Choosing the appropriate instrumental method for the determination of total Se in environmental samples is difficult, considering the wide choice of methods currently available. By use of a sediment matrix, an objective comparison is made between fluorimetry, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (HG-ICP-AES), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS) and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) methods, involving technical criteria such as detection limits, reproducibility, time taken for analysis and interferences