by dehydrating selenic acid, H₂SeO₄, which is itself produced by the oxidation of selenium dioxide with hydrogen peroxide:^[13]

SeO₂ + H₂O₂ → H₂SeO₄

Hot, concentrated selenic acid is capable of dissolving gold, forming gold(III) selenate.^[14]

Halogen compounds

Iodides of selenium are not well known. The only stable chloride is selenium monochloride (Se₂Cl₂), which might be better known as selenium(I) chloride; the corresponding bromide is also known. These species are structurally analogous to the corresponding disulfur dichloride. Selenium dichloride is an important reagent in the preparation of selenium compounds (e.g. the preparation of Se₇). It is prepared by treating selenium with sulfuryl chloride (SO₂Cl₂).^[15] Selenium reacts with fluorine to form selenium hexafluoride:

Se₈ + 24 F₂ → 8 SeF₆

In comparison with its sulfur counterpart (sulfur hexafluoride), selenium hexafluoride (SeF₆) is more reactive and is a toxic pulmonary irritant.^[16] Some of the selenium oxyhalides, such as selenium oxyfluoride (SeOF₂) and selenium oxychloride (SeOCl₂) have been used as specialty solvents.^[5]

Selenides

Analogous to the behavior of other chalcogens, selenium forms a dihydride H₂Se. It is a strongly odiferous, toxic, and colorless gas. It is more acidic than H₂S. In solution it ionizes to HSe⁻. The selenide dianion Se²⁻ forms a variety of compounds, including the minerals from which selenium is obtained commercially. Illustrative selenides include mercury selenide (HgSe), lead selenide (PbSe), zinc selenide (ZnSe), and copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(Ga,In)Se₂). These materials are semiconductors. With highly electropositive metals, such as aluminium, these selenides are prone to hydrolysis:^[5]

Al₂Se₃ + 6 H₂O → Al₂O₃ + 6 H₂Se

Alkali metal selenides react with selenium to form polyselenides, Se2−
n, which exist as chains.

Other compounds

Tetraselenium tetranitride, Se₄N₄, is an explosive orange compound analogous to tetrasulfur tetranitride (S₄N₄).^[5][17][18] It can be synthesized by the reaction of selenium tetrachloride (SeCl₄) with [((CH
3)
3Si)
2N]
2Se.^[19]

Selenium reacts with cyanides to yield selenocyanates:^[5]

8 KCN + Se₈ → 8 KSeCN

Organoselenium compounds

Selenium, especially in the II oxidation state, forms stable bonds to carbon, which are structurally analogous to the corresponding organosulfur compounds. Especially common are selenides (R₂Se, analogues of thioethers), diselenides (R₂Se₂, analogues of disulfides), and selenols (RSeH, analogues of thiols). Representatives of selenides, diselenides, and selenols include respectively selenomethionine, diphenyldiselenide, and benzeneselenol. The sulfoxide in sulfur chemistry is represented in selenium chemistry by the selenoxides (formula RSe(O)R), which are intermediates in organic synthesis, as illustrated by the selenoxide elimination reaction. Consistent with trends indicated by the double bond rule, selenoketones, R(C=Se)R, and selenaldehydes, R(C=Se)H, are rarely observed.^[20]

History

Selenium (Greek σελήνη selene meaning "Moon") was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jakob Berzelius and Johan Gottlieb Gahn.^[21] Both chemists owned a chemistry plant near Gripsholm, Sweden producing sulfuric acid by the lead chamber process. The pyrite from the Falun mine created a red precipitate in the lead chambers which was presumed to be an arsenic compound, and so the pyrite's use to make acid was discontinued. Berzelius and Gahn wanted to use the pyrite and they also observed that the red precipitate gave off a smell like horseradish when burned. This smell was not typical of arsenic, but a similar odor was known from tellurium compounds. Hence, Berzelius's first letter to Alexander Marcet stated that this was a tellurium compound. However, the lack of tellurium compounds in the Falun mine minerals eventually led Berzelius to reanalyze the red precipitate, and in 1818 he wrote a second letter to Marcet describing a newly found element similar to sulfur and tellurium. Because of its similarity to tellurium, named for the Earth, Berzelius named the new element after the Moon.^[22][23]

In 1873, Willoughby Smith found that the electrical resistance of grey selenium was dependent on the ambient light. This led to its use as a cell for sensing light. The first commercial products using selenium were developed by Werner Siemens in the mid-1870s. The selenium cell was used in the photophone developed by Alexander Graham Bell in 1879. Selenium transmits an electric current proportional to the amount of light falling on its surface. This phenomenon was used in the design of light meters and similar devices. Selenium's semiconductor properties found numerous other applications in electronics.^[24][25][26] The development of selenium rectifiers began during the early 1930s, and these replaced copper oxide rectifiers because of their superior efficiencies.^[27][28][29] These lasted in commercial applications until the 1970s, following which they were replaced with less expensive and even more efficient silicon rectifiers.

