Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

Smackover 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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND40ND
20211.38 ppb51ND - 6.90 ppb
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-30Y180320010ND
2020-01-27Y200300007ND
2020-01-27Y200300006ND
2020-09-15Y202610054ND
2020-11-16Y203240059ND
2021-01-26Y2102800326.90 ppb
2021-01-26Y210280038ND
2021-06-07Y211610002ND
2021-08-23Y212380061ND
2021-11-08Y213160011ND
2022-05-24Y221460057ND
2022-08-16Y222300063ND
2022-11-07Y223130073ND
2023-01-31Y230330009ND
2023-01-31Y230330010ND
2023-05-31Y231520036ND