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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Sardis Water Association

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.

 

9

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND40ND
2018ND10ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-04-02140930020ND
2014-04-02140930019ND
2017-02-20Y170550003ND
2017-02-27Y170610032ND
2017-04-04Y170960006ND
2017-05-15Y171380001ND
2018-02-07Y180400046ND
2019-01-07Y190110019ND
2019-01-30Y190310040ND