Selenium came to medical notice later because of its toxicity to human beings working in industries. Selenium was also recognized as an important veterinary toxin, which is seen in animals that have eaten high-selenium plants. In 1954, the first hints of specific biological functions of selenium were discovered in microorganisms.^[30][31] Its essentiality for mammalian life was discovered in 1957.^[32][33] In the 1970s, it was shown to be present in two independent sets of enzymes. This was followed by the discovery of selenocysteine in proteins. During the 1980s, it was shown that selenocysteine is encoded by the codon UGA. The recoding mechanism was worked out first in bacteria and then in mammals (see SECIS element).^[34]

Occurrence

Native selenium

Native (i.e., elemental) selenium is a rare mineral, which does not usually form good crystals, but, when it does, they are steep rhombohedra or tiny acicular (hair-like) crystals.^[35] Isolation of selenium is often complicated by the presence of other compounds and elements.

Selenium occurs naturally in a number of inorganic forms, including selenide-, selenate-, and selenite-containing minerals, but these minerals are rare. The common mineral selenite is not a selenium mineral, and contains no selenite ion, but is rather a type of gypsum (calcium sulfate hydrate) named like selenium for the moon well before the discovery of selenium. Selenium is most commonly found quite impurely, replacing a small part of the sulfur in sulfide ores of many metals.^[36][37]

In living systems, selenium is found in the amino acids selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and methylselenocysteine. In these compounds, selenium plays a role analogous to that of sulfur. Another naturally occurring organoselenium compound is dimethyl selenide.^[38][38]

Certain solids are selenium-rich, and selenium can be bioconcentrated by certain plants. In soils, selenium most often occurs in soluble forms such as selenate (analogous to sulfate), which are leached into rivers very easily by runoff.^[36][37] Ocean water contains significant amounts of selenium.^[39][40]

Anthropogenic sources of selenium include coal burning and the mining and smelting of sulfide ores.^[41]

Production

Selenium is most commonly produced from selenide in many sulfide ores, such as those of copper, nickel, or lead. Electrolytic metal refining is particularly conducive to producing selenium as a byproduct, and it is obtained from the anode mud of copper refineries. Another source was the mud from the lead chambers of sulfuric acid plants but this method to produce sulfuric acid is no longer used. These muds can be processed by a number of means to obtain selenium. However, most elemental selenium comes as a byproduct of refining copper or producing sulfuric acid.^[42][43] Since the invention of solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) for the production of copper this method takes an increasing share of the world wide copper production.^[44] This changes the availability of selenium because only a comparably small part of the selenium in the ore is leached together with the copper.^[45]

Industrial production of selenium usually involves the extraction of selenium dioxide from residues obtained during the purification of copper. Common production from the residue then begins by oxidation with sodium carbonate to produce selenium dioxide. The selenium dioxide is then mixed with water and the solution is acidified to form selenous acid (oxidation step). Selenous acid is bubbled with sulfur dioxide (reduction step) to give elemental selenium.^[46][47]

About 2,000 tonnes of selenium was produced in 2011 worldwide, mostly in Germany (650 t), Japan (630 t), Belgium (200 t) and Russia (140 t), and the total reserves were estimated at 93,000 tonnes. These data however exclude two major producers, the United States and China. The price was relatively stable during 2004–2010 at ~30 US dollars per pound (per 100-pound lot) but increased to 65 $/lb in 2011. A previous sharp increase was observed in 2004 from 4–5 to 27 $/lb. The consumption in 2010 was divided as follows: metallurgy – 30%, glass manufacturing – 30%, agriculture – 10%, chemicals and pigments – 10%, electronics – 10%. China is the dominant consumer of selenium at 1,500–2,000 tonnes/year.^[48]

Applications

Manganese electrolysis

During the electro winning of manganese an addition of selenium dioxide decreases the power necessary to operate the electrolysis cells. China is the largest consumer of selenium dioxide for this purpose. For every tonne of manganese an average of 2 kg selenium oxide is used.^[48][49]

Glass production

The largest commercial use of Se, accounting for about 50% of consumption, is for the production of glass. Se compounds confer a red color to glass. This color cancels out the green or yellow tints that arise from iron impurities that are typical for most glass. For this purpose various selenite and selenate salts are added. For other applications, the red color may be desirable, in which case mixtures of CdSe and CdS are added.^[50]

Alloys

Selenium is used with bismuth in brasses to replace more toxic lead. The regulation of lead in drinking water applications with the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 made a reduction of lead in brass necessary. The new brass is marketed under the name EnviroBrass.^[51] Like lead and sulfur, selenium improves the machinability of steel at concentrations of about 0.15%.^[52][53] The same improvement is also observed in copper alloys and therefore selenium is also used in machinable copper alloys.^[54]

Solar cells

Copper indium gallium selenide is a material used in the production of solar cells.^[55]

Other uses

Small amounts of organoselenium compounds are used to modify the vulcanization catalysts used in the production of rubber.^[45]

The demand for selenium by the electronics industry is declining, despite a number of continuing applications.^[48] Because of its photovoltaic and photoconductive properties, selenium is used in photocopying,^{[56][57][58][59]} photocells, light meters and solar cells. Its use as a photoconductor in plain-paper copiers once was a leading application but in the 1980s, the photoconductor application declined (although it was still a large end-use) as more and more copiers switched to the use of organic photoconductors. It was once widely used in selenium rectifiers. These uses have mostly been replaced by silicon-based devices or are in the process of being replaced. The most notable exception is in power DC surge protection, where the superior energy capabilities of selenium suppressors make them more desirable than metal oxide varistors.

