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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Rison Waterworks

Selenium is an essential element in diets. But too much selenium can decrease thyroid hormone production and cause hair loss, skin lesions and brittle fingernails.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND40ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 30 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 30 ppb for selenium was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against hair loss and nail damage.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 50 ppb

The legal limit for selenium, established in 1991, was based on human epidemiological studies of populations exposed to naturally occurring selenium in drinking water. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2016-01-25Y160280012ND
2016-01-25Y160280011ND
2016-09-12Y162590022ND
2016-10-17Y162950011ND
2017-01-16Y170190058ND
2017-06-07Y171590147ND
2017-07-24Y172080025ND
2017-10-04Y172780047ND
2018-03-13Y180740015ND
2018-03-21Y180810017ND
2018-05-30Y181510043ND
2018-07-23Y182080022ND
2018-10-23Y182980023ND
2019-01-22Y190240008ND
2019-01-22Y190240007ND
2019-06-24Y191790279ND
2019-08-05Y192240001ND
2019-10-22Y192970021ND