Zinc selenide was the first material for blue LEDs but gallium nitride is dominating the market now.^[60] Cadmium selenide has played an important part in the fabrication of quantum dots. Sheets of amorphous selenium convert x-ray images to patterns of charge in xeroradiography and in solid-state, flat-panel x-ray cameras.^[61]

Selenium is a catalyst in some chemical reactions but it is not widely used because of issues with toxicity. In X-ray crystallography, incorporation of one or more selenium atoms in place of sulfur helps with Multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion and Single wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing.^[62]

Selenium is used in the toning of photographic prints, and it is sold as a toner by numerous photographic manufacturers. Its use intensifies and extends the tonal range of black-and-white photographic images and improves the permanence of prints.<sup>[63][64][65]

75</sup>Se is used as a gamma source in industrial radiography.^[66]

Biological role

NFPA 704

"fire diamond"
0 2 0
Fire diamond for elemental selenium

Although it is toxic in large doses, selenium is an essential micronutrient for animals. In plants, it occurs as a bystander mineral, sometimes in toxic proportions in forage (some plants may accumulate selenium as a defense against being eaten by animals, but other plants such as locoweed require selenium, and their growth indicates the presence of selenium in soil).^[4] See more on plant nutrition below.

Selenium is a component of the unusual amino acids selenocysteine and selenomethionine. In humans, selenium is a trace element nutrient that functions as cofactor for reduction of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidases^[67] and certain forms of thioredoxin reductase found in animals and some plants (this enzyme occurs in all living organisms, but not all forms of it in plants require selenium).

The glutathione peroxidase family of enzymes (GSH-Px) catalyze certain reactions that remove reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides:

2 GSH + H₂O₂----GSH-Px → GSSG + 2 H₂O

Selenium also plays a role in the functioning of the thyroid gland and in every cell that uses thyroid hormone, by participating as a cofactor for the three of the four known types of thyroid hormone deiodinases, which activate and then deactivate various thyroid hormones and their metabolites: the iodothyronine deiodinases are the subfamily of deiodinase enzymes that use selenium as the otherwise rare amino acid selenocysteine. (Only the deiodinase iodotyrosine deiodinase, which works on the last break-down products of thyroid hormone, does not use selenium).^[68]

Selenium may inhibit Hashimoto's disease, in which the body's own thyroid cells are attacked as alien. A reduction of 21% on TPO antibodies was reported with the dietary intake of 0.2 mg of selenium.^[69]

Increased dietary selenium intakes reduce the effects of mercury toxicity,^[70][71][72] although this protective effect is only apparent at low to modest doses of mercury.^[73] Evidence suggests that the molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity includes the irreversible inhibition of selenoenzymes that are required to prevent and reverse oxidative damage in brain and endocrine tissues.^[74][75]

Evolution in biology

From about three billion years ago, prokaryotic selenoprotein families drive the evolution of selenocysteine, an amino acid. Selenium is incorporated into several prokaryotic selenoprotein families in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes as selenocysteine,^[76] where selenoprotein peroxiredoxins protect bacterial and eukaryotic cells against oxidative damage. Selenoprotein families of GSH-Px and the deiodinases of eukaryotic cells seem to have a bacterial phylogenetic origin. The selenocysteine-containing form occurs in species as diverse as green algae, diatoms, sea urchin, fish, and chicken. Selenium enzymes are involved in utilization of the small reducing molecules glutathione and thioredoxin. One family of selenium-containing molecules (the glutathione peroxidases) destroy peroxide and repair damaged peroxidized cell membranes, using glutathione. 

Another selenium-containing enzyme in some plants and in animals (thioredoxin reductase) generates reduced thioredoxin, a dithiol that serves as an electron source for peroxidases and also the important reducing enzyme ribonucleotide reductase that makes DNA precursors from RNA precursors.^[77]Trace elements involved in GSH-Px and superoxide dismutase enzymes activities, i.e. selenium, vanadium, magnesium, copper, and zinc, may have been lacking in some terrestrial mineral-deficient areas.^[76] Marine organisms retained and sometimes expanded their seleno-proteomes, whereas the seleno-proteomes of some terrestrial organisms were reduced or completely lost. These findings suggest that, with the exception of vertebrates, aquatic life supports selenium utilization, whereas terrestrial habitats lead to reduced use of this trace element.^[78] Marine fishes and vertebrate thyroid glands have the highest concentration of selenium and iodine. From about 500 Mya, freshwater and terrestrial plants slowly optimized the production of "new" endogenous antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), polyphenols (including flavonoids), tocopherols, etc. A few of these appeared more recently, in the last 50–200 million years, in fruits and flowers of angiosperm plants. In fact, the angiosperms (the dominant type of plant today) and most of their antioxidant pigments evolved during the late Jurassic period.
The deiodinase isoenzymes constitute another family of eukaryotic selenoproteins with identified enzyme function. Deiodinases are able to extract electrons from iodides, and iodides from iodothyronines. They are, thus, involved in thyroid-hormone regulation, participating in the protection of thyrocytes from damage by H₂O₂ produced for thyroid-hormone biosynthesis.^[79] About 200 Mya, new selenoproteins were developed as mammalian GSH-Px enzymes.^{[80][81] [82][83]}

Nutritional sources of selenium[edit]

Dietary selenium comes from nuts, cereals, meat, mushrooms, fish, and eggs. Brazil nuts are the richest ordinary dietary source (though this is soil-dependent, since the Brazil nut does not require high levels of the element for its own needs). In descending order of concentration, high levels are also found in kidney, tuna, crab, and lobster.^[84][85]
Selenium as a dietary supplement is available in many forms, including multi-vitamins. In 2013 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed the requirement of minimum and maximum levels of selenium in infant formula.^[86]
The human body's content of selenium is believed to be in the 13–20 milligram range.^[87]

Indicator plant species[edit]

Certain species of plants are considered indicators of high selenium content of the soil, since they require high levels of selenium to thrive. The main selenium indicator plants are Astragalus species (including some locoweeds), prince's plume (Stanleya sp.), woody asters (Xylorhiza sp.), and false goldenweed (Oonopsis sp.)^[88]

Medical use[edit]

The substance loosely called selenium sulfide (approximate formula SeS₂) is the active ingredient in some anti-dandruff shampoos.^[89] The selenium compound kills the scalp fungus Malassezia, which causes shedding of dry skin fragments. The ingredient is also used in body lotions to treat tinea versicolor due to infection by a different species of Malassezia fungus.^[90]

Detection in biological fluids[edit]

Selenium may be measured in blood, plasma, serum or urine to monitor excessive environmental or occupational exposure, confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in hospitalized victims or to assist in a forensic investigation in a case of fatal overdosage. Some analytical techniques are capable of distinguishing organic from inorganic forms of the element. Both organic and inorganic forms of selenium are largely converted to monosaccharide conjugates (selenosugars) in the body prior to being eliminated in the urine. Cancer patients receiving daily oral doses of selenothionine may achieve very high plasma and urine selenium concentrations.^[91]

Toxicity[edit]

Although selenium is an essential trace element, it is toxic if taken in excess. Exceeding the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 400 micrograms per day can lead to selenosis.^[92] This 400 microgram (µg) Tolerable Upper Intake Level is based primarily on a 1986 study of five Chinese patients who exhibited overt signs of selenosis and a follow up study on the same five people in 1992.^[93] The 1992 study actually found the maximum safe dietary Se intake to be approximately 800 micrograms per day (15 micrograms per kilogram body weight), but suggested 400 micrograms per day to not only avoid toxicity, but also to avoid creating an imbalance of nutrients in the diet and to account for data from other countries.^[94] In China, people who ingested corn grown in extremely selenium-rich stony coal (carbonaceous shale) have suffered from selenium toxicity. This coal was shown to have selenium content as high as 9.1%, the highest concentration in coal ever recorded in literature.^[95]
Signs and symptoms of selenosis include a garlic odor on the breath, gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, sloughing of nails, fatigue, irritability, and neurological damage. Extreme cases of selenosis can result in cirrhosis of the liver, pulmonary edema, and death.^[96] Elemental selenium and most metallic selenides have relatively low toxicities because of their low bioavailability. By contrast, selenates and selenites are very toxic, having an oxidant mode of action similar to that of arsenic trioxide. The chronic toxic dose of selenite for humans is about 2400 to 3000 micrograms of selenium per day for a long time.^[97] Hydrogen selenide is an extremely toxic, corrosive gas.^[98] Selenium also occurs in organic compounds, such as dimethyl selenide, selenomethionine, selenocysteine and methylselenocysteine, all of which have high bioavailability and are toxic in large doses.
On 19 April 2009, 21 polo ponies died shortly before a match in the United States Polo Open. Three days later, a pharmacy released a statement explaining that the horses had received an incorrect dose of one of the ingredients used in a vitamin/mineral supplement compound that had been incorrectly compounded by a compounding pharmacy. Analysis of blood levels of inorganic compounds in the supplement indicated the selenium concentrations were ten to fifteen times higher than normal in the horses' blood samples, and 15 to 20 times higher than normal in their liver samples. It was later confirmed that selenium was the ingredient in question.^[99]
Selenium poisoning of water systems may result whenever new agricultural runoff courses through normally dry, undeveloped lands. This process leaches natural soluble selenium compounds (such as selenates) into the water, which may then be concentrated in new "wetlands" as the water evaporates. Selenium pollution to waterways also occurs from leaching of selenium from coal flue ash, mining and metal smelting, crude oil processing and landfill.^[100] The resulting high selenium levels in waterways have been found to have caused certain congenital disorders in oviparous species such as wetland birds,^[101] and fish.^[102] Elevated dietary methylmercury levels can enhance the negative effects of selenium toxicity in oviparous species.^[103][104]

Relationship between survival of juvenile salmon and concentration of selenium in their tissues after 90 days (Chinook salmon^[105]) or 45 days (Atlantic salmon^[106]) exposure to dietary selenium. The 10% lethality level (LC10=1.84 µg/g) was derived by applying the biphasic model of Brain and Cousens^[107] to only the Chinook salmon data. The Chinook salmon data comprise two series of dietary treatments, combined here because the effects on survival are indistinguishable.

In fish and other wildlife, low levels of selenium cause deficiency while high levels cause toxicity. For example, in salmon, the optimal concentration of selenium in the fish tissue (whole body) is about 1 microgram selenium per gram of tissue (dry weight). At levels much below that concentration, young salmon die from selenium deficiency;^[106] much above that level they die from toxic excess.^[105]

Deficiency[edit]

Main article: Selenium deficiency

Selenium deficiency is rare in healthy, well-nourished individuals. It can occur in patients with severely compromised intestinal function, those undergoing total parenteral nutrition, and^[108] in those of advanced age (over 90). Also, people dependent on food grown from selenium-deficient soil are at risk. Although New Zealand has low levels of selenium in its soil, adverse health effects have not been detected.^[109]
Selenium deficiency as defined by low (<60% of normal) selenoenzyme activity levels in brain and endocrine tissues occurs only when a low selenium status is linked with an additional stress, such as high exposures to mercury^[110] or as a result of increased oxidant stress due to vitamin E deficiency.^[111]
There are interactions between selenium and other nutrients, such as iodine and vitamin E. The effect of selenium deficiency on health remains uncertain, particularly in relation to Kashin-Beck disease.^[112] Also, there are interactions between selenium and other minerals, such as zinc and copper. It seems that a high dose of Se supplements to pregnant animals might disturb the Zn:Cu ratio which, in turn, leads to Zn reduction. It can be concluded that the Zn status should be monitored when high doses of Se are supplemented to pregnant animals. Further studies need to be done with higher levels of Se supplement to confirm these interactions.^[113]
In some regions (e.g. various regions within North America) where low available selenium levels in soil lead to low concentrations in dry matter of plants, Se deficiency in some animal species may occur unless dietary (or injected) selenium supplementation is done.^[114] Ruminants are particularly susceptible. In general, absorption of dietary selenium is lower in ruminants than in non-ruminants, and is lower from forages than from grain.^[115] Ruminants grazing certain forages, e.g. some white clover varieties containing cyanogenic glycosides, may have higher selenium requirements,^[115] presumably because of cyanide from the aglycone released by glucosidase activity in the rumen^[116] and inactivation of glutathione peroxidases due to absorbed cyanide's effect on the glutathione moiety.^[117] Neonate ruminants at risk of WMD (white muscle disease) may be administered both selenium and vitamin E by injection; some of the WMD myopathies respond only to selenium, some only to vitamin E, and some to either.^[118]

Controversial health effects

A number of correlative epidemiological studies have implicated selenium deficiency (as measured by blood levels) in a number of serious or chronic diseases, such as cancer,^[119] diabetes,^[119] HIV/AIDS,^[120] and tuberculosis. In addition, selenium supplementation has been found to be a chemopreventive for some types of cancer in some types of rodents. However, in randomized, blinded, controlled prospective trials in humans, selenium supplementation has not succeeded in reducing the incidence of any disease, nor has a meta-analysis of such selenium supplementation studies detected a decrease in overall mortality.^[121]

Panasonic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Panasonic Corporation

A Better Life, A Better World
Headquarters in Osaka, Japan
Native name	パナソニック　株式会社
Formerly called	Matsushita Electric
Type	Public
Traded as	TYO: 6752 JASDAQ: 6752 NAG: 6752 OTC Pink: PCRFY PSE: PMPC
Industry	Electronics Semiconductors Home appliances
Founded	March 13, 1918; 96 years ago (1918-03-13) Osaka, Japan
Founder	Konosuke Matsushita
Headquarters	Kadoma, Osaka, Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Shusaku Nagae (Chairman) Masayuki Matsushita (Vice Chairman) Kazuhiro Tsuga (President)
Products	See products listing
Revenue	¥7.736 trillion (2014),[* 1] US$ 64 billion [* 2]
Operating income	¥305.1 billion (2014) US$ 2.52 billion[* 2]
Profit	¥120.4  billion (2014) US$ 998 million[* 2]
Total assets	¥5.212 trillion (2014) US$ 22.02 billion[* 2]
Total equity	¥1.586 trillion (2014) US$ 13.16 billion[* 2]
Number of employees	271,789 (27 June 2014)[* 3]
Divisions	Panasonic Corporation of North America (US)
Subsidiaries	Panasonic Avionics Corporation Panasonic Electric Works Universal Lighting Technologies Kawakita Denki Kigyosha
Website	Panasonic.net
Footnotes / references Jump up ^ "Annual Report 2014" (PDF) (Press release). Panasonic Corporation. March 31, 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2014.  ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Financial Statements For Panasonic Corp (6752)". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2014-12-29.  Jump up ^ "Panasonic Corp". Bloomberg Businessweek. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-29.

Panasonic Corporation (パナソニック株式会社, Panasonikku Kabushiki-gaisha^?), formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (松下電器産業株式会社, Matsushita Denki Sangyō Kabushiki-gaisha^?), is a Japanese multinational electronics corporation headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan.^[1]

The company was founded in 1918, and has grown to become one of the largest Japanese electronics producers alongside Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba and Canon Inc. In addition to electronics, it offers non-electronic products and services such as home renovation services. Panasonic is the world's fourth-largest television manufacturer by 2012 market share.^[2]

Panasonic has a primary listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices. It has a secondary listing on the Nagoya Stock Exchange.

§Name

From 1935 to October 1, 2008, the company name was "Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd."^[3][4] On January 10, 2008, the company announced that it would change its name to "Panasonic Corporation", in effect on October 1, 2008, to conform with its global brand name "Panasonic".^[5] The name change was approved at a shareholders' meeting on June 26, 2008 after consultation with the Matsushita family.^[6]

§History

§1918 to 2000

Panasonic was founded in 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita as a vendor of duplex lamp sockets.^[7] In 1927, it began producing bicycle lamps, the first product which it marketed under the brand name National.

During World War II the company operated factories in Japan and other parts of Asia which produced electrical components and appliances such as light fixtures, motors, electric irons, wireless equipment, and its first vacuum tubes.^[8]

After the war, Panasonic regrouped as a Keiretsu and began to supply the post war boom in Japan with radios and appliances, as well as bicycles. Matsushita's brother-in-law, Toshio Iue, founded Sanyo as a subcontractor for components after World War II. Sanyo grew to become a competitor to Panasonic, but was later acquired by Panasonic in December 2009.

In 1961, Konosuke Matsushita traveled to the United States and met with American dealers. The company began producing television sets for the U.S. market under the Panasonic brand name, and expanded the use of the brand to Europe in 1979.^[9]

The company used the National brand outside of North America from the 1950s to the 1970s (the trademark could not be used in the United States because it was already in use by the National Radio Company in a closely related product area). It sold televisions, VHS VCRs, high fidelity stereo receivers, multi-band shortwave radios, and marine radio direction finders, often exported to North America under various U.S. brand names, such as Technics, Emerson, Curtis Mathes and of course Panasonic. The company also developed a line of home appliances such as rice cookers for the Japanese and Asian markets. Rapid growth resulted in the company opening manufacturing plants around the world.

The company debuted a hi-fidelity audio speaker in Japan in 1965 with the brand Technics. This line of high quality stereo components became worldwide favorites. The most famous products being its turntables, such as the SL-1200 record player, known for its high performance, precision, and durability. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Panasonic continued to produce high-quality specialized electronics for niche markets such as shortwave radios, as well as developing a successful line of stereo receivers, CD players, and other components.

In 1973, Matsushita formed a joint venture with Anam Group, Anam National.

In 1983, Matsushita launched the Panasonic Senior Partner, the first fully IBM PC compatible Japanese-made computer.^[10]

In November 1990, Matsushita agreed to acquire the American media company MCA Inc. for US$6.59 billion.^[11][12] Matsushita subsequently sold 80% of MCA to Seagram Company for US$7 billion in April 1995.^[13][14]

In 1998, Matsushita sold Anam National to Anam Electronics.

In November 1999, the Japan Times reported that Panasonic planned to develop a "next generation first aid kit" called the Electronic Health Checker. At the time, the target market was said to be elderly people, especially those living in rural areas where medical help might not be immediately available, so it was planned that the kit would include support for telemedicine. The kits were then in the testing stage, with plans for eventual overseas distribution, to include the United States.

§2000 to present

A 152 inch Panasonic plasma display on show at IFA 2010

On May 2, 2002, Panasonic Canada marked its 35th anniversary in this country by giving $5-million to help build a "music city" on Toronto's waterfront.^[15]

On January 19, 2006, Panasonic announced that it would stop producing analog televisions (then 30% of its total TV business) from the next month, in order to concentrate on digital televisions.^[16]

On November 3, 2008, Panasonic and Sanyo announced that they were holding merger talks, which eventually resulted in the acquisition of Sanyo by Panasonic.^[17][18] The merger was completed in December 2009, and resulted in a corporation with revenues of over ¥11.2 trillion (around $110 billion).^[19]

With the announcement that Pioneer would exit the production of its Kuro plasma HDTV displays, Panasonic purchased many of the patents and incorporated these technologies into its own plasma displays.

In April 2011, it was announced that Panasonic would cut its work force by 40,000 by the end of fiscal 2012 in a bid to streamline overlapping operations. The curtailment is about 10 percent of its group work force.^[20]

In October 2011, Panasonic announced that it would trim its money-losing TV business by ceasing production of Plasma TVs at its plant in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture by March 2012, cutting 1,000 jobs in the process.^[21]

In January 2012, Panasonic announced that it had struck a deal with Myspace on its new venture, Myspace TV.^[22] Myspace TV will allow users to watch live television while chatting with other users on a laptop, tablet or the television itself. With the partnership, Myspace TV will be integrated into Panasonic Viera televisions.^[23]

On May 11, 2012, Panasonic announced plans to acquire a 76.2% stake in FirePro Systems, an India-based company in infrastructure protection and security solutions such as fire alarm, fire suppression, video surveillance and building management.^[24]

In line with company prediction of a net loss of 765 billion yen, on November 5, 2012, the shares fell to the lowest level since February 1975 to 388 yen. In 2012, the shares plunged 41 percent.^[25] On November 14, 2012, Panasonic said it will cut 10,000 jobs and make further divestments.^[26]

On May 18, 2013, Panasonic announced that it would invest $40 million in building a factory in Binh Duong, Vietnam which is expected to be completed in 2014.^[27]

In July 2013, Panasonic agreed to acquire a 13% stake in the Slovenian household appliance manufacturer Gorenje for around €10 million.^[28]

In a press release following its announcement at IFA 2013, Panasonic announced that it had acquired the "Cameramanager video surveillance service" with the intention of expanding its reach to cloud-based solutions.^[29]

In July 2014, it was announced that Panasonic has reached a basic agreement with Tesla Motors to participate in the Gigafactory, the huge battery plant that the American electric vehicle manufacturer plans to build in the U.S.^[30] In August 2014 Tesla said the plant would be built in the Southwest or Western United States by 2020. The $5 billion plant would employ 6,500 people, and reduce Tesla's battery costs by 30 percent. The company said it was looking at potential sites in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California.^[31]

In October 2014, Panasonic announced its initial investment in Tesla Motors’ battery factory would amount to “tens of billions” of yen, according to the firm’s CEO.^[32]

In November 2014, Panasonic announced its partnership with Photon Interactive to create customized and personalized digital signs in stores.^[33]

In January 2015, Panasonic announced it has stopped making TVs in China and plans to liquidate its joint venture in Shandong.^[34]

§Current operations

As of March 31, 2012, Panasonic employed around 330,000 staff and had around 580 subsidiary companies.^[35] Panasonic had total revenues of ¥7,846,216 million in 2012, of which 53% were generated in Japan, 25% in Asia (excluding Japan), 12% in the Americas and 10% in Europe.^[35]

Panasonic's operations are organised into three broad "business fields" - Consumer, Solutions and Components & Devices - and nine "domain companies" - AVC Networks (which generated 17% of Panasonic's total 2012 revenues), Eco Solutions (15% of revenues), Appliances (15% of revenues), Industrial Devices (14% of revenues), Systems and Communications (8% of revenues), Automotive Systems (7% of revenues), Energy (6% of revenues), Healthcare, and Manufacturing Solutions.^[35]

Panasonic invested a total of ¥520,216 million in research and development in 2012, equivalent to 6.6% of its revenues in that year.^[35] As of March 31, 2012, Panasonic held a total of 140,146 patents worldwide.^[35]

The Panasonic Center in Tokyo, Japan  The Panasonic IMP Building in Osaka, Japan  The Panasonic R&D facility at Yokosuka Research Park, Japan

§Panasonic Automotive Systems

Panasonic Automotive Systems is an original equipment manufacturer of factory installed mobile audio equipment such as headunits, speakers and navigation modules. It is a subcontractor to most major auto manufacturers, supplying virtually every Japanese automaker, along with Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen and America's largest automaker, General Motors.^{[citation needed]}

Panasonic also formerly manufactured aftermarket vehicle audio products such as head units and speakers.

§Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (PAC), a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, is a supplier of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and communication systems.^[36] Headquartered in Lake Forest, California where engineering, development and testing is performed while system installation, field engineering, major quality functions, certification and program management are performed at the Bothell, Washington facility - Panasonic Avionics Corporation employs approximately 3,300 employees based in over 70 locations worldwide, with major facilities in London, Toulouse, Hamburg, Dallas, Dubai and Singapore.^{[citation needed]} A majority of the component manufacturing is carried out in Osaka, Japan.

§Panasonic Mobile Communications

Panasonic Mobile Communications manufactures mobile phone handsets and related equipment.
As of 2012, it had around a 20 per cent share of the Japanese handset market.^[37] Panasonic used to market mobile phone handsets worldwide, but in December 2005 announced its withdrawal from overseas markets due to poor sales. Panasonic returned to the overseas market in 2012, with the release of the Panasonic Eluga Android-powered smartphone. In July 2013, Panasonic announced the company will not supply a new model of smartphone to NTT DoCoMo Inc., because NTT DoCoMo will focus with Sony and Samsung products. In Q2 2013, Panasonic Mobile Communications booked a 5.4 billion yen operating loss.^[38]

§Panasonic Corporation of North America

Panasonic Corporation of North America is Panasonic's principal subsidiary in the United States. It has been headquartered in Newark, New Jersey since 2013, after being previously headquartered in Secaucus, since the 1980s;^[39] both Newark and Secaucus are located within New Jersey's Gateway Region.

Founded in New York City at the MetLife Building in September 1959, it was known as Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (MECA) prior to 2005.

§Panasonic Corporation in Europe

Panasonic's principal subsidiaries in Europe are Panasonic Europe Ltd.^[40] and Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH.^[41] Panasonic employs around 12,000 people in Europe, and the region generates around 10 per cent of its total revenues.^[42] In 2012, Panasonic had around a 10 per cent share of the consumer electronics market in Europe, ranking third behind Samsung Electronics (with 26 per cent) and LG Electronics (with 12 per cent).^[42]

Panasonic operates a chain of stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland called "Panasonic Store" which exclusively sell Panasonic products. Prior to 2008 the chain was named "shop@Panasonic".

In November 2010, Panasonic Electric Works established Panasonic Electric Works Vossloh-Schwabe Serbia d.o.o, a new company in Svilajnac, Serbia, to manufacture energy-efficient electronic devices (ballasts) for lighting fixtures. Volume production commenced in January 2011.^[43]

§Panasonic Corporation of India

Mr. Deepak of NPS Mandanpur Baheri, Bareilly Ito serves as Group President for Panasonic Regional Headquarters India at Panasonic India Pvt.

§Panasonic Corporation in Indonesia

PT Panasonic Gobel Indonesia (formerly known as PT National Gobel Indonesia) is the name of the company's Indonesia division based in Cawang, East Jakarta. Hiroyoshi Suga is the current President Director and Rachmat Gobel is the current Commissioners. Rachmat Gobel also Commissioners of Indosat. Panasonic Gobel Indonesia is a joint venture company between Panasonic Corporation Japan and Gobel Group of Indonesia.

§Former operations

§Universal Studios

Panasonic used to own Universal Studios, then known as the Music Corporation of America, since acquiring the company in 1990 but sold it to Seagram in 1995. Universal Studios is now a unit of NBCUniversal, which is now owned by Philadelphia based Comcast.

§Products

Panasonic offers a wide range of products and services, including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, compressors, lighting, televisions, personal computers, mobile phones, audio equipment, cameras, broadcasting equipment, projectors, automotive electronics, aircraft in-flight entertainment systems, semiconductors, batteries, electrical components, optical devices, bicycles and electronic materials.^[44]

A Panasonic Lumix camera  A Panasonic Toughbook field computer  A Panasonic mobile phone  A display of Panasonic televisions  Technics headphones

§Brand names

Panasonic's current and historic brands

Panasonic Corporation sells virtually all of its products and services worldwide under the Panasonic brand, having phased out the Sanyo brand in the first quarter of 2012.^[45] The company has sold products under a number of other brand names during its history.

In 1927, the company founder adopted the brand name "National" (ナショナル, Nashonaru^?) for a new lamp product.^[46] In 1955, the company began branding audio speakers and lamps for markets outside Japan as "PanaSonic", which was the first time it used the "Panasonic" brand name.^[47] The company began to use the brand name "Technics" (テクニクス, Tekunikusu^?)" in 1965 for audio equipment.^[47] The use of multiple brands lasted for some decades.^[47]

In May 2003, the company announced that "Panasonic" would become its global brand, and launched the global tagline "Panasonic ideas for life."^[48] The company began to unify its brands to "Panasonic" and, by March 2004 replaced "National" for products and outdoor signboards, except for those in Japan.^[48] In January 2008, the company announced that it would phase out the brand "National" in Japan, replacing it with the global brand "Panasonic" by March 2010.^[5] In September 2013, the company announced a revision of the decade-old tagline to better illustrate the company vision: "A Better Life, A Better World." ^[49]

Rasonic is a brand name of Shun Hing Electric Works and Engineering Co. Ltd (信興電工工程有限公司), a company that has imported Panasonic and National branded product since Matsushita Electric Industrial era, and has also sold MEI/Panasonic products under the original brand names. In June 1994, Panasonic Shun Hing Industrial Devices Sales (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. (松下信興機電(香港)有限公司) and Panasonic SH Industrial Sales (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (松下電器機電(深圳)有限公司) were established by joint venture between Matsushita Electric Industrial and Shun Hing Group respectively,^[50][51] making Rasonic a product brand for MEI and subsequent Panasonic Corporation.

In September 2014, Panasonic announced they will revive the Technics brand.

§Sponsorships

§Football

Panasonic sponsors the German football player Marco Reus, who plays for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and Germany.^[52]

Panasonic owns Gamba Osaka, a club from the J. League, the main Japanese Professional Football League.^{[citation needed]}

Panasonic is an official partner and sponsor of AFC Champions League and Major League Soccer.^[53]

Between 1981 and 1983, Panasonic was the shirt sponsor of English football club Nottingham Forest F.C.^{[citation needed]}

On January 16, 2010, Panasonic signed a three-year, Rs. 4.7 crores (US$1 million) jersey sponsorship deal for the India national football team.^[54]

§Other

Panasonic was the principal sponsor of the now-defunct Toyota Racing Formula One team

Panasonic were a primary sponsor of Toyota's Formula One program, Panasonic Toyota Racing.^[55] Hiro Matsushita, grandson of the company founder, is a former race car driver who ran a company overseeing sponsorship arrangements for the company.

Panasonic was also a sponsor in NASCAR's Busch Series in 2005, sponsoring the No. 67 Smith Brothers Racing Dodge for Ken Schrader,^[56] Bryan Reffner,^[57] C.W. Smith,^[58] and Johnny Benson, Jr..^[59] In 2007, Panasonic became a technology partner with Hendrick Motorsports, and will serve as a primary sponsor of the team's No. 24 car with Jeff Gordon for two races in 2014 and through 2016.^[60]

Panasonic has sponsored some professional filmmakers by allowing them to borrow a camera for their projects. One such Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 model camera was used to film the pilot of the Swedish horror film Marianne.^[61]

Panasonic has been a top level sponsor of the Olympic Games since the Seoul Olympics in 1988.^[62]

Panasonic was the official partner and sponsor of the Boston Celtics from 1975 to 1989, along with Technics.^{[citation needed]} Various Panasonic ads appeared at the old Boston Garden during the 1980s.

§Environmental record

Panasonic is ranked in joint 9th place (out of 15) in Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks electronics manufacturers on policies and practices to reduce their impact on the climate, produce greener products, and make their operations more sustainable.^[63] The company is one of the top scorers on the Products criteria, praised for its good product life cycles and the number of products which are free from polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC). It also scores maximum points for the energy efficiency of its products with 100 percent of its TVs meeting the latest Energy Star standards and exceeding the standby power requirement.

However, Panasonic's score is let down by its low score on the Energy criteria, with the Guide stating it must focus on planned reductions of greenhouse gases (GHG), set targets to reduce GHG emissions by at least 30% by 2015 and increase renewable energy use by 2020.^[63]

In 2014, an article in 'The Guardian' reported that Panasonic will compensate its expatriate workers in China a "hazard pay" as compensation for the chronic air pollution they are subjected to as they work.^[64]

§Slogans

• "What's on Panasonic" (1990-1996)
• "Panasonic, The One That I Want" (1996-2003, Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines)
• "What's New Panasonic" (1996-2003)
• "Ideas for Life" (2003-2013)
• "A Better Life, A Better World" (2013–present)